Coming out...

After so many years of reading about the limiting effects of TV time, the ludicrous infestation of reality TV, and the decline of quality family time, I was hesitant to confess my secret addiction. But today I'm coming out.

I, Kerri Augusto, am a reality TV junkie. And I'm proud of it.

This summer, my addiction has been contagious and my entire family has become hooked on Fox's "So You Think You Can Dance". The benefits of family TV time have not been limited to boisterous cheers and silly bets (though there's lots of that). My children have become acquainted with many different forms of dance: they can recognize a tango, a waltz and a disco routine. They have learned to appreciate a variety of music and have downloaded everything from classical to jazz to hip-hop (clean versions!) on their MP3 players. But most importantly, they have come together.

Last week I watched my son take his sister in his arms and try to waltz across the living room. She was all smiles. This afternoon, they "choreographed" a dance to one of the HS Musical songs. They played nicely for over an hour -- a record for two children who generally can't stand each other for more than ten minutes. Watching my children dance, though not at all graceful, is exquisitely beautiful. And I have reality TV to thank for the experience.

Robbery at the Pump - Gas Up 50 Cents in 2 Months

This morning, I filled my gas tank at $2.75 a gallon. Amazing! Ridiculous! Suburban moms chauffeuring their kids to school, dance, gymnastics, music lessons, and so on, can surely understand my plight. According to a report in both the Boston Globe and the Boston Herald this week, gasoline prices rose an average of a nickel per gallon in Massachusetts over the past week. This was the ninth consecutive weekly increase. Gas prices are up 53 cents per gallon from early February, but Massachusetts gas prices unbelievably remain below the national average. The latest Lundberg Survey of 7,000 US gas stations pegged the average price at $2.78.

It's hard to believe that the first week in November, just before the presidential election; I filled up my SUV at $1.97 a gallon.

Last June, Congressman Marty Meehan prepared a report on the Impact of Increased Gasoline Prices on Family Budgets in Massachusetts.

The 2006 report concluded: Higher gas prices will affect summer vacations. The
Consumer Board, a leading private research firm, found that this year will mark a 28-year
low in travel, and a recent USA Today/Gallup Poll found that one-third of Americans said they were changing their summer vacation plans because of higher gas prices. Of those, 37 percent said they would reduce the number of trips they normally take, 26 percent said they’re canceling plans or simply can’t afford to take a trip and 23 percent said they will take
shorter trips.
Beyond disrupting travel, increasing gas prices are affecting all areas of family
budgets. A Quinnipiac University Poll found that 72 percent of people said that
the rising price of gasoline has been either a "very serious problem" or "a somewhat
serious problem" for their family.

Will the rising cost of gasoline change your summer vacation plans?

Will you travel less? take fewer day trips?

Will you stay in the Bay State? New England? Or venture elsewhere?

E-mail me and let me know if and how the price of gasoline may change your summer vacation plans at editor@baystateparent.com

And don't forget to look for the July issue of Bay State Parent magazine, featuring our 8th Annual Day Trip and Weekend Getaway Guide. Last year's guide won a national Parenting Publication of American (PPA) award. This year's guide will be jammed packed with ideas, that you'll want to keep the issue all summer.