Respect God’s Creations

We have a four wheeler power wheel that the children really enjoy!  Easton especially has recently taken to it and has enjoyed his freedom riding on it.  The downside to this is that he likes to test my boundaries that I have placed.

He isn’t allowed to ride past my green neon safety slow guy I found at Costco.  Trent came home and saw it outside and said, “Sarah please don’t tell me that that green guy isn’t ours?”  I told him of course it was he then said, “So your one of those moms, huh?”

Today Easton rode it down past the boundary but not only that but into our neighbors flower bed and onto their grass.  I was inside the house while this was going on and came out to tell them to come inside and I see the neighbor walking up the street.

She looked rather concerned and asked me pointing to Easton, “Is that your son! He just drove that thing into my flower bed and keeps riding on our driveway and onto the grass, I have company coming into town this weekend and I worked hard getting my yard all ready and he just comes over and ruins it with that.  I’ve talked with your children once before about this but could you please get on them about respecting others property?”

Wasn’t that an ear full?

I don’t like confrontation and she made me feel like a crappy mom!  I’m sure I’m not the only one who has had this type of situation.  But it sure was my first one with a very upset neighbor!

I told her sorry for my children’s behavior and told her I’d be happy to replace her flowers.  She walked off and I turned to the children and we went inside as I watched her get into her car with her husband and leave.  Once I got inside I just went off on the kids cause I didn’t know what else to do.  That didn’t do anything.

I got a piece of paper out and wrote my neighbor a note.  I proceeded to tell her that I felt sorry about what had happened and in the moment she was talking to me I was being very immature in my reaction because I didn’t know what I should do.  I told her I would be more aware and to talk with them about respecting others properties.  Then left her a check.

I took the children aside and had a teaching moment about respecting God’s creations and where its appropriate to ride the 4 wheeler.  I’m still getting used to continually making rules about front yard safety.  Its a whole new world for me and now that I have a neighbor that has already given a negative vibe I want to prove to her that my children can be respectful.

First thing is to walk over to their home and take all the children and have them apologize to her.  Its the Christlike thing to do!  Then find ways to serve her.

That is what I concluded after my 30 min cry in my bedroom about the whole ordeal!  I’m much better now I prayed for strength and I listened to a few quotes on motherhood that put things back into perspective!