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Originally Posted by BayleighL  I have (they are grown) 4 kids and now 7 grandkids. I love when my yard is filled with happy kids sounds. I also taught jr. high special ed and I loved those kids. And, they can be great when rallied to a cause. Someone has to be willing to mentor children. And, actually, in a world where families are often away from family, someone needs to mentor families. I totally get the neighbors can be rude thing, we've experienced that, too. But more often I have found that making real connections reaps rewards, like when we had a backyard wedding and I needed the surrounding neighbors to not mow, weed whack, etc. on primetime. My kids learned to respect "elders" when we were the only young family in a neighborhood filled with retirees still living in their homes. I started a Neighborhood Watch program and that became the vehicle for us to get to know some truly special people who became grand-neighbors to our children as they were born. Did they all want to listen to our kids - of course not! We need families who love their older neighbors and our (sometimes) yappy dogs. We are our best ambassadors. I truly hope all works out well for you. |
Yep, having a conversation, a good get-to-know-you sitdown with that person who may be driving you nuts often starts out positively with a whole box of goodies, a frank but very thoughtful bribe. Says I care about you as a person or as a family, even if you have been giving me headaches and want you on my side so here's a peace-offering; now, let's get to know one another! Sweets are a great ice-breaker, a way into another's heart, right through the stomach, lol.
Sure hope something works so the neybs come to see that their raucous kids are giving their neighbor a bad time and that they must respect all neighbors' reasonable wishes and needs if they want to be considered good neighbors. Having grown up a fun-loving swimmer myself and raised an overtly active outdoorsy, sports-loving kid of my own who had a whole block of friends who all seemed to live here, too, I know it's not necessary to continually scream and yell having fun doing anything.
Maybe after the visit, Gemy can have her peaceful home back. Who knows, one day those same kids may be carrying her groceries in, bringing her flowers or scaring off a would-be burglar when Gemy is away from home. Kids all over the place can discourage bad guys from breaking into a home, shooting the dogs and walking out with all the valuables.