Title: When My Neighbor Took Over My Backyard, I Set Some Boundaries—Then Things Got Wild
When my new neighbor Claire moved in six months ago, I thought she was just another friendly face on the block. She seemed nice—early 40s, lived with her teenage son, Adam—and we exchanged pleasantries here and there. I even lent her a few things: a ladder, a garden hose, and once, I let her use our outdoor grill while we were away. I believed in being neighborly.
One weekend, my husband David and I took our kids to visit my parents. It was meant to be a relaxing getaway, just a couple of days to unwind. But when we returned, our backyard looked like a scene from a party gone wrong. There were empty bottles on the patio, overturned potted plants, scattered toys, and our once-pristine grill was coated in grease and grime. I was stunned.
I went over to talk to Claire. She answered the door in pajamas and smiled like nothing had happened. “Oh, that was Adam’s birthday party,” she said casually. “Kids will be kids.” I was shocked—not just by the mess, but by how casually she brushed it off.
Trying to keep my cool, I told her, “My backyard isn’t public space. I just wish you’d cleaned up or at least asked.” She simply shrugged and said, “It’s just a little mess. A hose will fix it.”
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