Dirty Laundry

When I got that call from my neighbor, I was in between the dirty dishes and the pile of laundry. I was not appreciative. She called to ask if Jacob was allowed on NW Blvd. I was embarrassed that my child was doing something against the rules. I was angry that my work was interrupted and until I returned home with said child in tow, I was scared. NW Blvd is a busy street. What if he wandered off the sidewalk and got too close to traffic. What if he tried to cross and misjudged the car distance. It wasn't until I had my child in the home, with lecture completed and consequences laid out, that I realized I should also be thankful.
We are lucky enough to live in a community that cares.

My neighbors know my child well enough to know when to call. Better than that, they care enough to make the call. This fact will likely prove to be sometimes embarrassing and possibly annoying. But we are LUCKY. My child has a safety net. A net that will keep him limited (at times) but also, with luck, safe enough to reach adulthood largely unscathed. For that we are thankful.

So I write this note for all of you who are caring but fearful. When in doubt - Please call. You can always apologize later, if you need to.

I also write it for all of you who may feel embarrassed or annoyed. Get over it. You may have a nosey neighbor but you also have a watchdog.

Lastly, I write it for all of you who don't have a nosey neighbor or don't know your next door neighbors. Get out there somehow and meet those in your community!

No man (woman or child) is an island. We will all need each other some day. We are nothing alone.

Now I am going to call my neighbor and be appreciative!