Their Small Crimes

I've been going through and cleaning out the poetry notebook again. What joy it is to burn up the worst drivel in the woodstove! In amongst these forgettable pieces, I have found some fascinating quotes and scraps, including three pages of my sons' crimes from earlier days. I wish I knew when--perhaps 10 years ago? C-Dawg is now 21 and the other two are teens. Apparently my life was feeling out of control, the kids were driving me mad and I felt the need to catalog all these misdeeds to get a handle on them. It seems I was awarding an allowance and then subtracting for the crimes. I hope I remembered to praise the positive stuff. I wish I could say they've improved over time, lol!!  Though come to think of it, I haven't seen spitting, poking and punching for a while.......

Day One

C-Dawg
teased T-Dawg
teased B-Dawg in car
sneaked a granola bar
hurt B-Dawg's feelings, did not apologize
forgot chores
misbehaved before and at party
forgot chore
didn't listen to mom at night
didn't put away dirty stuff
forgot dirty laundry


B-Dawg
teased T-Dawg
forgot chores
poked T-Dawg
crimped the hose while Mom was using it (!!)
didn't listen to Mom at night

T-Dawg
spitting
spitting
spitting
spitting
spitting
talked back to Mom
disobeyed
forgot chores
arguing
poking
complained about cleaning up
didn't listen to Mom at night

====================

Day Two

C-Dawg
ate potato chips for breakfast (!!)
teased-T-Dawg
left clothing out
didn't put dirty underwear away
had to ask 4x to take sheets off bed
made popcorn only for himself (2x)
yelled at and punched brother
left stereo on twice
left wet clothing in mud room

B-Dawg
left pj's out
left sox out
left clothes out
left wet clothing in mud room
didn't pick up blocks

T-Dawg
left clothing out
left wet clothes in mud room
left pj's out

====================

Day 3

C-Dawg
left clothes out
sneaked two ice creams
left socks in playroom
left bowl in playroom
left TV on after 8 a.m.
left towel and clothes out
left stuff out in morning (?)
didn't turn off TV
sneaked Ritz Bitz
sneaked ice cream
left shoes on floor in bedroom
rude to Mom when asked to find lunchbag
left backpack on floor
left hat and jacket on floor
turned on TV without asking
left ropes out
left dad's thermos pitcher out
left hats and gloves all over floor

B-Dawg
left clothes out
brought bowl of soup to neighbors (this is bad?)
left a bowl in playroom
left clothes out
left pj's out
kept TV on after 8 a.m.
didn't turn off TV
left backpack out
didn't pick up blocks

T-Dawg
left clothes out
left bowl in playroom
(almost an angel?)