Mor is quite right that there are fencing standards, and of course I wasn't really serious... quite. At least, I didn't say to actually install the fence; just to advise that you were going to. But if it comes to that, there are also bylaws about letting plants block sidewalks, and Tindy you should ensure you are in compliance before going to the school. You left a word out of your original posting so I wasn't sure whether the Rhodos are close to the road or the sidewalk or a pathway or what. OF course, at heart this has nothing to do with Rhodos specifically but, as Mor says, with parenting. The fact that you can act collectively as a neighbourhood helps you to act on this problem. You cannot demand that the school supervise the children off-hours or off-site (this would be a dangerous power to give them anyway) but you can use the school as a conduit to get information to the parents of the children. They need to be informed of the situation, and asked whether they would like to clean up your street and control their children, or whether they would like you to do so and send them an invoice. Parenting is becoming a lost skill in "modern" societies and people who still have some inkling of it need to assert the need for it. Otherwise, there is perhaps a community newspaper that would run a photo of your street, and the name of the school, which might shame both school and parents into trying to deal with the problem. Finally... no idea where to get tree sap besides collecting it locally at the right time of year, nor in fact whether it would harm the plant (more than the kids are doing!).

Pammy; you should get something in writing; especially with all of these wacky storms we're having. The neighbor could easily go to a storage unit. You can bet most people would put a claim into your home owners. Raising my hand! Had a neighbor that baby sat my daughter; she liked a few things I had; kind of talked me into letting her use /borrow toys; table; sewing machine.. She turned around & sold it at a yard sale a few months later & denied table & sewing machine were on loan. We had a neighbor at our old house that we did a lot with. The tools they didn't have we did; what we didn't; they did. It was a great relationship too; my hub helped them & their hub helped us. When the neighbor helped my hub; I cooked dinner for both families & would bathe the kids so the mom could relax because I was appreciative of the help. To this day; I can't believe what happened over an iron. I do not iron much; but I'm pretty sure I'd recently used it with no issues. I normally wash the fabric; then iron & cut the pattern out. The iron at this point was probably close to 10 years old; but even the box was in great shape. I take care of my stuff & it lasts. Neighbor borrowed my iron & when I went to use it next; it didn't work. I was making bibs for the neighbor. I wasn't able to just jump in my car & replace it. I was still recovering from my huge back surgery; was down close to 8 months. I saw her come home from Walmart with a new iron. Here I'm not driving; making bibs for 2 of the kids; I would have gladly given her a $20 to pick up a similar iron to what I had but she never offered anything. I didn't expect her to replace the iron; I was more hurt that she didn't ask if I wanted her to pick up a new one while she was out. The story was that my iron didn't work when she used it. What I did not understand is why no one bothered to tell me it wasn't working. Wish I remember how I got to the store to buy a new one. It bites but if you break something (anything) you borrowed don't you replace it? The solution should be discussed. In the case of something expensive; neighbor should have at least offered to get an estimate on repairs; then take it from there This post was edited by roselvr on Sat, Jun 8, 13 at 12:30

Tell your kids first and tell them the truth of the matter. That you were surprised but you are happy about it. Don't tell DH parents until you have worked out the details of what you are going to do. If you haven't saved baby things check out used furniture and things. Network with friends and Tell them the same thing--you are surprised but pleased. See what they have that you could borrow and warn them that you don't want HD's parents to know before everything is settled. Work out what you are going to do about school and work. When everything is set up present it as a complete package to DH's parents. You will have answered all their questions. If they give you a hard time. say--I can't cope with this right now and leave. No one has a right to say hurtful things to you and you don't have to take it. Don't say anything back--just leave. They will soon get the message. You don't have to make excuses to anyone. Surprised and pleased should be the order of the day. You are not the first married couple to get such a surprise at this stage in your life. Many women are having children into their late 30's and 40's these days

Did she actually tell you they were breaking up? Maybe he just realized that he isn't ready to live with someone. You know--you have to adapt to having another person in your space. You have to clean the house a little better than you would if you were alone. You have to clean the dishes a little sooner than you might otherwise. You always have to remember to put the toilet seat down! Maybe he saw a little look that day he gave her that diamond "birthday" ring and realized the disappointment in her eye that it really was "just" a birthday ring and that it didn't come with a proposal. And maybe that scared him--made him realize that she's thinking of marriage perhaps a lot sooner than 5 years and that was a little too much for him to handle. Especially if he's the same age (or thereabouts). I would not lay on her all of your experiences. That someone better might come along. Because even if this guy wants to date someone else, he might just realize your gal is the one for him. Sometimes it takes another date or relationship to help sort things out.