I think what i would be bothered more by, than the note, is that its anonymous. you're left feeling like the neighborhood is watching, and you have no idea really who is "the one" trying to make you miserable. Awhile ago, "someone" called the police on me stating there was a child left alone in my house. I had just pulled up when the cop car got there. My two boys were in the back of my van, but my daughter had beat me home (from school)Â and had been sitting on the porch for literally like five minutes before i got there(the person would have had to call as soon as she got off the bus, or even before.) this wasnt the first time it had happened, but we live in a VERY safe neighborhood with involved neighbors that she knew well, it was nice weather, and it was not unsafe for her to hang out for a little while at home until i could get there. She told me later the girl across the street said "my mom said the next time your mom isnt home when you get home from school she's calling the police!" ..i dont know if thats true or not (my dd has issues with truth telling) but i find it VERY bothersome that a neighbor would do that instead of just asking me if i needed her to keep an eye on my dd until i could get home. We're not talking hours, or even an hour, but like fifteen minutes or less a handful of times. The cop came, saw my dd was older (8, almost 9 at the time) asked if there were smaller children home alone, i said no. I showed him my boys in the car, he complimented me on extended rfing. I asked if there was a law about children home alone, he said no its a gray area, but no set age. I told her i NEVER left her to go do something, the only time she was EVER alone was if i ran into a train or traffic or whatever and was hurrying home but didnt get there before she arrived. He suggested i get her a key (which i did, school had just started and she'd only been living with me for two months at that point.) But all of this took place in my front yard in a 'hood where everyone sits on the porches and watch their kids play, so im sure it was all the talk of the neighborhood.
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But i felt really betrayed, why in the world would someone's first response be to call the police?! It made me really paranoid like my neighbor's were watching me all the time. Having that cop show up really scared my dd who had been a foster child and thought she might have to leave our family. That was way more damaging than sitting on the porch for a few mins. I started wondering, sheesh if i yell at one of my kids, is somebody calling? if my boys are out playing in the front yard, and i run in to use the bathroom, is someone going to call?? if my dd tries to curry favor with a neighbor by saying she's sooo hungry and hasnt eaten all day (as i said, she's got issues) is someone going to call?? I already have another neighbor who called the city because my cat got out (and he's not even an outdoor cat just an old guy that can push the door open if my boys dont shut it all the way.)
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Sorta makes me want to live out in the country where the neighbors are far away.
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