A Civil World. Off-topic discussions on a variety of topics. > Time For a Coffee Break!
Am I completely off base in my feelings on this one?
Chartreuse:
Okay, yes, this is a passive aggressive way for me to vent and get some of this out before I end up saying something I regret to the neighbor or their delightful hoard. I realize I really really hate the neighbor kids and thus probably am oversensitive about all the stuff they do. Which is why I'm posting this here, wondering if I'm expecting too much from that delightful family.
Think of the following as a letter that I would love to send, but instead of sending, am just going to shred later.
--- Quote ---Dear Neighbor's kids:
I admit that I dislike you. I also admit that after all of the things you have pulled (including the incident involving our holiday lights), I do not trust you much at all, nor do I trust your parents to actually teach you what's appropriate and what's not. That being said, please take the following points into consideration.
Spring is wonderful. I know you're happy to be out and about, I am too. I know you're excited about the flowers and blossoms that are starting to come out now. So am I. Could you possibly be some dears and leave my landscaping alone? I realize you probably want to take some flowers home with you, and I do understand the appeal. All I ask is that you ask first. Tree blossoms don't always come off really easily. The petals that were shredded off the tree in the process of your attempting to yank flowers off only show that. I know it took a half dozen tries before you got a couple of flowers off, we saw you out there doing it. Had you knocked and asked, I'd have gotten out the clippers and actually taken off a small branch for you (which would last longer and be more enjoyable). Instead, you just mutilated the lower branches of the poor tree before you got a couple of blossoms that won't even last a couple of days.
This is where my concern comes in: I have a flowerbed. I've actually spent a fair amount of time prepping it, and in my current condition, it's been quite an effort to get my yard ready for spring. Please, oh, please, do not pick my flowers. Do not step in my flower bed, do not molest my plants. I've actually put some effort into this, and would like to be able to enjoy it for an entire season before it gets mangled. If you ask nicely, I'll trim you off some when they come in, just ASK. If I happen to find children's sized shoe prints in my flowerbed (which is up against the house, at the top of a hill, which is completely out of the way, you have no excuse), or find my plants pulled up or otherwise thrashed, I'm going to be extremely ticked off. Similarly, if my potted violas disappear, I'm going to be looking for you.
I realize that some people would say that "they're just kids", but you guys are what? 8-11ish? You're old enough that you really should know better. I realize that looking at your teenage siblings and the way your parents absolutely do nothing in regards to teaching you guys what's okay and what's not, I shouldn't expect too much. I'm just getting really tired of the fact that you guys seem to think you've got the run of the neighborhood and are entitled to do whatever you please, without thinking about anyone else's perspective. If I could, I'd put up a fence. Of course, I suspect in a few years, you'd probably just spraypaint all over the side of it.
I know your yard has absolutely no flowers in it. If you would like some flowers, I happen to still have some seeds. You're welcome to them, I'll be happy to give you instructions on how to grow them. It will take effort on your part, which seems to be something your family has a really hard time with. Nonetheless, I'd be happy to give you the seeds and teach you how to grow your own. All I ask is that you don't destroy what effort I've put into my own yard, simply because your family is unwilling to make your own efforts. A little work really is worth it, until your neighbors step in. Understand what I'm saying?
Thank you.
P.S. Could you please convince your parents to move? ;) I hear there are better places to live, far away from here. How about Siberia?
--- End quote ---
HogwartsAlum:
That's a great letter. If you burn it and the smoke goes to the sky, perhaps the universe will hear your plea!
I'm sorry you have to put up with that. I don't know who it is/was, but I have put those stick-in-the-ground reflectors at the end of my driveway twice and they have disappeared both times. Thanks, bunghead. I really love backing into the ditch when I come home after dark.
I think I will put some of the cast iron ones in concrete. Let's see them try to pull THOSE up.
Chartreuse:
--- Quote from: HogwartsAlum on March 12, 2007, 04:46:17 PM ---That's a great letter. If you burn it and the smoke goes to the sky, perhaps the universe will hear your plea!
I'm sorry you have to put up with that. I don't know who it is/was, but I have put those stick-in-the-ground reflectors at the end of my driveway twice and they have disappeared both times. Thanks, bunghead. I really love backing into the ditch when I come home after dark.
I think I will put some of the cast iron ones in concrete. Let's see them try to pull THOSE up.
--- End quote ---
Ugh. Don't you love that? You make the point to make your yard safer/more attractive, and somebody HAS to be a jerk and ruin it, just for the sake of doing so. I just don't understand that mentality, you know?
If it weren't for the climate, I think I'd put in a nice cactus garden.
Harriet Jones:
One of the neighbor kids ripped every.single.peony off of my plants a couple of years ago. I don't think I would have minded as much if she'd *picked* them, but they were all just mangled. >:(
Chocolate Cake:
Remember: Fences make for great neighbors!
Also: Don't underrate the effectiveness of using barbed shrubs to help guide kids around, as opposed to through, areas you want to protect
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