Clear the mind
My vandalistic son
I've come to realize that raising boys brings a whole new meaning to being stressed out. The stress that my daughter has caused in her lifetime (17 yrs) does not compare to one year in the life of my boys. For example, oldest son fell numerous times down our stairs (even with baby gate) as a toddler - causing a delay in vacation plans to check for concussion; took door knobs off doors that we'd lock to keep him out; bit all the kids in daycare and got kicked out; began getting detention in 1st grade. Youngest son would go naked in the yard (front and back) as a toddler; beat up his older brother (still does); forget to ride the bus home from school (still does); poop in the street of our neighborhood during potty training because I told him not to do it in his pants; and the latest: vandalise our neighbors yard that was decorated for the holidays.
Now on the vandalism - it wasn't really. This neighbor decks out his yard in lights, moving figures, candy canes, etc. He lights up the 'hood at night. My son has to walk past his house to get on/off the bus everyday, so on the way home yesterday, he and a friend decided to touch the candy canes (idk why - maybe to see if they were real). Upon touching them, the whole string (10 of them) fell over. Apparently, they are not secure in the ground, but by some wire (???) The owner came to our house immediately to scold my son and talk to us. Hubby and I weren't home yet, so we got the call. Stress level shot up. When hubby got home, he walked over to neighbors house with son to apologize (omg - didn't you HATE when your parents did that?) It seems that someone had been knocking those canes over regularly (or could it have been the WIND maybe??) and by a stroke of "luck", my son got caught. Neighbor diffused a bit when son apologized and said he had NOT done it before - and it was an "accident". The man still forbid son back in his yard.
Now this just seems to have been blown out of proportion. Seems weird to still be shouting "DON'T TOUCH" to a 10 year old.
~peace~