School is out: Mom needs a panic room

School is out and one mom desperate to entertain the kids may bolt herself in a panic room as she suddenly realizes why book stores have toy sections.

Children in summer camp read books during a literacy session in Jamaica Plain, Mass., in this 2011 file photo. For kids too young to go to camp, parents must deal with round-the-clock childcare and enterntainment.

Melanie Stetson Freeman/The Christian Science Monitor

June 14, 2012

Me: Hiiiiieeeee

Teri: What is up?

Lauren: Nothing. It’s day 3.

Teri: Day 3, the natives have started to get restless?

Me: That was actually Day 2.

Teri: Day 3, the natives have organized.

Me: Day 2, the natives were made to clean. Day 3, we went to Barnes and Noble. Having just returned, 2 of the 3 are fighting. BTW, why does Barnes and Noble have a toy section? It’s a BOOK STORE. Do they hate parents?

Teri: The chief is scared.

Can Syria heal? For many, Step 1 is learning the difficult truth.

Me: Out of my mind.

Three days down, 74 to go.

The Christian Science Monitor has assembled a diverse group of the best family and parenting bloggers out there. Our contributing and guest bloggers are not employed or directed by the Monitor, and the views expressed are the bloggers' own, as is responsibility for the content of their blogs. Lauren Parker-Gill blogs at Spill the Beans.