We have great neighbors on either side of us. They are both very different type of neighbors, but they are equally great to have. On one side, we have a couple with grown kids who leave us be. We politely talk if forced to and we feel so inclined, but mostly it's a polite how-do-you-do and we continue with what we are doing. You don't feel forced to be "friends," but we also know we can count of them if we need them.
On the other side of us, a mere 10 feet from our house, we have our other neighbors. These are the friendly, talk all day/night in the yard neighbors. They have three children who are older than Anthony, but they still play together. The neighbors invite us over for drinks, and when on vacation, we watch one another's cats. Sometimes, you feel obligated to talk or be friendly even when you don't want to be, but that's okay. It's nice to have friends so close.
They have a son, we'll call him Neighbor's Son, or NS, who is very generous to Builder Boy. He gives him toys and clothes and loves to play pirates and army with him. He's a bit older, but is so desperately trying to stay little-he's just not ready to grow up. I like that about him because it seems that kids grow up so fast anymore.
Last fall, before we started to hibernate, Builder Boy and NS were playing outside with Builder Boy's cap gun. NS mentioned that he had lost his cap gun, but still had caps for it. He immediately ran and got them for Builder Boy to use. Shortly thereafter, we lost the gun. I was convinced that in a moment of mommy frustration, I hid the gun from Builder Boy to stop inappropriate gun play. I searched high and low and could not find it. This went on for months.
Fast forward to this summer...in the yard while talking to NS, I mentioned how our yards were the black hole for lost toys. He asked why and so I explained the story of Builder Boy's gun. Later that night, there was a knock at our back door. It was NS and he had Builder Boy's gun. I was overjoyed that it wasn't my fault and Builder Boy was overjoyed to properly play cowboy again! It did seem strange that the very day, a mere couple of hours after I mentioned that the gun was missing, poof! NS finds it "in his yard."
NS is a nice kid. He's generous. But still...perhaps a klepto in training?
But you gotta give him credit for coming clean. He had lost his gun - maybe he thought that was his when he found it? It sounds like he's a nice kid and usually generous, so I'd give him the benefit of the doubt. Don't we all need that sometimes?
Posted by: Martial Arts Mom | July 30, 2008 at 02:34 PM