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Having a kid just a day at the beach

It was a day off to be at the beach, and to let the Little Girl just play.

Her summer days are too often as scheduled as first grade. I wanted to let her romp. So I took a personal day and, with my girlfriend, drove to Sea Isle City.

My daughter was as peripatetic as the ocean: digging in the sand, jumping over waves. She doesn't get that kind of crazy playtime at her school day camp. It reminded me of how much better I had it as a kid, roaming the streets of my New York neighborhood, free to play and think and use my imagination.

It's often been said that children these days live lives that are too planned and adult-managed. There's little opportunity for discovery and serendipity in the days of 7-year-olds who follow the dictates of their parents' Google calendars.

Sure, scheduling is important, especially for dads with joint custody, who must delineate which nights the kid is sleeping where.

But, oh, I wish for my girl just a few free weeks to build her days like she (tried) to build a sand castle at Sea Isle yesterday.

Of course, if you give kids too much freedom, you get hit with the inevitable complaint: "Daddy, I'm bored."

You can't win. But you're a parent, so you already know that.