12 Most Obvious Reasons Dad and Mom Are Glad Summer Is Over

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Most parents vaguely remember the joy they felt when the end of the school year came. That glorious feeling of months of fooling around, camp, laziness, no homework, swimming, going to the beach, hanging with friends, staying up late, and most important of all – NO SCHOOL.

We even remember that horrible feeling when summer was over and school began and it felt like an eternity until “freedom” would come again. The 9 months until the next summer was an “eternity” in kid-time. But, now we are parents. Life is not the same. Now, “freedom” only happens for us when the kids are in school!

So, this dad is celebrating the end of summer as I get my life back to almost normal. Of course I’ve taken this assignment terribly seriously and approached it with the utmost dignity. In fact, the infamous words of Cosmo (aka Donold O’Conner) comes to mind from “Singin’ In the Rain” just before he performs his signature masterpiece, “Make ‘Em Laugh” and says, “Short people have long faces, and long people have short faces.”

1. We Don’t Have to be Camp Counselor Any More!

“What are we doing today, dad?” are the most dreaded words of summer! Excuse Me? You mean with all the toys you have, the pool, the dogs, friends, summer camp, movies, the malls, you need ME to plan your activities? My older son even checks MY calendar when he sleepily wakes up each summer morning around lunchtime to see “what we’re doing!”

2. No More Fighting Over Sunscreen and Hats and Shirts

“Son, don’t forget to put on sunscreen” or “You’d better wear a hat and/or shirt after what happened last trip to the beach” are common sense advisements we parents offer our children. Are they observed? Especially with teens? No. That’s why we have to get the aloe vera and try and comfort our lobster red kids several times each summer.

3. Peace and Quiet In the House for WAHPs

For those increasing number of dads and moms that work at home, there is actually some quiet. Now, if you’ve got teens, you did get quiet during summer mornings since most teens sleep until noon or beyond, but otherwise the racket never ceases. Ahhh, the quiet of school.

4. No More Listening to Alice Cooper’s “School Is Out For Summer”

Parents have rewritten Alice Cooper’s seminal song; “School Is Out.” Our lyrics go like this:

Summer’s done for now,
Summer’s done forever,
Summer’s been blown to pieces.

All those pencils,
All those books,
Now get your teacher’s dirty looks.

5. Parents Can Now Help Out the Economy

Yes, it’s our time to help out our government, especially given our current economic woes. First, we get to buy another set of school supplies, because last year’s are just no good anymore. Then, a new wardrobe for the same reason. And, most impactful, we get to gas up our cars 3 times a week for all the driving we now have to do! Hoorah!

6. The Joy of Fighting Over Homework Begins Again

Dad and mom get to fight over who is going to get “Junior” to do his or her homework. Maybe dad and mom alternate? Maybe one guilts the other over a night out? No matter, dad and mom get to try every new clever trick to convince their kids to finish homework. These skills get refined and can help dad and mom at their own workplace when they try them out on their bosses.

7. Curfew is Back

Yes, kids have to go to bed at a reasonable hour. We parents might not even have to fight much about it. They get it. So, not only do we get peace and quiet during the days, when the kids are in school, but now we get it at 8:00 p.m. or thereabouts, too.

8. We Have 9 Months Until Another Family Vacation

Dad doesn’t have to be Clark Griswold (Chevy Chase from the National Lampoon Vacation movies) and mom doesn’t have to referee and/or give dad advice on directions. Camping is done with. Going to crowded theme parks is over. Even going to water parks is finished. Hallelujah!

9. The Important Things Can Begin, Like Choosing a Costume for Halloween

Yes, we can now focus on Halloween and even Thanksgiving and Christmas. Halloween comes first and those big ol’ temporary Halloween shops will spring up earlier each year. Dad and mom can go with “Junior” to choose the goriest, most disgusting costume imaginable and our darling girls can go as either tramps, if they’re old enough, like say 10 or 11, or maybe as another Disney princess.

10. If We Are Smart Parents, We Get The TV Back

Let’s get serious for a moment and offer some parenting advice. The kids get the TV in the summer and WE get it during the school week. This is good for the kids plus we finally get to use that big-screen and blu-ray we paid a fortune for – not to mention enjoy a game now and then!

11. Ridiculous Lousy Summer Movies Are Done With

“Spy Kids 13” or “Transformers – in 3D Smell-O-Rama” and no more “Harry Potter.” Is this heaven or what? Plus, no more arguing about why 12-year-old Johnny should be allowed to see “The Hangover, Part 12” just because all his friends got to see it. Good, boring, Academy-Award hopefuls abound and we can stay home rather than endure the lines, the ridiculous prices, and horrible summer blockbusters.

12. AC Bills Go Down, Heating Bills Go Up

I’m not sure which is worse, but I suspect for most of us the thermostat is yet another war zone. Mom is cold or hot all the time. Dad wants the windows open. The kids don’t care and just set it to 62 when they’re hot. Maybe, just maybe we get a little control of our indoor weather!

It’s so interesting how our perspective on life changes once we’ve become parents. What is fun to us is truly different than to our kids. I, for one, am honestly relieved that school has begun. I suspect most parents are, too.

Bruce Sallan

http://BruceSallan.com

Bruce gave up a quarter century career in showbiz to become a stay-at-home-dad. Those experiences fueled his desire to advocate on behalf of dads, the last remaining group it seemed everyone could disparage with impunity. He began writing a column, “A Dad’s Point-of-View” which is now carried in over 100 newspapers and web sites. Bruce’s first book, A Dad’s Point-of-View: We ARE Half the Equation is available at Amazon, iTunes, BN.com, and the store at BruceSallan.com. “The Bruce Sallan Show - A Dad’s Point-of-View,” Bruce’s one-hour radio show, is available anytime, via live stream, or to download for free on the Radio Show Page at BruceSallan.com. Find Bruce on Facebook by joining his A Dad’s Point-of-View Page. You can also follow Bruce at Twitter. Bruce hosts a TweetChat called #DadChat each Thursday from 6:00 – 7:00 p.m., PST.