When we moved into this neighborhood, we were so happy to find out that we actually have fantastic neighbors as well as kiddos in the same age groups as ours.  Aside from the fact that there were a couple of teenage boys who are across the street, we couldn’t be happier.

Of course, in getting to know the neighbors, we love that the teenage boys are actually great kids, and they play with our boys and one will do anything to protect our teenage daughter.  I love that. LOVE that.

Our street has very little traffic outside of the people who live here, and the people who live here all know that we have little ones who may dart out in the street at any given time.  We’ve taught them to stay out of the street unless we give them permission to ride their bikes or we are standing right there, but like all kids, they are sure to have one of those didn’t-think moments where they dart out after a ball.

We’ve had several block parties over the past year, and we always put these little signs out in the street as a reminder to the few cars that pass through our little part of the neighborhood that we have kiddos out playing in the yards.  When they are out, there is one in front of our house, and one two houses down in front of our friend’s house.  That’s just about the only area that we allow the kids to ride their bikes and play.  Of course, there are always adults out when there are little ones.

Recently, we’ve had trouble with an older woman down the street.  She gets in her car, and when she actually SEES kiddos, she floors it.  Yeah, she does.  She floors it.  She’s got some issues, but regardless, it’s dangerous.  We’ve (neighbors) have had to call the police on her twice because of this and some harassment, and we’ve never really seen any results.  Her husband is an ex-police officer, and we’re thinking this little ditty may play a big role in the next part of my concern.

Last night, it was getting darker (not dark), and I was walking my parents out to their car when we noticed that a local officer stopped and talked to the neighbors across the street.  They were standing off to the side of the road talking (actually, right where you see all of the neighbors congregated in the picture above), the kids were playing, and the signs were in the street.    I just assumed that it was a friendly “hi, how ya doing?” conversation, and after she left, I took my nosy self to the street and joking asked what kind of trouble we’re in now?  I had no idea.

Basically, the officer told our neighbors that the we’re not allowed to put signs in the street because they are in the way of oncoming cars, and that our kids aren’t allowed to play in the street.

First of all, cars get around the signs just fine.  As a matter of fact, most of the time we’re out there, people tell us what a great idea it is to have the signs in the street.  The officer (in an SUV) got around the sign without a scratch, and really, all the signs do are make people consciously slow down.  That’s their purpose.

Secondly, we have no sidewalks.  Where are our kids supposed to ride their bikes and scooters?

Our younger kids are always supervised when playing in the front yard or out in the street.  There is usually more than one adult outside at all times.

Do they really go around and tell families all over town that their kids aren’t allowed to play in the street, or is it just that we were singled out because we’ve had to call them out a couple of times when this ex-police officer’s wife has purposely sped up when she sees our kids and verbally let us know that they better move because she’ll hit them.

I’m betting the latter.

We all decided that we were going to call today and find out exactly where our kids are supposed to ride their bikes, and if this is a real law in our area, but this morning, I got a text from one of my neighbors saying that there will be a meeting tomorrow at 5:30 at the Police Station.  You better believe that one of us will be there.