So we have these neighbors with kids the same ages as ours and we've recently discovered the joys of riding bikes in the street. Dh doesn't really approve of this but I think it's ok as long as the boys heed my frequent and loud bellow, "CAR!!" whenever one is approaching. Usually it's all fine and good and the neighbor mom and I sit around and talk about stuff that moms who aren't very good friends talk about, like
1. kids
2. recipes
3. things on sale
4. cleaning
Which usually causes me to reflect on the lameness of my life.
Anyway, when the neighbor mom isn't home, sometimes the neighbor dad brings the kids out to ride. And we don't sit together and talk about stuff because that would be Incredibly Awkward. But he does let his very small children roam about my yard (no problem), dink around with tools in the garage (a bit of a problem), and drink my Coke Zero when I'm not looking (BIG PROBLEM). I try to just smile and do the gentle kind of reminder but not exactly discipline move that one must do when a child is being ridiculous in front of their parent but not reprimanded by that parent.
The thing about this situation is that the neighbor kids have an extremely overdeveloped sense of hearing and whenever our garage door opens, they fly to the front window and start screaming my kids' names. And also ask many many questions, such as, "Where are you going?" "Why?" And, always a favorite, "Can we come?" After 10 minutes of getting teeth/hair brushed, shoes on, ipods and books stowed, snacks packed, etc., the
very last thing I feel like doing is answering these questions and then prying my children away from their window and into the car. I actually really like the neighbor mom; we can hang out in pajamas while we wait for the bus and she doesn't seem to notice that all I could find was church shoes and I haven't washed my face. (Although one time she did refer to making your bed each day as something "good people" do. I guess I'm a good person 1 day a week.)
