Dianna Kelly

Having the kids back at school after fall break was a relief...for both my kids and their parents. It's enough of a juggling act, between work and chores, without trying to be an entertainment director. Yet for some odd reason, that's what kids think parents should be.

Why is that?

My mom, growing up, would chase my brother and sister and me out of the house at least once a day during vacations, saying, "Go play! Get some fresh air!" We lived within walking distance of a small park, with some very comfortable benches, wide stone walls, and trees with thick moss beneath them. So I'd sneak a book out with me, take a comfortable stroll and find a parking place.

My brother and sister would hop on their bikes and go down to the recreation center to play tennis. (I have two left arms, so they'd neglect to share their plans with me.)

We entertained ourselves. We knew if we dared complain, my mom would give us something non-recreational to do, like the dishes, the yard work or the car windows. For exercise, of course.

Such threats do not work with my progeny.

Instead, I'm hounded with requests to take them places that cost money. Since our budget, like everyone else's in this economy, is pretty tight, I've learned to feign deafness.

Now that they're back in school, however, I'm nudging them toward getting involved in more after-school activities. Ones that include events during vacations, if the kids so choose to participate. And we'll definitely encourage them to do so.

My son has joined his school's hiking club, and he's connecting with a Boys Scout troop in town. (He'd been working on his Eagle before we moved here from Georgia.) Both, thank the Lord, will have post-school events. My daughter is trying out for one of the sports teams at her school.

When they're busy with other organizations, they're less likely to numb themselves with video screens around the house, AND they're more likely to stay out of trouble. They learn how to lead and to organize and to be part of a team.

And they're much less likely to drive their parents crazy.