Do you drive your kids to school? You have to get to the school half an hour early, just to get a parking spot remotely near the entrance and then the whole time you have to sit and listen to them complain about anything and everything that crosses their mind. Most of which, somehow you're absolutely responsible for, like them misplacing their library books or how they're hungry because they refused to eat the bacon and eggs you woke up early to cook.

When you go to pick them up, you still have to sit for at least half an hour, and while you're free of listening to their complaints, you know they'll resume as soon as they open your car door. It's maddening, but you still do it every day because you love them and want to save them from riding the stinky, sweat box school bus you had to ride when you were a kid.

Then, when all is said and done, the still seem to work how embarrassing you were in one way, shape or form. You didn't do your hair. Your boots didn't match your coat. You didn't wash the car. There's always something.

Don't you ever want to repay their complaining by funning things up by intentionally embarrassing them...just once? I mean, seriously, if you're going to be chastised anyway, why not commit the crime?

During many of my hurry up and wait moments outside of my sons' school, I thought about how I could thank them for their never ending gratitude. Here are some of my ideas:

• Show up in mismatched pajamas and curlers, or swimsuit and rain boots
• Use those car markers to write reasons why I love my sons all over my car
• Use the same car markers to write reminders of the things they “forgot” to do that week
• Put crazy rims on my minivan, highlighted by neon pink running lights
• Stand outside the car with my sons' teddy bears and shout “Here they are! No crying tonight!” when the step out the door
• Roll down the windows and blast Air Supply and Meatloaf “best of” CDs
• Decorate the van for every holiday, never forgetting twinkle lights
• Running to them, arms open and covering them in hugs and kisses, must wear bright lipstick
• Go goth for a day, then punk the next - continue to alternate back and forth
• Bring baby pictures and share them with parents and classmates

What would happen if I turned the tide and actually, intentionally did something truly embarrassing just for their benefits. Maybe they would think twice next time—possibly even being grateful for everything I do? Yeah, probably not, but it would be fun anyway.