There are a couple of things that I do that I think really help me be a better parent. One is to not beat my kids in public(if I don't have to) and the other is that once a year I take each of my kids separately on a "daddy trip". I think I talked in an earlier entry about my trip with Caytie. Well, this weekend it was Jacksons turn. We left on Friday for Florida. THe great thing about the daddy trip is that it forces you to talk with your kid. No mother around to act as a buffer and you are the only one there to answer his sometimes stupid questions. My son is 9 and this is our 5th time to go on the trip. I have noticed thats he gets older it becomes more important I make good decisions. When he was 5 I could take him just about anywhere. He didn't understand the bad words and didn't ask about the "drunk" idiots that might be hanging around. Now that he is 9 I am running into a few problems. On Saturday, we went to the Florida Marlins baseball game.After a rain delay, we made it to our seats. These 3 drunk idiots came and sat in front of us and were there to heckle the Florida players in the bullpen. THey had a sign that said "free sheep now". I still dont know what this means but I think it is code for,we live on a pirate ship because these idiots starting calling the players everything in the book. "you f***** piece of Marlin s***" one would yell. Then the other would shout "suck my d*** Cantu !!". The other people in my section with children were visibly unconformable. I sat there for a bit trying to figure out what to do. I could have moved but I was in MY seat and I overheard these guys talking about how the seats were much better than the ones they were suppose to be in. I then asked myself " what would God do". It was about then that one of the guys spilled his beer on his friend and they begin yelling at each other. So, instead of taking the high road, I stood up and yelled " hey, idiots! yes, I'm talking to you. I have a 9 year old here and I am sick on answering his questions about your bad words.So here is what we are going to do, you are going to go back to your seat and continue fighting OR you are going to sit down and shut you inbred mouth!!" "this is your only warning!!" I then sat back down and started explaining to my son how it was wrong that I yelled at the strangers and I would try and be a better person. He left, scared and full of questions.
Besides that bump in the road, daddy trip has been good. We learned about pitching coaches and what a hit and run is. Good times.
I am 5-1 this week in the playoffs so things are good.THis month is going to be very busy. Here in Florida on business/vacation until 6-9 then home for 3 days.THen on 6-12 I am in Vegas for the World Series of Poker. I will be back on 6-19 for a wedding and my 20 year high school reunion. I am back in Vegas on 6-22 for more WSOP. I am back in Oklahoma on 6-26 for a few days before returning to Vegas for the main event, then back to Florida on 7-7 for 2 weeks. A busy stretch ahead but should be fun and make for some interesting blog entries. Have a great Memorial Day.
