Headbangers Ball

It used to be that Bob Seger's "Live Bullet'' was the most played CD in my car.

These days the sounds of bubblegum rock fill my Escape.

And for me, there is no escape.

Here's pretty much how every car ride plays out:

I get Zach buckled into his car seat and I turn on the ignition.

Then I cross my fingers, hoping he doesn't notice the song that's on the radio, which is usually tuned to classic rock or oldies.

Inevitably, Zach notices.

"Hannah?" he asks, and I comply, popping in his favorite CD.

"Mommy loud," he says.

I turn up the volume a little bit.

"Mommy loouud," he demands.

I turn the volume up a little more.

"Mommy loouuuuuud!!!!" he screams until I turn it up to a nearly earsplitting level.

And then Zach starts singing.

And I start singing.

And then Zach starts beat boxing.

And I start, er . . . well, I continue singing.

And we're rocking out.

Who cares if it's to Hannah Montana.

We're having a ball!

Zach shows off his beat-boxing skills

as he rocks out to Hannah Montana's

"Pumpin' Up The Party."