Why does it bother me so badly when the neighborhood kids play in my front yard?? It didn't bother me so much when it was my own kids... but still, they're just kids, right? I mean sheesh, they're chasing each other with broomsticks, and playing keep away with a ball, not dealing drugs out of a 78 Trans Am!
But they have a tendency to um, trample my flowers every now and then. And sometimes they get their footballs stuck in my maple tree that is already trying to decide whether to live or die. And it irritates me.
Sometimes I go out and talk to them and point out the places where I've planted flowers.
...and see the green little leaves that are coming up and won't really keep growing if you keep hulahooping through here? Doyouseethem? And could you guys help them by sort of moving your game to the other side of the street? ...Which they politely agree to do - for the good of the flowers and everything. And I think they really do intend to TRY to stay out of my very large flowerbeds. But 10 minutes later the ball has rolled across the street, or the wagon game gets out of control or whatever.
It's not that I don't like the kids. I know and like them from substitute teaching at school. And when they come to the door selling Girl Scout Cookies, or Boy Scout Popcorn I do try to always buy something. I try to smile and be nice. Because they are good kids, and also because I don't want to be constantly cleaning egg off my house in about 5 years if they decide I've always been a mean old lady.
SO anyway...
the past few days, when they've left things in my yard, I've been taking them. You know, I drive in at 10pm and the broom handles they were dueling with earlier in the day are both laying in my flowerbeds. So I picked them up and put them in the trashcan in my garage. The next day it was a slightly deflated basketball in the middle of my lawn.
ETC.
And as I was putting the ball in the bottom of my trashcan, I had a sudden flashback to this (caution: several swear words...)
and I realized I am slowly but surely becoming Rita Delvecchio.
Welcome to the neighborhood, lady.
Nooooooooooooooooooo!!
17 comments:
I never would have pegged you for grumpy...
I never thought I'd be that lady either, but apparently I am. Our neighbors have weekly parties on Summer weekends (which have already started this year). It wouldn't bug me quite as much (though I'm sure they would still bother me) if they would at least leave their garbage out of my yard. Am I seriously expected to clean up styrafoam cups and plastic forks out of MY yard from someone else's party? Drives me nuts.
Just send my kids home if they trample your flowers, ok? ;)
ITA with Tori.
I only have patience for my kids. It's limited so I spend it all on them :D
HEY! That's TEH Walken! YAY!
Why? Because you work darn hard to plant and care for those flowers. I'd be really mad if mine were getting trampled too. And I loved the video. One of my favorite characters of hers.
Funny, we all seem to become some of what we think as a child is so "out there". Then we wake up 15 years later and discover that it isn't so strange to want the kids to stop trampling through your garden!!
Put up a fence... an electric one and then sit back with a glass of lemonade and watch... BWAHAHAH!
I'M KIDDING! Kind of... the kids in our neighborhood use our driveway when they are skateboarding. I guess it's got a steeper slant than the others... the worst part is that they won't get out of the way when we come home. We'll sit and wait and wait for them to get out of the drive way and they sit around chatting till I ask them to move... maybe I need an electric fence too...
We have some kids on our street that always play in our front yard and it bugs me soooo bad! They get all up in our business.
You are awesome, I would have totally done the same thing.
I'm with NCS,my patience is all used up with my kids.
I love Cheri Oteri!
so THAT's where our kids toys are ending up... ;)
Would it make a difference if they dealt drugs out of a BLACK Trans Am with a Gold Bird and a T-top? Sweet...
I once ran over the neighbor kids bike. He left on our driveway, and I got in my van before I opened the garage door. I just ran over the front wheel, but it bent it completely out of shape.
I felt REALLY bad, but his parents just said "Oh well, he shouldn't have left it in your driveway."
He never left anything in our yard after that.
I hate it when kids trample on your yard. The kids in my neighborhood kept thinking it would be fun to stack rocks on top of the mounds of snow. I'd clean up one round, and within a few days there was another. So bugged. (Stupid kids)
Oh man. I totally agree with you, you work hard to keep your hard nice, and it's not like the kids are purposely trying to terrorize it, it's just too painful to let them play there and possibly ruin the flowers you worked so hard to plant. Why aren't they playing in THEIR yard?
Lauren stole my comment.
I hate it when that happens! ;)
You know, I am the same way about my yard and the neighborhood orphans (I call them orphans because their parents don't seem to care about what they do.)
At the start of summer, I usually just park myself in a chair in my front yard and direct traffic away from my yard, till they are trained.
I don't think your Mrs Delveccio, you just want to protect the work you do in your front yard.....not a bad thing at all.
I live next to 2 families who throw loud parties every weekend, and one neighbor who sets off illegal fireworks. That'll wake you up! I commiserate with you!
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