There Goes the Neighborhood

We moved recently, and one of the most wonderful parts of the new neighborhood is that it’s full of children. That’s also one of the downsides of the neighborhood. As soon as we arrived, I mean, as the moving truck was still outside, I saw signs that this neighborhood was kid-friendly. Bikes on the lawns, basketball nets, stray balls in random places. As the movers pulled away, the first curious kid wandered over. Since that first day here, not a day has gone by that we haven’t had a visitor, or that I haven’t had to retrieve my kids from random nearby homes to feed them, or put them to bed. One of the things I hadn’t realized is that once you let the neighbors kids in, you can’t get them out. They know when there’s homework, or when it’s time to go to bed, or when school is out. There’s no excuse you can use that they can’t suss out. The pantry is always open, and empty, and the floor is always muddy. On the plus side, when you start the grill, it’s like one big block party. I always have someone to turn to for the proverbial cup of sugar, or to watch the kids while I run to the store. I think the pile of random sneakers by the front door is worth it.