@apirateslifeforme . I have a bag of books to go back when the library opens. I am re-reading a book I own now. Next I'll try Hoopla but prefer real paper books.
I know it's hard and a difficult neighborhood situation, but can you just tell your neighbor girl that you are busy and she needs to go home? Sounds like she needs boundaries.
Glad you fixed your games. And cool gratitude list with Josh.
After this morning, I'm starting to wonder if any kids have boundaries anymore! Josh and I went for our walk early this morning, instead of after lunch. Yes, I was thinking that if we alter our routine, maybe our neighbor wouldn't see us.
Nope. Within 5 minutes of our returning home, she was riding up our driveway on her bike. Again. Went right into our garage and started looking around, grabbing the bubbles again. I said no; she came out and opened them up, but finally heard me and put them back. She then left and went down the street to see her friend. I tried to get Josh to come back inside because it was close enough to lunchtime and I hadn't eaten anyway. But of course he whined and stalled and complained, so our neighbor had time to return with her friend in tow. I started putting away Josh's
scooter equipment and my chair, but then the girls started talking about chalk drawing. Here's the jaw drop moment (for me) - the friend, who doesn't even know us, said she wanted to draw in our driveway because it was shaded, unlike the neighbor's driveway. And then the neighbor girl said, "Okay, I'll get the chalk, they have a lot of it here," and proceeded into our garage to get Josh's tub of chalk. Um, hello? Seriously? Not your chalk, not your driveway! Thankfully, they suddenly decided to do another circle on their bikes in the road, at which point I quickly shut the garage door and took Josh inside. Of course now, I feel like we're trapped in here for the afternoon - it's hot anyway, and I've got Josh watching some movies. I have got to speak to her and/or her parents in a nice way. I understand these kids are bored and it's hard to not be around friends right now, but yes, there are still boundaries.
Even when I was a kid in the free-range late-70s and 80s, we didn't play at houses with kids half our age, we didn't play at houses where the adults didn't know us, we didn't go into other people's garages and play with their stuff - we either asked permission or waited until it was offered. And yes, I know I sound like a crochety old "get off my lawn" lady. But man, these kids seem to think they can do whatever they want, whenever they want, and what's ours is theirs, too.
Okay, I'll get off my soapbox now. End rant.
