They seem like friendly folks. Bear befriended the 15 year old son immediately.
They were playing in our back yard and I looked out to see what they were doing. The neighbor boy had a toy hockey stick and was whacking the marshmallow-sized blower buds off my peonies one by one. Encouraging Bear to try to catch them.
I haven’t been so livid in my memory. I send the kid home with no profanity, but some unpleasantries the others in the neighborhood probably heard.
The beds of peonies are wasted. The round pink buds are littering the yard.
I know a lot of you folks are in about that age. Please tell me you have more sense than to do that. I think my blood pressure is still elevated.
We’ve had friends over that did about the same thing. I can’t see how at least kids that age would be so sensless… even younger kids than 15 should know better…
awww dont sweat it blake. people do stuff. the kid is just a weirdo. blow him right off. the flowers will grow back, and itll be ok. ive found its better to not let other people determine how happy you are. like me for instance, my dad is always doing bad stuff to me, and rarely supports me…but i just keep my dreams alive, ya know. youre a cool lady blake, youll bounce back.
-sighs-
luckily, my parents raised me to not be that stupid…
At my dad’s house in Alabama there are two kids who have equally horrible manners…they call to try to invite themselves over to the pool/for dinner…it’s horrible
At our old place there were two financially less fortunate kids who lived next door. The way our house was set up the dining room table was in clear view of the windows by the front porch.
The kids (aged 9 and 5) would go on our porch and literally press their noses to the glass while we were eating dinner. It was awful. Bear and I developed the habit of eating in the other room. We also had a recurring pizza party night on Wednesdays and we’d invite the neighbors.
I should add, these kids were sweet kids and never caused any trouble.
Step 1: Turn on chainsaw
Step 2: Give Bear chainsaw
Step 3: Point Bear towards neighbor’s landscaping, and tell him to have fun
Step 4: Sit back, relax
Well all you can really do now is hope that Bear wont follow in the new “buddies” footsteps. But from what youve said it already sounds like Bear has more common sense than the new guy.
On the other hand, Monkeymans solution sounds equally as fun.
I used a similar analogy when I was explaining to Bear why that activity was wrong. He seemed to grasp it well so a demomstration using the neighbor was not necessary.
UPDATE:
I did talk to the kids dad this morning. I also said I was sorry for raising my voice with his son. He was suprised about the whole incident and asked good questions like “What was my son’s response after you scolded him?” He said he’d have given the kid a verbal lashing, too.
He explained that the kid is hyperactive and is sometimes impulsive, but is not a vandal. He promised he will talk to his son. He was very reasonable. The kid did say that he was sorry yesterday, too, when I saw him in the neighborhood. He seemed genuinely remorseful. So it looks like every one is being reasonable about the matter.
