newjerseynewsroom.com

BY PAM LOBLEY

NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM

NOW THAT'S FUNNY

Hey Moms and Dads, how is summer vacation going so far? If you answered, "What vacation?" you are not alone.

Our district in Bergen County didn't get out of school until Friday, June 25. The following Monday, before you could say, "Bye, bye backpack," my children began swim team practice, which means they're in the water at 8:30 a.m. We had various doctors' appointments, played with a few friends, and then it was time to load up the car to visit friends on Shelter Island over Fourth of July.

So I packed bathing suits, towels, fishing poles, two guitars, extra sheets, pillows, clothes, hats, sunscreen, and the dog. The dog pukes in the car, so I also packed his anti-puke medicine, plus lots of paper towels, and off we went. We had a great two days. When we came back I laundered most of the above, including the dog, who puked despite his medicine.

Then we had more swim practices, a couple of swim meets, an orthodontist appointment, and then we got ready for our 10 days in North Carolina.

We left the dog at home with a boarder.

We had a great 10 days. When we came back, I laundered most of the above, including the dog, who smelled like cat after his time at the boarder.

Then we had more swim practices, more swim meets, and now we're getting ready for Boy Scout camp.

So I'll pack bathing suits, hiking boots ... oh well, you get the idea. When I ask my mom friends how their summer vacation is going they say, "It feels like it hasn't started yet."

And yet, it is already half over.

Time Magazine had a cover article last week on summer vacation, ("The Case Against Summer Vacation", http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,2005654,00) and the gist of it was that in disadvantaged communities, children fall behind during the summer.

Too much time doing nothing, indoors and in front of a TV screen dissolves a measure of the learning they did the year before.

Those of us with the advantages of the middle class know that summer is a time for competitive sports, extra music lessons, and sleep away camp. We want to give our kids "fun" things to do, and that means Mom does lots of extra driving, extra laundry, and extra planning to keep those fun days humming.

Summer vacation is one of the most beloved and romanticized notions of American culture. I'll admit, it's my favorite time of year. But let's not call it vacation. Because to make summer everything you want it to be takes a lot of work, and not just on Mom's part. My kids have awakened early most mornings for their various activities or trips.

Instead of Summer Vacation, I'm going to call it Summer of Action. The two phrases sound almost the same, but the second one is much more accurate. I won't have to feel guilty that I'm not relaxed and in vacation mode, that instead I'm moving in high gear, busier than ever.

How is your Summer of Action? Mine is fantastic.

Pam Lobley writes the "Now That's Funny" column. Sign up for her mailing list at www.pamlobley.com.