Being in the business of offering vacations to families, I hear common objections as to why they can't get away.
No time and no money being at the top of the list.
But the one objection I hear that is particularly disturbing is "We can't take a vacation because our children are involved in too many activities".
Listen up parents; your kids need a break as well.
Society has shifted so much since my youth.
When I was a kid we didn't play organized sports until we were much older.
Whatever was in season or in vogue, my childhood buds and I were out playing pick-up games or acting as our favorite movie characters.
It was a simple time.
Nowadays, we have little Johnny involved in so many extracurricular activities from the age of four it is not remarkable to find that they are often stressed-out.
Kids get stressed-out the same as you and I because, believe it or not, they don't want to let us down.
You can see it on their faces when they look at their parents after they do something good or bad.
It is then and there you can see the nervous tension on their face and in their actions.
It doesn't make much sense to you on the surface because we all want to be carefree kids again.
The fact of the matter is that there isn't much time that is carefree anymore.
Our children learn at a much faster rate than we did with the advent of computers, computer programs, varied TV programming, and the internet.
With greater knowledge comes responsibility.
And responsibility involves duty and conscientious and that leads to stressful situations and stressed-out youth.
Going to practice one or more times a week and it becomes a "chore" instead of "play" puts stress into your kids' life.
Acting and being treated as an adult too early clearly has damaging effects demonstrated unfortunately by what has happened to so many childhood actors.
Have you noticed the stress signs for your child? Do you know what physical signs to look for? Some signs your younger child might be demonstrating stress are:

• Clinging to a parent
• Crying more than usual
• Having temper tantrums
• Displaying regressive behaviors (thumb sucking, bedwetting, fear of the dark, etc)

As they grow older, some stress signs manifest themselves as:

• Stomach aches or the sudden need to go to the bathroom
• Headaches
• Sleep problems
• No appetite or wanting to eat all the time
• Experience slow recovery from common illness
• Develop a stutter
• Grind their teeth, especially in their sleep

Talk with your kids about how they feel about extracurricular activities.
Believe me, you will not harm your kid's chances of obtaining a scholarship or ruin their chances of turning pro by you taking a vacation.
In fact, experts agree that vacations are essential to the mental and physical health well being of everyone, parents and children alike.
Growing up, I was ardent about not missing a game.
I always felt it if you committed to the team then you shouldn't miss a game or practice.
When I think back on it, when my teammates did go on vacation, I couldn't help but notice they came back more relaxed and happier, not to mention more productive.
If you look at the pictures around your home or office and they only include school and organized activity pictures, you need to take a vacation.
If not for you, then do it for your children's sake.