SCREAMS OF THE FATHER

I yelled at a man today. Screamed at him, actually. In a hotel lobby. And 12 hours later, I still haven't gotten over it. The anger still courses through me. I'm not sure why I got so angry. I even apologized to the guy for my outburst 5 minutes later. Still, I don't think my anger was unjustified. When it comes to my emotions, I feel very insecure, inexperienced. Maybe most men do. It all started when my family was trying to check out of our hotel room after a weekend retreat for work. Families were invited and the boss was paying for the room on the company credit card. Somehow the lady behind the front desk was unwilling to charge the room to the company credit card. So while we were trying to resolve the matter, my son Parker, who is every bit the toddler of 2.5 years old, got bored and frustrated. He started screaming. Parker is and has always been a screamer. It's hard to be the parent of a screamer. The dirty looks you get from others. The "why can't you control your child" glares. And the way it makes you think, why can't I control my child? To be honest, I don't completely know why my son screams. I know part of it is because he is in the "terrible twos." But he screamed at younger ages, too, so that is not the full answer. Another element is he is a strong willed child, and his boredom led him to react in a strong willed way. Part of it is also a result of his disability. His therapists tell us that his Cerebral Palsy has left him with sensory deprivation. Screaming is a way to jolt his system when he needs it. But of course, people unfamiliar with Parker don't know this. Including the man I yelled at today. He, too, was waiting in the lobby. After about three loud screams from Parker, he had had enough and yelled at him. I immediately blew my top. I screamed at him...LOUD...in front of a lot of people in the hotel lobby. "Don't yell at my son," I hollered. "He has Cerebral Palsy and he screams because he can't control himself. So DON'T YELL AT MY SON." The guy remained silent, I think shocked at my outburst. Believe me, screaming and yelling is not my modus operandi. It's very rare that I would raise my voice like that to a complete stranger. But something snapped. I had to walk outside for a few minutes to calm down. I still need to calm down from it. My wife was glad I yelled at him. She says I need to work at not bottling up my emotions, instead letting them out. Even in crowded hotel lobbies. So why am I still so worked up about it? Why did I feel the need to apologize? And why does my son have to scream? All ongoing questions for another day, I suppose.

BUBBA LOVES THE JO BROS

My son's favorite band is the Jonas Brothers. He listens to them on the computer or the CD stereo or on Radio Disney almost nonstop. I have to admit, they have grown on me. Their songs are catchy and their lyrics are clean. Nick, Joe and Kevin Jonas make a decided effort to promote abstinence until marriage through the wearing of, and public discussion of, their purity rings. Plus they openly talk about the importance of the Bible and their Christian faith in their lives. You gotta love and admire that. Their dad is a former pastor and he and his wife are raising these three talented young men right, even amidst all of the success and fame. More power to them. Never heard them? Here is a link to Parker's favorite song, "Burnin' up." The video is very clever, too.

UP, UP AND AWAY

Gas prices in the Sacramento are now consistently over the $2 mark. I guess I knew it was coming. But I sure enjoyed the lower prices while they lasted. They were great for the MM family budget. I doubt we will get back under $2 any time soon, if ever. But as the price continues to rise, you can bet the national media won't blame the Obama administration for it.

Parker vs. Matterhorn

The Media Matters family just returned from a trip to Disneyland. We had a blast. Parker loves to ride the rides. And since he is now 35" tall, he was tall enough to go on the Matterhorn. This bobsled ride roller coaster is a Disney tradition. So even though he is only 2.5 years old we decided to take Parker on it. And I think he would have been fine. Except for the fact that the ride starts off with the bobsled entering a cave and you ride in complete darkness for about 30 seconds. I don't think Parker ever really recovered from that. I was sitting with him the whole time. But I still think the darkness caught him off guard. So he whimpered his way through his first ride on the Matterhorn. Next year, we can prepare him in advance and I think he will do fine. Even though the Matterhorn ride wasn't a big hit, Parker loved the Dumbo, Teacups and Carousel rides. His favorite word at Disneyland was "again." He always wanted to go on the rides "again." Every ride that is except for the Matterhorn.

ANOTHER SILLY SONG

This is the song I sing to Parker at bed time. Usually, he wants me to rock him to sleep. It's a simple tune, but I can't describe the music in words.

"Parker, oh Parker it's time to go nigh-nigh.

Parker, oh Parker I hope that you don't cry.

Parker, oh Parker it's time to take a nap.

Parker, oh Parker fall asleep in daddy's lap.

Parker, oh Parker time to go to sleep.

Parker, oh Parker now don't you make a peep.

Parker, oh Parker it's time to go to bed.

Parker, oh Parker lay down your sleepy head."

PARKER'S FOUR LETTER WORD

Our son Parker has been in speech therapy for over a year now. And it has been tremendously helpful. Before therapy he wasn't talking at all, and now he has a vocablualry of more than 50 words. So we have been very pleased with, and blessed by, his progress. But there is one sound he is having trouble with. He can't say "TR" as in truck. Instead, the "TR" comes out like an "F." So when he tries to say "truck," it comes out as a 4-letter word. Parker likes to stand on our bed, look out the window and watch the vehicles go by on our busy street. He can tell you whether each car passing by is a "car" or a "f...." He isn't trying to say a nasty word so it is all very cute and harmless. Some people probably give us dirty looks when he says his version of "truck" in public, but who cares. We know what he is really saying. When I told his speech therapist about the "TR" sound coming out as an "F" she chuckled and said "we'll work on it." And they are. And I have no doubt Parker will be saying "truck," and "train" and even "transportation" before too long.

DENVER DUMPS COACH

I don't blame the NFL's Denver Broncos owner for firing Coach Mike Shanahan. I know he is a good coach, with Super Bowl wins, but the last few years his teams have been consistently mediocre. And I think he put way too much faith in quarterback Jay Cutler, who in my opinion, doesn't have that winning instinct that makes him a great player or team leader. Sometimes when a team is under performing, you have to shake things up a bit. And firing Shanahan may do that. It's the same as when the NBA's Sacramento Kings fired Coach Rick Adelman. I supported that move, too, because they weren't performing up to potential. Mrs. MM thinks it was a bad move to fire Shanahan. I am supportive. We'll see in the new year who was right.