Here we stand at the beginning of another summer break season and kids everywhere are already complaining that they have nothing to do. Weak! Kids today are too soft. Back in my day, we didn't have all this technology to distract us from life but I remember waking up as a kid with "nothing" to do also. The difference between then and now is that back then the kids worked on finding stuff to do.

The summer the neighborhood cronies and I all turned 13, out of boredom we decided we would scour the neighborhood for wood and build a multi-level practical condo-complex tree house in Thomas' backyard. Every scrap was picked up and we managed to build a poorly tossed-together treehouse with whatever screws and nails we could scavenge.

It was unsafe, unsanctioned by the parents, and could have gotten one of us seriously injured, and it was awesome. The soft-bellied kids today don't seem to have a thing like that in them.

Example: I distinctly remember a conversation with my fourteen-year-old nephew this time last year. He was sitting on the beach in Clearwater, Florida and texting me about how bored he was and how he wanted to come home.

At first, I thought "Well, he just doesn't know how to relax..." and then I had a more legit though... in his pampered and spoiled life, he's never had a reason to learn how to relax.

Even if you count the smartphone in his hand if he is bored on the beach, how is it possible while holding that little piece of tech? Honestly, you can play games with your friends, access every piece of information in the world, movies and shows on-demand at will, and he's still bored and sulking in not being entertained. Then it hit me...

Now is the perfect time of year to start a mass migration to get kids back to outside for some real fun and games.

A week later I showed up at his house with a motorcycle. He's been absolutely hooked ever since, which I'm super proud of since most youths will pick up a hobby for a week or two before losing interest in it.

He literally eats & sleeps motorcycles still, a year later. He's also hit his growth spurt and discovered girls and cars as he gets close to legal driving age, but motorcycles are still the thing. Maybe that's the thing that will get your kids outside too.

"But that costs money!"

Yeah, welcome to every day where everything literally costs money. That being said, with a small investment to get you started, the upkeep on outdoor fun is relatively low.

Things like motorcycles, four-wheelers, skateboards, and activities like fishing are so popular in the poorest rural communities across the state because they're mostly one-and-done when it comes to cost. You pay upfront to get started, but then it's just a gallon of gas here and there or a box of worms for years to come.

Sure, there's a lot of free outdoor stuff to do too with the mountains and various city parks... but let's be honest with each other... it takes a pretty hardcore will to hike the same trails more than a few weekends each year. Those who love it enjoy it, but most kids and people think once or twice is enough... been there, seen it, got the t-shirt.

That's not a dig to anyone who enjoys such things, it's just that not everyone shares that kind of passion.

Kids used to complain about being outside all the time, constantly begging to come in and play video games... after the pandemic years of "stay inside" & "stay away" they're now complaining and craving to get outside, you just have to put your own parent/aunt/uncle/grandparent effort into it too.

We can do this. We can release kids back into the wild. Time to take advantage and not waste this golden opportunity.

Things To Do In Lawton - Fort Sill

Odds are, if you live here long enough, you'll simply forget how much awesomeness surrounds this community. It's like getting tired of an old toy, the new simply wears off... but, no matter what time of year it is, here are some things to do when you come to Lawton - Fort Sill

Fun & Kid Friendly Oklahoma Vacation Destinations

Far too often, some bored Karen whose only personality trait is complaining about everything will say something along the lines of "There's nothing to do in Oklahoma..." That's simply not true. There is a ton of stuff to do in Oklahoma that you and the kids will love, you just have to know where to find that stuff and have the gumption to hop off the couch and go do some of it.

15 More Amazing Southwest Oklahoma Hole-In-The-Wall Eats

It's far too easy to be lulled into thinking the same old chain restaurants are the "good" places to eat across Southwest Oklahoma. You won't find a single franchise on this list. It's all locally owned, locally run, sometimes a little run down, but you'll agree the meals are outstanding when you walk away with a belly full of the good stuff.

In no particular order, here are another fifteen amazing local Southwest Oklahoma eats, and be sure to check out the O.G. 15 Amazing SWOK Hole-In-The-Wall Eats right here when you're done...

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