Dear Family Coach: My twin girls returned from sleep-away summer camp after a four-week stint. I missed them terribly. Now that they are home I want to send them back. They are miserable, rude and complaining constantly. I feel like they are ungrateful for the amazing experience we gave them. Please help me deal with them now that they are home but unhappy. — Bewildered

Dear Bewildered: Your kids are lucky ducks that they were able to head off to camp. For four weeks, they spent every night making s'mores over the campfire with gaggles of giggling girls. Their days were filled with singing, playing, dirt, watersports, arts, gymnastics and friendship. Camp is a magical place, and you can't compete with that. It would be near impossible for you to mimic all that the girls experienced at camp. So it is natural for them to come home and feel a little let down. That doesn't mean they don't appreciate you or all you offer them on a day-to-day basis. It means they had a fantastic time at camp.

Re-entering the real world after spending a month in the summer camp bubble can be rough. Short periods of depression, moodiness and distant behavior aren't uncommon. To ease the transition, plan a few exciting activities when the kids get home. Short trips can also be helpful to get them out of the slump at home. Alternatively, lay low, allowing them a little downtime to acclimate to the family. Maybe allow them extra time on the phone or FaceTime to keep in touch with new friends made at camp. However, it is possible that nothing you do will really help. Time is on your side. Just wait it out. In a few weeks the old girls will be back and camp will be a sweet but distant memory.

Dear Family Coach: Whenever we go out to dinner our son demands the iPad. If we say no, he throws a wicked tantrum. We started giving it to him when he was a toddler so that we could get out to eat every now and then. But now we can't get him to eat a meal without it. How can we break the habit? — Techno Kid's Mom

Dear Mom: For parents who don't have access to much babysitting, going out for a meal produces a quandary. Parents can either head out to a child-friendly place for a less-than-stellar meal or go to a grown-up friendly restaurant and deal with a child who might be out of sorts. The choices aren't ideal. The iPad may have been a great temporary solution. But as you have gathered, it easily turns into a bad habit. Your son begs for his iPad because when he does you typically give it to him. You are showing him that a tantrum is an effective way to obtain something. I'm guessing that in addition to your son's iPad addiction, he is quite skilled at throwing a tantrum. Now's the time to break both bad habits.

Make a decision to stop using the iPad at any meal. Yes, I mean all meals, at home and at restaurants. Pick a date on the calendar. Tell your friends and family so they hold you accountable. Plan to eat out at only child-friendly restaurants for a while. Buy a few small games or toys to keep him busy at the restaurant. Be prepared for a mega tantrum for the first few meals. Hold steady and stand strong. It will pass as soon as your son sees that his behavior will not have any effect on you.

Dr. Catherine Pearlman, the founder of The Family Coach, LLC, advises parents on all matters of child rearing. To write to Dr. Pearlman, send her an email at [email protected]. To find out more about Dr. Catherine Pearlman and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.