As my regular reader already knows, I have three children. In addition to a four-year old princess, there are two young gentlemen living within my castle. The Prince of Logic (aka the Architect) looks like me, speaks like me and acts like me (both flattering and also annoying at times). His younger brother is the Prince of Expression (aka the Artist) with his artistic and musical talent coupled with his tendency to dramatize everything.

A friend spent the afternoon with the princely duo and stayed on for dinner. Once the meal was complete, I told the threesome to get in the car. The Queen (may she live forever) asked me to pick up a few dozen eggs on the way home. After a long 20 minute drive, we had completed half of our mission and successfully reduced the interior noise by 33%. With one task remaining, we headed for the store.

It was at this point that we realized that the Architect had no shoes. The ramifications of this were immediately understood. Shoeless shopping is not allowed in states which do not start with 'A' and end in 'sas'. Leaving your children unattended in your vehicle is also a big no-no, at least here in Texas. I'm quite certain that my irritation was plain to my son. His failure to accessorize his feet was now going to cost me an extra 30 minutes of driving.

A mile down the road, the strained silence in the vehicle was broken by a simple suggestion: "I could hide in the trunk." My immediate thought was that I would stuff him there myself. Soon this idea had grown from solution to adventure. His brother chimed in, 'Can I hide in the trunk too?'

Driving towards the crossroads of decision, my mind mulled the question: Am I a child abuser or a loving parent? Abuse had its advantages - it would save me 30 minutes plus provide my kids an adventure they would remember (and recount) for years to come. However, the risk was the potential of having my kids taken away. A monster who goes shopping with his kids stuffed in the cramped trunk of his car doesn't deserve to have kids.

I considered the options, weighed the risk vs. reward and made my decision.

The children did make it home safely, eggs were purchased from the store at some point that same evening and a new law was passed that very night: shoes are now required in order to gain admittance to any vehicle.