OnTheLookout's Blog

Summer is approaching and kids are out to play, but if my neighbor has anything to do with it,my kids won't be.

Sighting a blanket code buried within the VB codes the neighbor across from me has deemed it her mission that my kids will not be playing in the cul-de-sac.  The other day she called the VB police department, my kids were playing in the street, on a dead end cul-de-sac -apparently this is bad parenting at the least and a criminal offense. An officer came out and informed us of the code (33-9) we were breaking citing liability issues. She isn't concerned about the welfare of my children, she is worried about her truck. She doesn't want the kids playing near her truck that she happens to park in the street, when she has a perfectly good driveway for that purpose. Well....can a kickball, tennis ball, nerf ball or badmitton ball actually do damage to a truck? They drive a Ford - maybe they don't make them like they use to, she should have bought a Chevy, I hear they are 'Like a Rock'.

For the 10 years we've lived in this house we have never had a problem. All the neighbors have watched the kids in the cul-de-sac grow up - from learning to ride a bike, to playing kickball, for the older kids on the block learning to drive a car..... For the most part we all get along. We mind our business. We have helped our neighbors out when they are in need. We've mowed their lawns, caught their stray dogs and put them back in their yards, fixed their cars, huddled together with no electricity during hurricanes, pooling food and barbecuing.

Why is there always that ONE neighbor who moves in and disrupts the order of things.

Oh, I know what you are thinking.....No we don't think we own the block.....

I don't understand how she judges that my kids shouldn't play in the street where other younger kids can. My kids are good kids, they know right from wrong for the most part .The neighbor to the left of me has not had any issues with the neighbor in question. Her very young kids play in the street all the time. My kids are older, but still minors, however she seems to only have issues with my kids. I pondered what on Earth we did to tick her off. We can't think of anything......as we don't talk to her because she doesn't seem very approachable. Could she be upset because we haven't formally introduced ourselves to her in a years time? Hmm, the street goes both ways.....My better half will be crossing the street at some point this weekend to find out, as we say, 'what her deal is'.

This neighbor is newer. My family has only had the pleasure of her company for one year. It's already been one year too long. My kids have come running into the house on one particular occassion when the neighbor in question swore at them, "She used the A word!" as she demanded they keep a ball away from her truck.  Now I could site another buried code of the VB codes that states swearing in public is not permitted. Waste Virginia Beach's finest time and have them come out and 'talk to her" about swearing, especially at minors. But I know, as she doesn't, that that would be a petty complaint. Just as petty as her complaint of children playing near her truck.

Anyone who lives in Virginia Beach knows how less than ample property the developers have given the homeowners in order to squeeze the most houses in on a square block. I'm sorry if in my opinion I consider the cul-de-sac in front of my house as 'yard'. Apparently the neighbor across the street has split the cul-de-sac down the middle and deemed, in her own right, half of it to be her 'driveway'.