Parents, WWYD?

[traceimage]

They also barge into my house a lot without asking, run into the game room I've set up, slam the door and start turning on the Wii, computer, etc. but won't interact with my kids, just want to use their equipment. They also eat me out of house and home. Every time, they're asking for 2nd and 3rd helpings of strawberry milk, croissants, brownies, sandwiches, popsicles, anything I make them, etc, etc!

I think them barging into your house without asking means your relationship is at a level to "butt in." 

This relationship level stuff makes me think of Roundcorners...where's he been? I remember he was always talking about wanting to achieve a barging-in relationship with his neighbors...I think he called it a level 5 friendship. That was his goal but it was impossible in Irvine because we're all mean and unfriendly.

 

[socal78]

Haha! Good memory, Trace. I wonder how Roundcorners in doing in LBC. I noticed he hasn't logged-in in a while. I wonder if he got that Level 5 friendship.

I don't know about you guys but I'd be kind of weirded out if I walked downstairs and found some neighbor guy drinking milk out of the jug, standing in front of my fridge with the door open. I don't mind as much if it's just the neighbor kids but I'm perfectly happy not living in an episode of "Everybody Loves Raymond". I value my privacy A LOT especially the older I get. I enjoy and need my own quiet space. I meet friends on my own terms, even longtime friends. However, I do hope to be that one house where the kid's friends always feel welcome, stay for dinner, and hopefully have a life-long friendship with my boys. Not every kid has a happy home life, so, I'll gladly be the surrogate mom if they need somewhere to be.

How about you guys? Who wants a "Level 5"? 

 

[traceimage]

Haha! Good memory, Trace. I wonder how Roundcorners in doing in LBC. I noticed he hasn't logged-in in a while. I wonder if he got that Level 5 friendship.

I don't know about you guys but I'd be kind of weirded out if I walked downstairs and found some neighbor guy drinking milk out of the jug, standing in front of my fridge with the door open. I don't mind as much if it's just the neighbor kids but I'm perfectly happy not living in an episode of "Everybody Loves Raymond". I value my privacy A LOT especially the older I get. I enjoy and need my own quiet space. I meet friends on my own terms, even longtime friends. However, I do hope to be that one house where the kid's friends always feel welcome, stay for dinner, and hopefully have a life-long friendship with my boys. Not every kid has a happy home life, so, I'll gladly be the surrogate mom if they need somewhere to be.

How about you guys? Who wants a "Level 5"? 

I don't want a "Level 5." I like to start with a smile-and-wave relationship with my neighbors, then move on to hello-how-are-you, then eventually longer conversations and if things work out and we click, a real friendship. Truthfully, I think I only have a Level 5 relationship with my family.

 

[cubiczirconia]

3.5 is good enough. Know the names and numbers, and can rely during emergencies. Share small day to day happenings, kids play and snack together..Anything more would be suffocating for me.

 

[socal78]

: Well, so much for me telling the kids' mom.

Yesterday after school, they went the wrong way again. They saw me see them and got all flustered about it but went right ahead with it anyway.

Unfortunately, NSR is probably right - Darwin might win this one. 

 

[irvinehomeowner]

You need to lock the pantry and the fridge.

 

[nosuchreality]

: Well, so much for me telling the kids' mom.

Yesterday after school, they went the wrong way again. They saw me see them and got all flustered about it but went right ahead with it anyway.

Unfortunately, NSR is probably right - Darwin might win this one. 

Who got flustered? The kids.  If so that means mom did talk to them and probably read them the riot act. 

What's the wrong way mean?  Across the middle around the curve?

 

[socal78]

Yeah, the kids. They got all nervous when they saw me as they were headed their usual way.

2 ways to go.

1 way = Safe. Crosswalks. Crossing guards. Takes a bit longer to get home and more uphill walking.

2nd way = Shortcut. No crosswalks up that way.  Crossing the street on a hill at a blind corner. Cars get going fast. Same spot a man died last year when I posted about the dead body lying on the sidewalk. (Guy on a dirt bike, speeding. Lost control. Flew off. Bleeding out his orifices, dead as a doorknob.) That's a few yards from where the boys cross.

 

[Tieloop]

They also barge into my house a lot without asking, run into the game room I've set up, slam the door and start turning on the Wii, computer, etc. but won't interact with my kids, just want to use their equipment. They also eat me out of house and home. Every time, they're asking for 2nd and 3rd helpings of strawberry milk, croissants, brownies, sandwiches, popsicles, anything I make them, etc, etc!

I think them barging into your house without asking means your relationship is at a level to "butt in." 

This relationship level stuff makes me think of Roundcorners...where's he been? I remember he was always talking about wanting to achieve a barging-in relationship with his neighbors...I think he called it a level 5 friendship. That was his goal but it was impossible in Irvine because we're all mean and unfriendly.

Level 5 friendship sounds like a multi-level marketing term.   

"Ms. SoCal, if you up your brownie production to once a week and lay off the cross walk thing, I think we can bump you up to level 5."