The frequency with which Younger Boy steals things is increasing at an alarming rate.  It used to be a couple of days per week that you could count on something of value going missing.  It is now increasing to multiple times per day and the circle of victims is widening.  It used to be just me and Middle Boy with the exception of Mom and Dad J.  Now it is friends and peers at daycare and school who are the victims.

Tonight the boys were playing with a neighborhood friend outside.  The three of them were riding bikes.  Neighborhood friend has an old cell phone that his mom uses to call him when he needs to come home.  I was outside and he kept dropping the phone so he asked if he could put it on the porch.  Sure...not a problem.

Younger Boy chose to take the phone off the porch and put it in his pocket.

When we were going inside for dinner the friend asked where his phone was.  Hmmm...no phone.  On top of that no one had seen it.  Then much to our amazement Younger Boy's pocket just started ringing...even though he didn't have the phone.  It was like magic!!  Of course immediately he stormed in the house before anyone said anything saying he didn't take the phone.  Really?  I am confused.

Later in the evening when we were at Ms. R's picking up the sleeping bag we left there it was time to leave.  Younger Boy comes out to the car with something in his pocket.  I ask what it is and he tells me that Ms. R gave him one of her son's games.  I went back inside to verify.  Of course...not true.  I had him take the game back inside and also give her son one of his games that was in the car as an apology.  Younger Boy SWORE that Ms. R was lying and that she had told him he could have it. 

The whole way home Middle Boy and I listened to a monologue about how no one trusts Younger Boy and how that isn't fair.  We should trust him and not just think it is him who is taking things.  He doesn't steal.  Other people are liars...all of them.

Prayers this doesn't become a bigger deal than it already is.