the 'joy' of neighborhood kids

First let me be clear: I love the fact that Kennedy has friends in the neighborhood to play with and occupy dull time with! In our old subdivision there were no small kids that lived within our proximity and since there was no park there wasn't a central area for us to hang out to potentially meet anyone. So, needless to say having kids knocking on the front and back door during all waking hours is something I'm still adjusting to. The family who lived in our house before we did had three small kids who were friends with the kids in our neighborhood and we met them all because no one seemed to have realized a new family had moved in?

THE GOOD

• When I'm busy around the house, Ken doesn't have to wait for me to "make time" for her.
• Kennedy is active and they spend almost all their time burning off energy outside (I'm going to lose my mind once it starts snowing).
• She gets to know the kids in her pre-school class on a more personal level. Well at least one of them whom I'll call A since I did not ask her parents permission to include her in this post.
• We as parents get to experience trusting her behaviors/actions from afar.
• There are plenty more good reasons.

Let's talk about A. Oh how I wish Kennedy could have known her longer; like those friends who've been friends since they were babies. Yes, I know this usually happens with cousins or the children of close friends. Well, Kennedy doesn't have ANY cousins her own age and Kennedy had already turned  2 by the time any of my friends had babies. And let's be honest it's the most exciting thing to envision your best friends daughter being your daughter's best friend but a two year age gap at that time is massive. And so I get off topic! Back to A!

The dynamic between these two is wonderful! Kennedy is one year younger than A, but it goes mostly without notice. They don't fight or get snippy with each other, they share without having to be told to, they end their play dates when they are told it's time to come inside/go home without quarrel, and to make it even better A's backyard is practically our backyard so if they do happen to be playing outside we can usually see and hear all that goes on. Unfortunately Kennedy now wants a gerbil thanks to the one A has. I told her maybe one day in the future but gerbils are the one rodent that really scare the shit out of me. I probably got bit once as a kid and my brain was never fully to forget the experience. Sorry, Ken!

THE BAD

• Knocks and doorbells all throughout the day; without fail it begins precisely when Piper closes her weary eyes for a nap.
• Knocks and doorbells even after you've told them that Kennedy can't come out and play.
• Bickering while playing because the age gaps are just far enough apart to have different developmental skills.
• Kids that play in your yard after they're told Kennedy can't come out right now.
• Kids that refuse to take no for an answer.
• Kids that question why you're telling them it's time to go home.
• Having Kennedy pick up bad playtime manners from kids who have bad playtime manners.
• There are PLENTY more bad reasons but I've already taken up too much time.

Now, let's talk about B and C. Again I did not ask their parents permission to discuss them in this post so let's just follow alphabetical suit. Oh how I sometimes wish these kids lived on a different street. Even if they can see through the back door (the sliding glass door that leads onto our little deck) that we're sitting down and eating dinner they will continue to knock. And knock, and knock, and knock even if you politely smile and hold up your plate of food. They were good friends with the kids that lived here before us so coming over to play is part of their normal routine.

Yes, we have days that are wonderful and they don't fight and when Kennedy doesn't get annoyed with them. Most often than not though, I want to pull my hair out. Unbeknownst to dad, Kennedy had excused herself from playing with B and C and decided to take it easy in the playroom. A knocked on the door and I invited her inside if it was fine with her mom - who confirmed with a wave from their backdoor across the backyards. So needless to say, when B an C invited themselves over, dad let them in because he assumed this was a prior arrangement between the girls. One broken owl figurine in Ken's room and a broken window screen in the living room later, it was time for them to set sail. GUH! It's so infuriating to have children that aren't yours come into your house uninvited and have them destroy things! Yes, I could have sent them home right away but I thought I would let them all test the waters after being separated for awhile.

Overall, I was just fed up and wished all the kids could be like A.

Luckily I had plans with my gal pals later in the day and this kept me going through the insanity that is neighborhood children. We had planned on a crafting afternoon that involved friendship bracelet making! Yes, this is serious.

November 15, 2015: Chelsea hard a work on a bracelet. Bad photo you say? Brittany brought over alcohol!

Okay, so the photo quality more-so had to do with me holding a fidgety Piper and wanting to get a quick shot of this finger-weaving action! But as the caption says, Brittany brought some adult beverages with her! Chelsea brought some embroidery thread/yarn, Caytee brought herself and I made dinner. It was a great end to my day as I haven't had a lot of down time to accommodate for friend time. We chatted, had some drinks, ate a delicious dinner, and laughed through one of the worst Lifetime movies ever. If you and your friends are looking for a good old fashioned chuckle, I implore you to watch A Wife's Nightmare. The plot escalates quickly and suddenly and you find yourself adding details the movie so clearly forgot.

Now that the ladies have departed, the girls are in bed, the mess is cleaned up and my homework is done I can hit the sheets.

Ding dong!

Leia