Man, I really didn’t expect to think this way as a father.
It’s the last day of school and my wife and I are ecstatic! Like run from the building pouring your locker contents into the trash as you go ecstatic!
Why?!
Being an active parent in the school community AND working to pay the bills AND trying to be a social human being is damn near impossible. Maybe it’s us, our community, our school, our work… but I don’t think so.
Summer gives us a chance to take a break. Mornings don’t have to start and crank up to 11 by 6:15am. Everyday doesn’t have to be non-stop from dawn to 9pm. We don’t have to go to parent meetings, boosters, flings, sales, conferences, clean ups, lock downs or whatever right in the middle of the day. And, yup, there’s far less drama from the kids… fewer hurt feelings, confusions, messed up schedules, illnesses.
Was it always this way? (Seriously, someone tell me it was. I’ll feel less crazed.)
Many of these things are necessary to provide kids a great launch into their own lives. And we have to pay the bills and socialize. There’s got to be a better balance though. I’m definitely not the only dad who has ratio strain right now (more energy going out than is coming back in).
If you’re wondering… yes, I’ve read the 4 hour work week and done the Tony Robbins thing and “do only the most important things”. It’s just frickin’ hard. Maybe the lack of tangible progress on community development, creation of value and wealth creation makes the ratio strain seem so much worse. There’s something to be said for working the land to feed your family and homeschooling…. then again, maybe we’d lose more than we gain in going for a less busy approach.
and with that… SCHOOL’S OUT… and I’m happy.
Social Mode 
I remember these days with fondness and that I often had a feeling of exhaustion. And I am not sure what I gave up was worth the return.
But, school’s out, school is out! Enjoy.