My children are animals

My children are animals.
Yes, it is true.
They are out of control.
I don't know what to do.

Fingernail paint
has been spilled on the floor.
With permanent marker
they wrote on the door.

They're climbing the dressers
and swinging from lights.
They're chasing each other
and getting in fights.

I send them outside
to keep myself sane.
Within five minutes
their in the house again.

So I've locked myself in
my bedroom anew.
When your children are animals,
what else can one do?

*This poem was written after:
1.   a certain unnamed girl left their fingernail polish out and a certain unnamed three year old spilled it in one of my 4 rooms with white carpet yesterday.
2.  A certain unnamed 5 year old climbed on top of his brother's dresser and almost knocked it down this morning.
3.  A certain unnamed 7 year old climbed on top of my dresser, stood up and broke the light above his head.

**This poem was written while a certain unnamed 11 year old chased his brothers and sisters around the house growling like a lion with ketchup on his face hoping to scare his younger brothers and sister.

copyright Chelsey Belt August 2011