Socks

What is it about boys and missing socks?
I have decided that the points of the Missing Sock Bermuda Triangle are- 1) my boys' feet, 2) the washer/dryer and 3) their sock drawers.
1) You would think that socks would be safe on their feet. But no, my princes don't ever bother to wear their shoes when they play football in the front yard. Every day it is the same thing. "What are you doing out there in your socks!? Put your shoes on!" This is second only to my screaming, "Put on a coat!" when it is 42 degrees. After prince #1 went through 4 pairs of socks in a week we called him for a formal proclamation. "Tim, today you are a man. Henceforth you will purchase your own socks." That worked!
2) Ahh, the washer and dryer, the commonly accused appliance. I truly think that my Maytag duo do eat some socks; but there are just as many stuck behind or under them. Like any boy will admit to a missed jump shot of socks to the wash cycle and actually fish them out from the tangle of cords and tubing behind the washer! After the laundry comes out of the dryer if I see socks with huge holes in them, I'll chuck them. One day Prince #2 came to me wailing, "My socks keep disappearing!" "Well sweetie, they had huge holes so I threw them out." "You are throwing them out???" He was absolutely incredulous. You would have thought I told him I spent the morning backing over his Ipod with the minivan.
3) I have also realized that if one boy has his brother's sock in his drawer it will stay there -forever. Every once in awhile when I dare to dump the drawers for a weed out I will find Elmo socks among my 14 year olds sweat socks. I don't even want to know what they are going to do with said sweat socks when they reach puberty.
And don't get me started on the connection to my boys and my missing sanity!