Did you ever make a hobo stick when you were a kid? I loved them and used to make them out of sticks and hankies when I was little. Well sometimes these old-school ideas buy time for us parents.

When your kids threatens to run away and leave the home forever, you go along with it.

Leif was bored, agitated, and full of energy. He followed me around the house because he was soooo bored. So then he got on my nerves and then he threatened to run away from home.

“Well, if you do run away you need to do it correctly. You’ll need to pack a hobo’s pack. You’ll need something to keep you warm, something to wear, something to eat, and something to play with.”

We found his rainbow scarf for warmth.
A truck to play with when he’s bored.
Three gummy bears for when he gets hungry.
Oh, and a flashlight from his leftover candy pop.

Then we tied it around his pop gun for when the bad guys come.

Now you’re all set! I said.

He was totally enthused.

He “ran away” and crawled under the dinner table since he had found a safe cave to keep him warm and dry. He found a bundle of sticks (Jenga blocks) to light a fire. He wrapped his scarf around him, ate his gummy bears and set up his pop gun, just in case.

And his mom was able to finish drinking her coffee that had been reheated in the microwave about 45 unconsecutive minutes that day.

Everyone was happy(er).