Once upon a time, my daughter, then 2 years old, advocated that I haze my entire platoon by confiscating their socks.

A thread.

Back then, I was a schoolhouse Platoon Commander responsible for 50-60 entry level Pvts-LCpls. It was a demanding job with ridiculous hours, but Plt-level leadership is the best job in the Corps and you'll never convince me otherwise.

This particular day, unknown to me, Quickdaughter had "resisted a rest" at naptime. Played with her socks instead. My wife had stormed in and angrily snatched the socks right off her feet.

So in her little toddler brain, "being bad" → "your socks get taken away."

That day, I got home so late I missed dinner, the one thing I promised her I would try never to do (in garrison). This was owing to a particular shitheaded Marine forcing us to NJP him (god, THAT fucking guy was a whole separate thread).

It's a process. Paperwork, statements, rights, and it's not like the rest of my work for the day disappeared. So I get home really late, near daughter's bedtime. She, of course, is still happy to see me.

Her: "How was your day, Daddy?"
Me: "Well I got to see you, so, good!"

Her: "And before, with your Marines?"
Me: "That part was... alright."
Her: "You had to yell at one?"
Me: "Yeah, but that's just part of Daddy's job. What do YOU think I should about that Marine?"
Her: "Take away... THEIR SOCKS."

Me: "'THEIR' socks? Only one guy fucked up, kid. You mean take away 'his' socks?"
Her: "No, ALL their socks."
Me: "Baby girl, I'm pretty sure I'ma have to run that one by 1stSgt."

Next day, I warned them: I was their last line of defense before an angry toddler had them all sockless.

Month later, a new join is late to formation. One of my SLs goes, "Take away his socks!" Sinking terror on his face, like "Oh shit, is that a thing? How bad did I fuck up?"

All of those Marines are either EASed or NCOs by now. I stay in touch with a lot of them. Several have carried the "take away their socks" joke forward to their own units.

Daughter is now 6 and "the world's tiniest SNCO." (She is downright obsessed with punctuality, orderliness, and hydration.)

Every day when I head out, she wishes me off with, "Hope you don't have to take away anyone's socks today, Dad."

Hey @Breanna_clark01 you were interested in seeing this.

Hey @jsharkey67 for the nostalgia. :D

I'm going to go out on a limb here and say, @kbwagers you would very likely enjoy this story.