Five-o

If you are trying to wake up your little one for school, and he's having a bit of a rough time getting up, there is one can't-miss thing you can say to get him up and going: "Dude - you're 5 today!"
And with that, Parker came to life. "I'm FIIIIIIIIVE!!!!" Great way to start the day.
Parker turned 5 on Monday, or St. Parker's Day, as it is known in my house. Parker was originally going to be named Patrick. Then, around 4:30 p.m. on March 17, 2003, as he took his first breath of air, my wife made an executive decision. "HIS ... NAME ... IS ... PARKER ..."
The doctor told her that we didn't have to name him right then. "PARKER. PARKER." Even though she was strapped to an operating table, we were not about to argue with her.
Parker is a happy kid, mainly because he finds joy in the little things in life.
Pile of laundry? Oh, that's good for diving in.
Banana? Also a sword.
Need to get somewhere in a hurry? Just yell "SUPER SPEED" and you will certainly run faster.
Although I am not always successful, I do try and keep my perspective by watching my kids and remembering what keeps them happy.
I wrote in a column a few years ago that the happiest I've ever seen Parker was when I walked into the kitchen and saw him sitting there, a bottle of pancake syrup turned up. "Drink syrup" has become the new "Lighten up - it's only life" in our household. Some other things I have learned from Parker:
- Some people miss the forest for the trees. Parker would argue you're missing the smaller things ON the trees. Go anywhere near a tree with Parker. He will stop and say, "Look - lichens." He loves finding lichens. Most of us never notice lichens. But start looking at trees you walk pass. Lichens are everywhere. And while you may not particularly care as much about lichens as Parker, keep in mind to look at the little things. And then look a little closer. You may find what you didn't even know you're looking for.
- When you're tired, go to sleep. Don't fight it. Just go get some rest. Granted, I don't suggest crawling under the table at Chili's and catching some shuteye if you are an adult, but you get the gist. Don't push yourself.
- Try every food you can. If you don't like it, you don't have to eat it again. But you never know when you'll hit a homerun. Parker's favorite food in the world: Pickled herring. Seriously.
He and his Grandpa sit down and eat jars of it (with bagel chips, of course). When he was about 2, we asked the pediatrician if it was OK for him to eat pickled herring and onions. He stared back at us for a moment and then said, "I can honestly say no parent has ever asked me that before."
- When you find a friend, accept that he changes. For Parker's case, that would be Jonathan, a friend who we have never seen, as he is invisible to everyone but Parker.
But in his time, Jonathan has been a giant moth, a tiny little boy and a giant boy. Jonathan seems to be the reason for many of Parker's missteps. Parker normally takes care of this by assuring us that he has put Jonathan in time-out.
- Find simple solutions in life. We were having breakfast at Waffle House the other morning, and he noticed the basket full of eggs in their fridge.
Parker suggested that, rather than keep the eggs there, they should simply get a chicken to keep out back. I told him this would be a problem, as they were close to a busy road. Parker quickly said, "Daddy, they'd have to put a gate up." Duh.
- The best medicine is some ice and a Band-Aid. Parker has had his share of spills, tumbles, bumps and knocks. And when he does, we (a) get a bag of ice that he holds on the spot for roughly a half a second and (b) put a Band-Aid on it, even if it's a bruise. Ready for action.
- Circle the wagons and protect your own. Parker and his sister both subscribe to the tenet of "You can't do that to my family. Only I can do that to my family." Parker and Allie may scrap once in a while. But that's family business. They've got each other's back.
- You'll have plenty of time to wear shoes when you're an adult. Try as I might to keep shoes on him, he just needs the liberty of bare feet.
Even if I put the shoes on him, chances are I will find them in the yard later on. Just go with it, and accept that his nasty little feet will look like mud for most of his childhood.
- Find a puddle. Stomp in it. It is clearly good for the soul.
So as we embark on the next year, barreling toward kindergarten, I will try and keep my Parker perspective, and learn from the little guy about how to stay happy and hope you will do the same thing.
In short, drink syrup.