Who Took a Dump in My Happy Place?

Vroooooom
Vroooooom
Vroooooom

It's a soothing sound
Like ocean waves,
Or late summer crickets,
A babbling brook.
White noise
Silencing the rest of the house's occupants.

The vacuum glides over the carpet
Creating pleasing patterns -
Indoor crop circles,
Erasing the activity of the day.
The tread marks of little sneakers,
The grass clippings,
The tire wear from matchbox cars-
Wiped clean.

Vroooooom
Vroooooom
Vroooooom

Ahh.
Take me to the happy place.
The clean and happy place.

Vroooooom
Vroooooom
Vroo-CLICK
RATTLERATTLERATTLE
CLACK.

Lego.

I Will Break You

It's been some time

Since you acted out

In piano

Or got reprimanded

In swim.

Did we break your spirit

Like a wild mustang?

Did the pile of parenting books

Checked out from the library

Actually help?

Did you just get older and 

Figure out on your own that 

The fits weren't getting you anywhere?

Should I just have chilled out

And let time 

And development

Work their magic?

Could I have saved up some energy 

From my own counter-tantrum tantrums?

By the time you are too old

For all of it to matter,

I may have this parenting thing

All
Figured
Out.