MARK MY WORD: SUMMER VACATION IS NO VACATION FOR PARENTS

Memorial Day. Time for friends, family, barbecues, and, of course, sheer terror.

Terror? Yes, terror for all those parents who have to figure out just what to do with Junior now that school's out for the summer.

As parents, we're thrilled that our children made it through another school year. At the same time, there is that awful feeling that we're stuck out in the heat without even a fan.

It's at this time of year that parents everywhere wish their local school districts would suddenly adopt a 12-month school year. I know it would be tough on school teachers, who look forward to their summer vacations.

But, as it now stands, summer vacation is no vacation for parents.

If we haven't done it before now, Memorial Day is our last chance to find suitable baby sitters and map out a strategy to keep the kids entertained without going bankrupt.

This is a major chore, which, I've learned, is best left to moms. They know how to schedule baby sitters and won't let just anyone watch their kids.

Moms also like to plan a few activities for those long summer months. That way, they don't have to rely on the baby sitter, who believes it's OK for the kids to jump off the roof.

These are scary times as parents wonder just how long it will take their precious child to utter the dreaded words: "I'm bored. There's nothing to do."

Generally, most children will be ready to utter this lament within days, if not hours, after the start of summer vacation.

Parents will do everything they can to avoid hearing those words. It's why we sign up for every camp we can find. That way, we're convinced, our children will have something better to do than tease the family dog or set the neighborhood on fire.

And, if any of that happens, at least we know that it's supervised.

Joni already has mapped out a schedule for daughter Becca, who just finished the third grade and is now majoring in summer vacation without day care.

At age 9, she figures she's too old for day care. Besides, she already made it through last summer with the help of a platoon of baby sitters.

Youngest daughter Bailey, who is 5, thinks it's unfair that she has to spend her summer days at day care. But we couldn't be happier. We're not ready for her to jump off the roof.

As for Becca, she'll be joined by several of our friends' children this summer. A little collaboration makes all the difference. It spreads the baby-sitting cost around and gives us an opportunity to send the kids packing to each other's house, thereby assuring that all of our homes will be messed up at times this summer.

It also helps that our friends have swimming pools. To teen-age baby sitters, there's nothing better than getting paid and getting a tan at the same time.

If you don't have a pool, it's a good idea to have something that the kids like, such as an indestructible family room with Britney Spears posters or a cupboard stocked with a summer's supply of munchies.

And remember, summer doesn't last forever. It just seems to.

Mark Bliss is a staff writer for the Southeast Missourian.