My undies are in a bundle. Why? Compact fluorescent light bulbs. I think they’re a crock. Not only do they cost ten times more than incandescent bulbs, they burn out faster, too. Sure, they’re supposed to last longer but they don’t. In fact, the ones we bought burned out even faster! They put out half the light as regular bulbs and take way too long to warm up. The fact that they each have 5 mgs of mercury in them only makes me madder. If one breaks and you touch it, you’re risking your health and don’t you dare throw it in the garbage. Still, people will. How great for the environment -- plus they're ugly as sin! I've got some in my decorative sconces and …

Oh, no. I’m doing it again.

Another momologue. I should have known better but sometimes it’s so hard to stop. It’s in my DNA. I’m a mom. Sometimes I just go on and on about stuff. The problem is, if I go too far my kids get that dreaded disease. You know the one I mean: momonucleosis.

Teens are most susceptible. My son recently got it. I was on some binge about his homework. Then it started. The signs. First a soft sigh, then a louder one. It quickly moved to eye rolls. Soon both eyes were glazed over. I tried to bring him back. I said, “Cookies!” but he was unresponsive. I had gone too far. Defeated, I led him up to his room and had him lie down on his bed. 

When I called the doctor, he chuckled and said, “Give him two videogames and call me in the morning.” I wasn’t please, though it seemed like an easy fix. Thank goodness his homework was done.

So I apologize. I didn’t mean to go on like that. Next time I’ll know better. Like when I bring up the subject of bagless vacuums. I think they suck -- or rather that they don’t. I don’t care if that Dyson guy does have a cool accent. He’s full of BS….

Oh, no. I can see from your eyes that it’s happening again.

Time to stop.

Summer is here and school is out, which means my life is officially crazy. Sure, I can sleep in a little more and the burden of hounding the kids about homework has stopped, but those things don’t support my argument. So instead, let's focus on all the extra meal-making and chauffeuring I have to do. To make it easier, I tried to get a new car for my daughter, but the dealership refused the trade. ;)  Seriously, though, I'd like to talk about the hardest thing there is about summer: the pressure to make sure my kids are ‘productive.’

It seems summers, these days, are less about relaxation and more about getting ahead.

It’s weird. We’ve got a lot of kids in our neighborhood but I rarely see them around. They’re all at camps, classes, and practices to increase their skills -- make them stronger, smarter, better. I’m curious, am I the only one who thinks this is strange? When did the bar get set so high?  When did pick up baseball games at the local park turn into daily practice and weekend tournaments three hours away? Kids are taking ACTs when they’re sophomores, or younger. Private tutoring is a booming business. Plus it seems like a parent’s social status revolves more around their kids’ accomplishments than their own. That’s a lot of pressure -- for both parents and kids - -causing headaches all around. Plus we all know the higher we raise our expectations, the greater our chances for disappointment.

I know, I know. Global competition is fierce. The economic gap is widening. A lot of parents are worried that their kids won’t grow up to have lives as good as what they’ve got right now. Parents want to give their kids a fighting chance, but are they giving them ulcers, too?  And this ‘program for success’ we’re feeding them, does it allow their independence and creativity to blossom?

I wish I knew the answer to all of this, but I don’t. I just know I don’t like it. But if I boycott this movement toward over-parenting, will that put my kids at a disadvantage? Kids today seem smarter and more talented than they’ve ever been before. Still, statistically, half of them are below average. Scary thought?

Anyway, I’m curious to hear what you think about this. Got a moment? Give me your thoughts!