I'm starting to dread the ding of my iPhone that tells me there's another message from a Facebook friend. Teacher assignments for my daughter's elementary school came out late last week, and it seems every message that comes in is another parent telling me that their child won't be in my daughter's class. With each bit of news, her face tears at me all the more.

One of the best things about having kids is re-living all the good stuff from your own childhood. The stuff you had to give up because you grew up, but really, you weren't ready to. The stuff that you enjoy even more the second time around. Stuff like this:

1. Trampolines. Not only are they actually really fun, but they are quite a workout, too. A word to the wise: Use the bathroom first. Our bladders are not what they used to be.

The mercury is rising, and the pool is open. So who's placing bets on how long it takes for the kids to start in on the mantra of summer? Five days before the first "I'm bored"? Maybe we'll make it a whole week?

It seems even fresh pool water could use a pick-me-up after a few days. How about a modern twist on some classic pool games to drive the cranky out of the kids and help you retain your summer sanity?

So, picture this. You're at the park with your kids. It's summer break. It's hot. And a random adult walks into the general area, plops down on one of the nice benches where you are enjoying the shadiness while you watch your kids frolic, and proceeds to eat her lunch.

Do you run, shrieking for your kids? Do you call a cop? Or do you say hi, maybe strike up a conversation? OR do you maybe just glance at the kids and return to page 257 of your Kindle?

If you fall in categories one and two, stop reading. You probably won't feel bad for two child-free people who made the mistake of eating donuts in a park without bringing some kids along as their entrance fee. They were ticketed, by the way.

Whether by car or train or airplane, you and your family have to get where you're going this summer SO YOU CAN HAVE SOME FUN -- and ideally you'll get there with a little contentment along the way. In order to make happier travel times, your kids will likely need to be entertained along the way. So how are you going to pull that off?

How about if we give you some great activities for entertaining your kids while you travel. In fact, how about if we give you 25 great ideas. That ought to tide them over, huh?

When SeaWorld trainer Dawn Brancheau was killed by an orca she was working with, I can't be the only parent whose first thoughts were "Oh my God, those poor kids who saw that go down" followed quickly by "No WAY is my kid going to go see that." Is it any wonder SeaWorld in San Diego just opened its first Shamu show in four decades without a trainer in the water? They want parents to be happy.

It's that time of year when you sit down at the dining room table and start the same old argument with your significant other. The one I like to call "No, I don't wanna go there again. We went there laaaaast year." Ever notice that just TALKING about your family's summer road trip makes you sound like your kids when you're actually ON said road trip?

To borrow a classic phrase from my childhood or, well, Vanilla Ice, "stop, collaborate, and listen!" Throw out his list. Throw out your list. It's time to start fresh. I'm talking a list of family-friendly summer road trip destinations you've probably never heard of, but SHOULD visit: