Summer interns and vacations. Talk to a summer intern and they’ll frequently say they liked what they were doing, WHEN they had a chance to do real work. The problem is that many adults take vacations in summer, something parents can forget when junior is telling them that they’ve sat around for a week doing not much of anything.
So remember, students and parents: there will be times when there is simply less for you to do in the summer. Those times won’t be fun. So make the most of the rest of your work experience, understand that this is pretty typical, and hope your boss remembers to bring you back some taffy.