When’s the last time you waved to your neighbor?
I may be biased, but we have the best neighbors I’ve ever met. Our neighbors make sure our kiddos have the real trick-or-treating experience, smile and chat over the fence, and have even spotted the tooth fairy with a last-minute $1 bill when she only had quarters. I always offer to share chocolate chip cookies or banana bread on baking day.
One of my neighbors makes the best ribs I’ve ever had, and always smokes us an extra rack – in exchange, I make buttermilk cornbread for the meals. My other neighbor has come to my rescue many times – towing out a mama friend who’s truck got stuck in our drainage ditch, taking apart a crib frame when my husband was out of the country, and even killing a snake that had me in a full-on panic.
I’ve fed horses and bribed them back to their arenas with apples. We buy dog treats specifically for the neighbor pooches, and even have a ladder propped over the fence for my son to go over and throw a ball for fetch. We all help each other with yard projects, lend a hand on heavy lifting hay or glass doors, and invite each other over for dinner or drinks frequently. As much as I love my home, it’s location, and all the improvements we’ve done to the property, the neighbors are by far one of my favorite parts of living here.
It’s not just the direct neighbors, either. We have friends up the street that come out to chat every time we ride our bikes by their house. Another neighbor up the street loaned us his tractor and expertise moving dirt in a backyard project. A third has the sweetest, biggest, calmest dog I’ve ever met that comes to the fence for pets. I love all our neighbors, up and down the street.
Neighborly relationships don’t form overnight. You don’t move in and have brand-new sets of friends instantaneously. It takes time, effort, a bit of persistence, and a lot of initiative. It’s scary putting your foot out there. You’ll feel crazy smiling and waving like a long the first time, holding your breath in hopes they wave back. The first time you offer to bring over a few chocolate chip cookies will be intimidating, but hey, who doesn’t love a fresh-baked cookie? Take the leap, be the first to wave. Your village is out there, and some of the best parts may be just over the fence.
Disclaimer/Reality Check: I am extremely extroverted, and don’t have a real sense of embarrassment, so this is kind of an easy thing for me to do. If it doesn’t come naturally to you, that’s ok, I still think it’s worth working up the courage to attempt. This column will be about motherhood, parenting, and homemaking for the most part. It might be on 90s style childhoods or why my mother-in-law is the best mother-in-law. Most importantly, I don’t ever want this column to make another mama think she’s not doing enough. If you’re reading this, I want you to know that you are, you’re doing great, keep it up. Sing it with me: no-one is doing it allllll!
