We have this kid in the neighborhood... I don't know how we didn't meet him last fall as I guess he's been here since he was born. But our luck has run out.
8pm School Night: Doorbell rings.
Greg and I: ???
Kid: Can Ally come out and play?
Me: Um no, she's getting ready for bed.
Kid: Okay. Can she come out and play?
Me: No...
Kid: Why not?
Me: She'd getting ready for bed.
Kid: Where's Ally? (trying to come into our house)
Me: (considering slamming the door) She's going to bed, come by after school tomorrow.
Repeat the same scenario between 8-8:30pm a few more times. I finally asked the kid his name, (it'll be Mark for internet purposes) and I guess he spoke to Ally at school (they are in the same class) because she was soon asking when she could play with Mark. Never sounded like a great answer.
Sunday morning Mark rang the doorbell. And he doesn't ring it once, he rings it like 3 times and if you don't answer in a split second, he rings several more. *grits teeth* And I didn't have a good excuse to keep Ally from going out to play. So Emily and Ally went outside and I went back to making waffles for brunch.
About 10 minutes later, I stepped outside to call them in. And you guessed it, they were no where to be found. I've never met Mark's parents, I didn't even know where they live. So Greg, two neighbors, and I walked up and down the street looking for them. I now know where Mark lives. The house with the huge 7 foot privacy fence (fences are not the norm in our neighborhood). With a trampoline. And pool. *trys not to faint*
Emily and Ally were collected from Mark's yard and given a stern talking to about not leaving our yard. "But Mark said we could." Mark is 7 years old and a complete brat, do not listen to a word he says!
Continuing on Sunday, we let all the kids out to play after brunch. And Mark shows up. Fine whatever, stay in our yard. About an hour later I stepped outside and another of neighbors came over and complained how Mark was riding his bike in the street (it's a suburb cul-de-sac with 2 side streets so a car passes by about once every ten minutes). The neighbor said Mark was trying to get my kids to do it too. Great... So I did what every mom would do, I told the kids we were going to the gym.
Mark: I'll tell my mom I'm going!
Me: ???
My kids: Yippee!
Me: NO! Um, I can't bring you because I've never met your parents and it's for members only.
Ally: He's a mem...
Me: SHHH! Sorry Mark, see you later!
Guess who was waiting in our driveway when we returned? Mark... But we had a soccer game and then dinner and baths and "Sorry Mark, see you later!"
Yesterday, Mark and another kid (we'll call him Brian) rang the doorbell at about 7pm (at least it wasn't 8). Fine, fine, play in our yard. Except Ally didn't want to play outside. So then Mark began running around in my house with his dirty shoes on. NO! He was going upstairs and through the kitchen pantry like he owned the place. OUT, NOW! Geez, I didn't realize what an uptight bitch I was before I met Mark. There's just no way I'm going to be responsible for another kid in my house when I haven't met his parents (do they even exist?). Let alone a rotten brat who doesn't listen.
Finally everyone was outside and a mom with a 3 year old walked into our yard. Looked a bit like Brian... Yep, she wanted to check up on where he was playing. So I asked about Mark and his parents. She said Mark just started showing up at her house one day very much like how he did at ours and after a week, she finally went to Mark's parents house to meet them. Unfortunately one of the kids interrupted us and I didn't get to hear what her thoughts were on the parents. But I thought it was awesome that she would check up on her child as no one in the neighborhood really knows us.
Right now no one is allowed at Mark's house until we meet his parents. And I'm very tempted to never meet his parents because if they don't care he's running up and down our neighborhood going into complete stranger's houses then I really do not want my kids under their supervision. Sure we live in a "safe" neighborhood but he's 7 years old for pete's sake! I hate that his "freedom" is such a draw to my kids and now they are questioning our rules. But I'm completely fine with making our yard the neighborhood meeting place, I might even bring out snacks next time. Either that or I'm disconnecting the doorbell.
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