Wandering Neighbors

The house across from us and to the left is a rental. There have been a few characters who have lived in it over the past few years. When we first moved into our current house, there was a cop who lived there and then a bunch of hibbies moved in after that. They were very interesting with weird colored beat up vans pulling up at all times during the night and day. They eventually moved out and abandoned one of their cars across the street for the city to take care of.

The current residents are a single mother of 3 who dates a guy from South Africa. He smokes outside occasionally but is usually gone. Seeing her makes me have much compassion for single moms. It's almost comical to watch her. Wherever she goes she runs full steam!! no joke, taking out the trash, putting in a load of laundry. And there are times where there is much screaming taking place. I'm guessing the kids are 8, 6, and 2. Don't worry this is going somewhere....

I was looking out my kitchen window and I notice a little boy going down our street pushing his big car toy. I'm expecting a sibling to run after him, but no one does, and I watch as he goes down to the end of our street makes a left and is going down the street that leads to Kings Row (which is a very busy street). Figured I couldn't live with myself if I didn't do anything and ran after him. He couldn't have been much older then Sweet Pea and I tried my best sweet talk to get him to turn around and take me to his Mommy. This lasts 10 min and he finally turns around and is going to take me to his mommy (at this point, I don't know he belongs to the single mom).

His 2 siblings come riding up on their bikes and they yell at him for leaving the house. We are almost to his house and his mom comes running out like a maniac, I would be maniac-like too if I thought I'd lost Sweet Pea so I understand that. She yells at her two older siblings how they were suppose to be watching him and how careless they are. She picks up the the younger one and proceeds to chew her other two kids out and they all go into the house. I'm sure she was embarrassed and that is probably why she didn't even look me in the eye. It was sad how Andy and I knew that the 2 older siblings where getting yelled at big time or getting a spanking.

I felt sad for the siblings as they seem to have to take on an adult role cause there is just her in the house. I have alot of compassion for her and couldn't say I would look after my kids better if it wasn't for my husband's extra eyes. It's hard though to see such young kids having to be the 2nd adult in the house and play a parental role. I hope I have a chance to get to know her.