What Goes Around…

When I was in fifth grade I had a boyfriend. As much of a boyfriend as one can have in fifth grade. And remember people, this was in the 80s when kids were still kids at ten years old! Anyhoo, one day my mom called said boyfriend a “pinhead” in front of me, without really thinking that I may actually repeat it to him. Well, I did. And since then, we joke often about the honesty kids have and how they have no concept of when and why you should keep your mouth shut.

Blood Pressure by a11sus, on Flickr

Over the last few months, a couple of children have moved into our neighborhood. And unfortunately for me, I DO NOT like either one of them. Evan thinks both of them are the coolest kids EVER! My blood pressure sky rockets every time I hear the knock at our door or they find us playing in our yard. So I have tried to allow him to play with them but with some strict rules.

As in:

• No, you can not play in the street all afternoon long.
• No, you may not go over to their house and go in, especially since their parents let them run all over the neighborhood all the time and usually aren’t home when the kids are out playing.
• No, you may not go on a bike ride around the neighborhood without an adult when you are 5 years old!
• No, you may not go play in their back yards when their parents do not clean the massive amounts of trash buildup and broken playground equipment, in said yard.
• No, you may not play in their front yard because the front yard is on a ridiculously busy street and adult supervision is non existent. And I personally don’t think I like the “halloween decorations up all year long” look that they are sporting for their curb appeal.

Maybe I’m being *slightly* harsh but I have a real problem with children under the age of 10 running the neighborhood without supervision. These children have been in MY home, and neither set of parents have bothered to even come meet me! But I would rather have that, then Evan and Carter even being down the street without me. Both children are in 3rd grade, but I still think that is way too young to be doing what they are doing. But to each their own.

Along with the stress of the boys playing with these children, these children tend to bring out the worst in my boys. The two children aren’t necessarily “bad” children, they are just a little bit more worldly and street smart then I would like my children to be. Fortunately, the boy doesn’t really like playing with Evan and Carter, because after all he is 3 whole years older then them. And maybe because *cough cough* Evan’s mom tends to be kinda a buzz kill and won’t let him play in the street dodging cars all afternoon.

Well, last night, I had it with the dynamic of the 4 kids playing together. I had both boys come inside and knowingly said to Evan, “I do not like how you act when you are with “Johnny”. I don’t like how Johnny plays and how you behave when you are with him. So for the rest of the evening you may not play with him.”

“But mom, can I still play with ‘Susy’?”

“No, you may not play with Susy if she is playing with Johnny. I don’t like Johnny.”

Well, after getting my true feelings off my chest, I immediately regretted saying them out loud because I knew how this was going to end. And quickly I started praying to God that Evan would NOT repeat what I just said.

Within 10 minutes, Susy came up to the door to see if the boys could come out and play.

“Hey mom, can we go play with Susy, she’s not playing with Johnny anymore.”

Evan then turned to Susy before I could interrupt and explained why he just said that to me, “Susy, my mom doesn’t like Johnny and doesn’t like the way we disobey and act when I play with Johnny. And she also said, I am not allowed to play with you if you are playing with Johnny.”

And there you have it ladies and gentlemen! I just hid in the kitchen and yelled that dinner was ready so that Evan had a reason NOT to go outside. But now the damage is done and I am waiting for my house to get egged or a flaming poop filled bag left on my porch. Or even worse, their parents actually come meet the woman that said such terrible things about their children *gasp*. Really, that is the worst thing that can come of this because I don’t like people to begin with. And I would rather poke my eye out with a fork then have to deal with a conflict that includes people.

So now I just wait and keep my blinds shut! Thanks Evan! Sheesh!