This past week has been one that I wish to never repeat. Over the weekend, we received the news that Joseph's grandma was declining in health. His parents flew out to Alabama to be with her. That was Sunday night.
Monday night, our kids are living the life in our backyard. Playing, having a grand old time in spring weather. Because summer arrives in a week or two. It is not even 7pm yet and our neighbor yells out her back window/door "hey kids... it's getting late... some people are going to bed. It's time to be quiet."
Joseph was out with the kids. This is the second or third time this neighbor has done this. However, this was the first time one of us was actually outside to hear it. In past times, it has come from a kid telling us. Joseph came inside to tell me. I was irate. They've been doing construction work on the exterior of their home for two weeks now and it's right outside Gemma and Lydia's rooms. So naps hadn't been superb. But I have kept my complaints to myself as construction/noise is part of residential living.
I leave the house before I even think. This neighbor has also, in past communication, informed us that we are terrible parents because we let our kids play in the street... on a cul-de-sac... with us outside with them. GASP! Yes, a car may need to slow down or stop for a minute while all the kids (not just mine) get to the side of the street. We don't play on sidewalks because they are too bumpy and my kids trip all the time.
I politely ring the doorbell and am bombarded by the couple. Among other things, they claimed my kids are "always outside" being loud. Great! That's wonderful! I love it! They can hear my kids when we're at the park at the end of the cul-de-sac. Again, great! You must have awesome hearing because I don't hear them. Then came the emotional part. They informed me that I had too many children than I could control and am a liberal parent who lets my children run wild and free. And told me they had to talk another neighbor down from calling CPS on me when Gemma wandered down to the park at the end of street (5 houses away) when the neighbor kids played hide and seek. Granted, she was potty training so only had underwear and a shirt on. And I didn't know she went there as I ran to grab Lydia and Gemma had been hiding in my bush in the front yard. So yes, someone "found" her in the 3 minutes I wasn't near her. And that person just happens to be a neighbor friend of our neighbor. Mind you, this neighbor didn't say anything to me when I got to Gemma and Gemma was not distraught. She didn't even realize she was missing.
I lost it. I politely informed them with all the respect I could muster that they would not talk to my children. If there is an issue, to please knock and inform me. They didn't take it well and threatened to blast music from their hot tub every night. I was fine with that. We'd have a great dance party and that's why we all have noise machines/fans: to tune out the outside noise. At this point, I walked away.
I don't do confrontations well and then to have someone criticize my children and my parenting, nope. Plus, during the whole conversation, I just kept thinking of research study after research study that advocate for everything my children do. I tell Joseph about it and he is mad. We are up until the wee hours of the morning just beyond upset and physically shaking.
Tuesday comes and we talk to a few police friends just to ensure we are good. Noise ordinance isn't until 10pm so they could still call a loud noise complaint but the police are just going to stop by and remind us. Most officers get tired of the same neighbor calling again and again and will often tell the neighbor to stop after a while. I can handle that. If someone filed a complaint with CPS, CPS would show up but just to look around the house. Again, if the same people keep calling CPS, they get mad at them and ask them to stop wasting their time and resources on the same complaint.
Tuesday night, Joseph comes home from something with Tanner and tells me his aunt died. It was very sudden. Joseph's mom was already in Alabama due to Joseph's grandma's health. His sister (Joe's aunt) said she wasn't feeling well and Joe's mom took her blood pressure. It was way off so took her to the hospital. Before she even got on the life flight for Pensacola, she passed away. She was healthy and young. The next day, Joseph's grandma passes away.
As with any funeral, there is a mad rush to figure out plans. Joseph ended up going with Ashton and Tanner and then picking up his sister at the Houston airport. If Lydia was just a little older, we probably would have all gone. But 10+ hour road trip with a kid that has never left Houston before didn't sound fun. The drive and first funeral are done. Now, they'll spend some time in Pensacola at the beach before heading to the second funeral. The little girls and I have been enjoying our time together. But I still am very paranoid about our neighbors. Like my anxiety just shoots up if I see their car on the street. I don't want another confrontation. But I also am not going to stop my kids from playing in my backyard.
