The wrong crowd.

If we've said it once, we've said it a thousand times - take care in choosing your friends!
This is something we've tried to teach our kids from the time they could talk.

Well, one of the kiddos has chosen poorly in this category.
This new 'bestfriend', as young as he is, has already proven to be
T-R-O-U-B-L-E!

When he first started coming over to play we loved it! He was such a cutie, and always had a smile from ear to ear.
He'd wait on the back porch for the kids to come out. They'd play for hours and were as happy as clams.
I even spoke on the phone to his mother. She seemed nice enough, but kept asking if he was being a bother. Maybe that should have raised a few red flags.

Anyway, it wasn't long before the trouble started.
I don't mean the normal kid stuff. I mean big trouble, like vandalism and thievery!

We started noticing things around the house being really messed up; the gutters, our mailbox, some of the girls' toys, Joe's grilling equipment and storage.
And then things started disappearing from the back porch - most recently one of my throw rugs and a bag of  charcoal.
We've also seen things thrown here and there that we know came from neighboring houses.

Joey has had to ask the kid to leave more than once. But every day he's back, hollering for our youngest to come out and play.

How do we explain to our little one that the 'bestie' is no longer welcome? How do you say "No!" when those big brown eyes are looking at you just begging to go out and play?

If you have any ideas, let me know.
I'm at a loss.






Buddy - our youngest






















Sergeant Petey - the new best friend