My son just wrapped up his rugby season and does not plan to play spring baseball. On one hand, I do not have to drive him to practice and we get our Saturday mornings back for a few months.
Unfortunately, when asked what he wants to do in the coming months, he can only come up with activities requiring either constant parental supervision or being over 18 years old.
A partial list of things he seriously would like to do (as an 11-year-old):
- Bike riding on highway access roads
- Motorcross
- Welding
Welding???
Photo Credit: parkerwelds via Compfight cc
I explained his choices sounded interesting, but we not activities he could do without an adult. Therefore, he could begin any of those as a hobby.
Then he said a word we all said as kids ourselves, but we want to scream when our own kids say it: “But everything else is boring!”
When our kids say they are bored we come up with the usual responses like, “if I told my mom and dad I was bored, they made me do chores” or “only boring people are bored.” Neither do us or our kids much good.
So, it was time to redirect and come up with some other ideas. However, nothing I mentioned sounded the least bit interesting to him. Music lessons, acting, another sport, reading, collecting something – nothing caught his attention.
I have asked him to write down a list of all the things he finds interesting and from there, pick a few subjects we could turn into a hobby. When i told him TV and Xbox could not appear on his list, he did seem a bit sad, but at least he knows he can create a list of his interests and not mine.
I told him to be as crazy and creative as he could. Maybe welding stays on his list, but we can discover some way to work with metal as a beginner…not an expert. His list will give us a chance to learn what kind of options are out there and force us to get creative as we find an activity for him. And it will give us a chance to communicate and spend time together.
As of today he has not picked a new hobby, but I am holding out hope. And searching Craigslist for used welding equipment.
What kinds of hobbies do your kids do? What is the most unique hobby you or your kids have?
My oldest is only 4.5yo, and just wanted to sign up for Little League. He draws and dances the Can Can. Never a dull moment.
Love it! Sounds like time for a batting tee and lots of catch.
He has some interesting things on that first list above. What drove to be interested in welding?
I have a cousin who does some cool stuff with horseshoes that he’s seen and I think I mentioned he does some welding. But when asked directly, he said “it looks cool to do and you get to work with hot metal.” I think the plan will be to visit my cousin (about two hours away) one of these days and let my son see it first hand and maybe even help out.