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Jen (DCM of Jacob 5, and Caleb, 2): Do you remember how summer felt as a kid? Days and days of no plans, interspersed with a family vacation in the obligatory station wagon?

Kelli (SAHM of Logan 8, and Whitney, 7): Being told to turn off the TV and go outside and play or face child labor inside...

Jen: Right. The endless summer of Go Play.

One of the guilt factors I have as a DCM is that my kids won't get to experience the same type of summer. With them in full time daycare and preschool I worry they won't get the "endless summer" we had as children.

Kelli: I understand that guilt -- I'm Catholic. But for me, the summer turns me into entertainer, mediator, and coordinator without the lunch break. Now I get why my mother kicked us out of the house

I get nothing done and what I get done, gets undone almost immediately. I miss my few hours of a clean house and peace and quiet. The kids fight more because they're together more. They want me to entertain them and when I do with sleep-overs, swimming with friends, and games together -- it's never enough.

Jen: But, at least you get to play with the kids, and you're not on a schedule. I think lack of a schedule is one of the nicest memories about summer for me.

Kelli: But, I can tell you some sort of regularly planned activity can become a lifesaver from whining, bickering and moaning in the summer.

That's how Fun Wednesdays developed for us. It became my savior because the kids had something to look forward to that broke up the week and squashed complaints of boredom. Plus, it allowed me one day a week to forget trying to get something done and just enjoy summer again from a kid perspective. Oooh, and a great bargaining tool too for model behavior!

Jen: You know, your Fun Wednesday last year actually inspired me to reconsider some of my summer plans. Jacob is in a full-time preschool that has a lot of great activities planned in the summer with a less rigorous academic program, but they still have the same schedule.

When I thought about what I wanted my kids to remember about the summer, I thought the Fun Wednesday might be the perfect compromise opportunity. So, I looked at your Fun Wednesday schedule and picked 3 of them I wanted to attend, taking those days off.

Kelli: It's a loose schedule of things the kids had been enjoying throughout the year and invited others to join us. Sometimes there was a big group of us at Folsom Lake and sometimes it was just me and the kids at Kings Skate.

I varied it a.m. and p.m. to accommodate hot spells and camps. I chose both indoor and outdoor activities that could be flip-flopped for heat. I tried to choose things that friends with younger kids could feel comfortable joining us. I mixed in free activities so it wouldn't always cost something to go somewhere.

Jen: Well, I really liked it. As a working mom, I often feel my kids are missing out on having a nostalgic summer. But, being able to take part in some of these events assuages the guilt a little bit. I've also made room for carefree time with them as well - like our trip to Tahoe with no schedule in sight!

Kelli: I love that Fun Wednesdays made me loosen my death grip on productivity and reminded me to enjoy the journey. I do think longingly about a clean kitchen, but then I remember all the great memories the kids and I are making and it doesn't really compare.

Jen: For me, I've requested a flexible work schedule that allows me every other Friday off. My husband, a high school teacher, is able to be with Jacob when his daily camp is over. My mother also volunteered to take Jacob for two weeks at the end of the summer to attend "Camp Momma and Poppa" with swimming and learning to play golf. And even though I won't be there, I know my son is still getting a "real summer".

Being a DCM will always have its benefits and drawbacks. It's learning to live with the drawbacks and making the best of the situation that will make a difference.

Kelli: You really did come up with a great plan to make summer count for both you and the kids. I also like that you've realized you don't need to do anything extraordinary.

I've found with my kids, their best memories come from things that were free or relatively inexpensive. Like the summer of catching crawdads at the creek. Just doing something together as a family is what really mattered to them.

Jen: Exactly. So, pull out that Fun Wednesday schedule already and see what we're going to Go Play!

Kelli Wheeler is a Sacramento mother of two and stay-at-home mom one Fun Wednesday away from earning her Way Cool Mom badge.

Jen Hall is a Sacramento mother of two and dual-career mom who believes sometimes you have to schedule some unscheduled fun and already has her next Fun Wednesday planned!

FUN WEDNESDAY PLANNER

Key: $ = under $25 family of four activity, $+ = between $25 - $40 depending on rental or ages, $$ = over $40 family of four activity

OUTDOOR

Beale's Point, Folsom Lake State Recreation Area - Free with $6 park admission

7806 Folsom-Auburn Rd., Folsom, 916-988-0205, www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=500

Pack a picnic, flotation devices and sand toys for a great lake in our own backyard.

Raging Waters - $$

1600 Exposition Blvd., Sacramento, 916-924-3747, www.rwsac.com

Great season pass value and attractions for all ages with free use of life vests. Better layout for supervision and more little kid friendly than Sunsplash.

Scandia Family Fun Center - $+

5070 Hillsdale Blvd., Sacramento, 916-331-5757, http://www.scandiasports.co...

Start with miniature golf with the option of bumper boats and race car driving/riding.

The Sacramento Zoo - $+

3930 W Land Park Dr., Sacramento, 916-808-5888, www.saczoo.com

Always a crowd pleaser, go in the morning to take advantage of livelier animals.

Folsom Zoo - $

403 Stafford Streets, Folsom, 916-351-3527, http://www.folsom.ca.us/dep...

A unique zoo sanctuary of non-releasable wild and pet animals with nearby park and train.

Seely Park with Water Splash Park - Free

3000 Pope Ave., Sacramento, 916-927-3802, http://www.fecrecpark.com/S...

Easy supervision for all ages at a clean park with a water play area.

Folsom Aquatic Center - $

1300 Riley Street, Folsom, 916-355-8318,

http://www.folsom.ca.us/dep...

Fun for all ages with water playground for little ones, waterslide and diving boards for bigger kids. They'll also love the underwater music in the big pool.

Effie Yeaw Nature Center - free with $6 park admission

2850 San Lorenzo Way, Carmichael, Located inside Ancil Hoffman County Park 916-489-4918, http://www.effieyeaw.org

In the American River Parkway take a nature safari on the walking trails along the American River Parkway. Guaranteed animal sightings if you start in the Visitor Center.

CSUS Aquatic Center - $+

1901 Hazel Avenue, Rancho Cordova, 916-278-2842, http://www.csusaquaticcente...

Older kids can use rented water sport equipment while little ones splash in the Lake Natoma beach area.

Gibson Ranch - $+

8556 Gibson Ranch Rd., Elverta, 916-991-7592, http://www.gibson-ranch.com...

Kids over 8 can ride a horseback trail or bring poles and bread for free fishing and feeding the waterfowl.

INDOOR

King's Skate Country - $+

2900 Bradshaw Road, Sacramento, 916-363-2643, or 10408 Franklin Blvd., Elk Grove, 916-684-2026, http://www.kingsskatecountr...

Rent skates or bring your own rollerblades to cut cost and still rock out to "Funkytown."

Skatetown Roseville - $+

1009 Orlando Avenue, Roseville, 916-783-8550, http://www.skatetown-rosevi...

Ice skating is a great way to cool down and mix it up. Special learning area and tools for little ones.

John's Incredible Pizza Co. - $$

384 N Sunrise Ave, Roseville, 916-772-1111, www.johnspizza.com

With an extensive buffet and variety of games (and rides!) an updated, yummier way to do Chuck E. Cheese.

Happy Tails Pet Sanctuary - Free

721 56th St., Sacramento, 916-556-1155, www.happytails.org

Kids will be surrounded by dozens of cats and do a good deed by volunteering playtime.

The Esquire IMAX Theatre - $$ with downtown parking

1211 K Street, Sacramento, 916-443-4629, http://www.imax.com/sacrame...

Catch an educational movie on the big, big screen.

RPM Indoor Kart Racing - $$

3130 Bradshaw Road, Sacramento, 916-368-7223, http://www.raceplacemotorsp...

This one's for the bigger kids, 8+. Take a quick go-cart lesson and they're off to the races.

Rocknasium - $$

720 Olive Dr # Z, Davis, 530-757-2902, www.rocknasium.com

Supervised, harnessed adventure for all ages at this indoor rock climbing facility.

Discovery Museum Science and Space Center - $

3615 Auburn Blvd., Sacramento, (916) 575-3941, http://www.thediscovery.org...

Making science fun and keeping minds fresh at this interactive experience for all ages.

Country Club Lanes Bowling and Fun Center - $+

2600 Watt Avenue, Sacramento, 916-482-5105

All age kids love GLO-Bowling, glow in the dark bowling, with lane bumpers and ball guides. There's also Laser Tag for older kids.

Capitol Aquarium - Free

1920 29th St., Sacramento, 916-452-5556, www.capitolaquarium.net

Kid of all ages will be mesmerized window shopping the extensive collection of fish.

WORTH TRAVELING FOR

Empire Mine State Historic Park - $

10791 East Empire St., Grass Valley, 530-273-8522, http://www.empiremine.org/v...

Young and old will be fascinated by the historic grounds and tours of California's richest hard rock mine.

Apple Hill, Patrick's Mountain Grown Fresh Berry Farm - $

4455 Pony Express Trail, Camino, 530/647-2833, www.patricksmountaingrown.com

Not just fall fun, u-pick berries make this a scenic and delicious trip worth making.

Jelly Belly Factory - Free

One Jelly Belly Lane, Fairfield, 1-800-522-3267, http://jellybelly.com/Cultu...

An intriguing experience for all ages and leave with Belly Flops from the gift shop.

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