This summer, for the first time, I found myself the primary caregiver for my two sons while they were on that ridiculous warm-weather break from school.

I was determined that I would need no supplemental coverage. There would be no day care. No summer camp. No week-long trips to grandpa's house. No exchange program with Albania. Just dad. Superdad.

Too many times I didn't have enough time for the kids. I would shoo them away so I could work. I would pretend to listen to their youthful ramblings while my mind was miles away. I would watch from the sidelines while their mom's maternal instincts took care of the roughest moments of childhood.

This summer, however, I would make up for it. Every day would be an adventure -- but an educational one, designed to also increase their physical fitness, attune them with nature and give them an appreciation for other cultures. We would go on frequent hikes and climbs. We would ride our bikes across the land. Canoe across the Adirondacks. We would frequent the local beach for relaxing, cooling fun. We would get an annual pass to the safari park in nearby Quebec and take advantage of its playgrounds, water attractions and smoked meat sandwiches.

We would take a number of trips to see sights of all kinds. We would camp in the great outdoors. We'd visit the big cities: Boston and New York and Montreal. We'd see old friends and family; make new friends and family.

I had other plans for this summer, as well. While keeping the children wildly entertained, I was still going to find time to be wildly productive. My cluttered, cramped office space would be cleaned and organized. The yard would be meticulously trimmed and mowed. The boxes from last winter's move would finally be unpacked. I'd put a new floor down in the basement. Fix the garage roof. Oh, and I was going to use my spare time to write a wildly popular adolescent fiction book. Maybe something to do with wizards.

Labor Day is here. The kids are going back to school Wednesday and, going down my list, I have successfully completed "¦ well, I didn't kill the boys. That's something, right?

There were maybe two trips to the beach. One visit to the animal park. Never did get in a canoe, though we did hike to Dunkin' Donuts that one day. We didn't visit any of the big cities.

We did see family -- that time when we stopped to leave the kids for a week at grandpa's house and that other time when my brother-in-law came to fix the garage roof.

My office is still a mess. The basement floor is still bare, except for the boxes of unpacked stuff. The yard is a mess. I did manage to read one book this summer, but as for writing, well, I found time to put this column together.

Where did all the time go? I looked at the calendar, and summer vacation was two months long. I could have sworn summer lasted three months when I was a kid. Still, shouldn't two months -- even two months filled with rain -- last longer than this?

I know they messed with daylight savings time somehow this year. Perhaps instead of an hour we lost two or three weeks. Maybe that could explain it? Did we just have too many snow days? If I only had more time, I know I could do this. Just one more week "¦ maybe four more days?

Next summer, I'll know better. I'll set my sights lower. I vow to buy the kids an ice cream cone and go bowling once. Computer bowling maybe.

Eh, Superdad will probably just send them to camp.

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