Yesterday my neighbor, who you may recall has made a habit of calling the city to report us a daycare center, yelled at my kids via an open window.
Apparently they were making too much noise in their five foot diameter, three inch deep plastic pool for their liking. It was 1pm in the afternoon.
The neighbor also made a show of talking to police or the city on the phone in our earshot, trying to file a complaint against the kids.
I was at work. When I was called I came home and blew an hour and a half of my day dealing with this s***. I went and knocked on their door. At first they refused to come to the door but eventually the wife came out and spoke to me at length.
I was not ill-mannered, I was not loud. I kept my anger inside and tried to live by the rule 'as far as possible without surrender, be on good terms with everyone'. I agreed to move the dastardly pool away from that section of the lawn (which was fine, as I felt it damaged the grass there anyhow and have been pushing for its relocation) and presumably they'll call me if they have any issues in the future (yeah, right).
I made it clear they were never to yell at my children, and I made it abundantly clear that I have a 30 year mortgage and I'm not going anywhere.
I have come to the conclusion, only recently, that life will never provide me with an extended period of calm, conflict-free existence. By no means is my life Indiana Jones-ish, but I do seem to draw everyday crap to me like the cliche of a moth to a flame.
Somehow knowing that seems to make it easier to deal with it; if it's meant to be, then so be it. Que Sera Sera and all that.
8 comments:
Sorry you had a bad day with neighbors. I recall when my children were young and they only do what they do best....is just play and neighbors seem to complain about everything.
Don't let it rent space in your head. Your blood pressure rising isn't worth it. Just move the pool to another area and ignore the ill mannered neighbor.
Hugs, Rose
I agree with Rose, I'm sure my experance with bad neighbors were not as bad as yours.....Once when we lived in Michigan our neighbors would throw dog s*** and just plan dirt at my kids....
The only good thing, was they moved before I did...
:)
Jeanne
It sounds like you handled it the best way you could, including not getting into a knock-down drag-out with them. I'm sorry you have to deal with these people, but maybe your face-to-face will shame them a little bit. Good luck.
Beth
Not sure why you had to drag Indiana into it :o)
In all seriousness, good job in keeping your cool, but getting your point across. Kudos!
I would let them yell all they want. They yell, call the cops on them. They swear etc they can just go on deaf ears to me. Ask the cops if there is any type of noise ordinance in the afternoon...if not TOUGH! I'm not being inconsiderate at all, I'm just thinking how loud can those kids be compared to any other kids? And at their age...geez what if they had teenagers next door with loud music? Give me a break! They they are yelling maybe the cops can cite them also? They place one foot on my land...I would just call the cops & have them listen to see how loud your kids are & how they are. Heck...be like Drew Peterson's neighbors & get a video camera on your house. Then tape your kids & then them yelling & put it on Youtube! See how they like looking like party poopers to kids! Ha!
Whats up with folks nowadays...I would just love to have kids next door to me..just to hear their laughter..and sometimes even the sceams!! I overlook..in the distance..our recreation part greak to sit here and watch the bairns playing around..there is a a high bit and lower part with a sort of grassy hill between the kids just love rolling down it I often am sorry for the parents as soemtimes they are there straight from school with their white shirts on not very white once they have been down the hill a few times !! Love for now Sybil xx
http://journals.aol.co.uk/sybilsybil45/villagelife/
Give me a break. What is wrong with people. What could be better than to hear children having fun on a summer day (in their own yard I might add). You did better than I would have done. Don't mess with my kids or grand kids...I will not be nice.
Hugs, Joyce
LMAO. Can you imagine that call coming over the dispatch radio?! LMAO. calling all units, we have a report of children playing in a pool in their yard....lmao...could be armed with hoses and inflatable sleeves, proceed with caution....LMAO.
Well done confronting the neighbor...hopefully you have some peace from here on.
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