BellaOnline Forums Relationships Married No Kids Kids + football + busy road...

Grey,
We were going to enclose the entire front yard with the fence, but it was expensive, so we only did one side of it--the property line betwen us and the next door neighbors. (Our front lawns used to flow into each other.) I guess we should really think about completing the fence.

Myra,
I could do that (I just can't tell you how much I want to do that) but I have to live with these people. You know? We're already the ones no one can figure out because we're CF.

I tell the kids not to climb the fence because I can fall back on the safety issue if anyone says anything, but I just don't know the proper way to approach the sprnkler issue. Also, I'm never out there when the kids are doing it. If I was standing there, I wouldn't have a problem mentioning to them, "Be careful not to run over my sprinkler so it won't get broken" but they basically use the driveway for a turn-around spot, so they'd be gone by the time I got out there to tell them.

Just don't call them monkeys when they climb the fence or you'll get ticketed by the police.

Did you hear about that? A Hispanic woman (I only mention it because race plays a factor) who works for Obama had these little kids playing in her tree, and they were African American. They didn't want to come down, so she asked the mom to get her little monkeys out of the tree. (This is the gist of the story, can't remember the details.) Anyway, the mom flipped out and called the police. The 6-year-old told police that he was "scarred" because he was called a monkey.

Give me a break! I am SO on the side of the woman who called them the monkeys!!

Cherry~ Having to live near them doesn't give them the right to cost you money every time they run over another sprinkler head. You could start keeping track of them and send the parents a bill every month.

I know my suggested actions are a little more extreme than you'd feel comfortable doing, but I honestly feel you are being a little to nice and forgiving in this situation. I understand that you don't want to be known as a bad neighbor, but that doesn't mean other people get to be bad neighbors at your expense. These kids, and the parents who have failed to teach them any better, are bad neighbors. Not you.

If I were you the next time the sprinkler gets broke... don't fix it. Wait and catch the next kid in your driveway, call the police and have him arrested for vandalism. After this happens to three or four kids on the block, maybe the parents will catch the drift.

I saw the post about putting up a sign about no trespassing. I love the one with the outline of the Doberman who says, "I can make if from here to the fence in 3 seconds. Can you?"

Get that one until you can put up the rest of the fence.

That should make some heads turn.

Myra,
You're absolutely right, of course.

Skeeter and Robin,
LOL!

We had to fence in our back yard at our house in town. When we got the place, there were 3 yards that all ran together and it was always the big local playground area. But that wasn't the only reason - bigger kids used our yard as a shortcut so they would not have to walk around the block. And our wonderful neighbor in the back did the same thing only with his car - why drive around the block when you can just go down someone's driveway and drive over their lawn to get home?

We still have problems with one neighbor and can't fence off that section because of a right of way on a shared driveway. Because of this, the kids still see our parking area as part of their play ground. My car has been hit with their balls many times. Their lawn service tosses all the kid stuff into our yard to mow theirs. I've spoken to the yard service and gotten "well, we have to get the stuff out of our way so we can work". I told them to toss it on their patio then but to keep it out of our yard. Toys are constantly left in the driveway though this isn't as much of a problem as it used to be since I simply drove right over them one day while the parents were standing outside watching. We also have problems with the parents parking in the driveway and blocking our access to our parking area.

HA easy fix!!! when the toys come to your yard.. claim them... they are great for that "filler space" at yard sales... most of my dog's new chew toys accidently strayed into my yard from the neighbors.

Llyn,
I really feel for you! That totally sucks!

Skeeter,
LOL! I just can't tell you how many times we ask one of the dogs, "Where did you get that ball?" Then we laugh and laugh knowing exactly where.