NEWSDAY: Go Back to School Already

08/30/2009

http://www.newsday.com/opinion/opinion-go-back-to-school-already-1.1403281

OPINION: Go back to school already
August 28, 2009 by CLAUDIA GRYVATZ COPQUIN /

Practically every adult I know looks forward to summer with the anticipation of a child awaiting Christmas Eve, as if it's the gift of sun and fun they know is coming and have been asking for all year.

But why?

Summer is my season of discontent, and not just because of the scorching temperatures and mind-numbing humidity. It's roughly 21/2 months of time off for the kids. Granted, there's a break from school-year carpooling. But keeping young ones at bay all summer can be just as tiresome. And it's expensive.

To keep their kids out of their hair, parents spend thousands of dollars on camp fees. I'm no exception. I saved for months to pay for my 15-year-old to "work" for free as a counselor in training.

It was worth every squirreled cent. In my blended family, we have five kids on break from school. I work from home. I thrive on planning, organization and structure. They thrive on leaving dirty dishes in the kitchen sink. Do the math.

This summer, my twin college seniors and my 18-year-old stepdaughter were employed only part-time. That left long stretches for recreation, much of which consisted of "The Tyra Banks Show" "It's On with Alexa Chung," and "Sixteen and Pregnant," starring Whitney, Ebony and Amber.

Amber was having Gary's baby. After moving in together, Gary stupidly spent all their savings, which freaked out Amber's parents. Gary used to be Amber's brother's best friend, but not since he and Amber hooked up. Did I mention that the TV is within earshot of my office?

The girls' erratic work and social schedules ensured that a) there was never a good time to help me around the house and b) for more than two months, I either cooked too much food for dinner, or too little. With no universal set bedtime, our house was lit up like a bank until all hours of the night. Cars containing friends and friends of friends, pulled in and out of our driveway so often that we considered designating lanes for loading and unloading passengers. The traffic would trigger incessant barking from our dog, perfectly timed to coordinate with my business telephone calls.

Once the younger two were done with camp, a typical day in this household consisted of teenagers alternately scavenging the contents of the pantry and whining that there's nothing to eat.

I thought the end was near as August wound down and the older ones started trickling off to college. But this year the madness is prolonged because of where Labor Day falls: School doesn't begin until Sept. 8. That's practically the end of the month!

Unable to contain my enthusiasm for opening day, I've laid out my 15-year-old's first-day-of-school outfit; my stepson's brown paper lunch bag is packed in the fridge. They're signed up for music lessons, religion classes and after-school sports. Their cell phones are charged, their backpacks are locked and loaded.

Let the rigid schedules and the frigid temperatures begin!