No Monsters.

re: No Monsters.

Patty — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 15:56:33 GMT

Okay, so I'm a little behind on my reading... :)

For a long time now, my son has enjoyed pretending to be a "baby monster". I think it started with some odd noises he made at some point and I asked him, "are you a baby monster?" And he said, "uh-huh. Are you a mama monster?" So my husband, my son and I became a monster family.

The other day I made up a story about the monsters under my bed, and he was very curious and played along when I told him, "they're make-believe, but don't tell *them* that!"

And with luck, no more real monsters will bother you. Our neighbors are generally genial, but are an incredibly bad example in a seriously white-trash way. Like, overflowing dumpster and 1 or 2 old pickup trucks at any given time also overflowing with garbage in a yard that is overgrown with weeds and forgotten toys. Seven children, mostly left to do whatever they please, and some definite pot smoking going on... which largely keeps the kids quiet, I suppose, if not the dog. No tire irons, though, so it could be worse.

re: No Monsters.

Stann — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 19:48:14 GMT

Me too! I know others in the same neighborhoods will understand when I say that in a way I dread the summertime - all the freaks come out with nothing good to do and no bad weather to make them want to go inside.

Luckily for me, so far this year our neighbors have been quiet except for one woman who rents part of the house next door who I have heard several times yelling very angrily at a little girl who cant be more than 2 years old. My 11 month old son was really startled when he heard her as we were getting out of the car, I dont think he'd ever heard that tone of voice.

MAYBE this summer I can hang out outside with my little guy without banging car stereos and loud swearing? We'll see.

Its amazing what bothers me now that I'm a mom. But our business relies on the house so we arent going anywhere anytime soon. I just hope for the best with new renters and rely on the fact that the bad ones seem to last no longer than a year.

There is a vacant apartment across the street though, I'm really hoping whoever rents it doesnt upset the delicate balance.

re: No Monsters.

April — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 18:56:47 GMT

Well I am sorry that happened. But here comes the evil surbanite yuppy Republican in me to say "Get out NOW! This is what happens, this is why believing the best in people, is such a BAD idea!!!!" True, in my surburbs we have the kinda scary rednecks to deal with, but they usually just get drunk and shoot at deers or possums, not people!

You are right though, violence can occur anywhere. Just more likely in some places than others. :( I am just glad the girls were in bed and did not witness this and that everyone is okay. That must have been so scary!

On another note one of our favorite games to play is "Monster Mommy". I make a monster voice and growl and chase them around the house, and tickle them when I find them. They squeal with delight. Maybe boys are less afraid of monsters? They like when my stepdad does it too, and honestly his monster voice is kinda scary to me, but it doesn't scare them.

I have always swore I will not be the naive parent in the horror movies who tells their kids "There is no such things as monsters" only to get eaten up 20 mins in the film later. If my kids say there is a monster, I will try to believe them. I know that sounds crazy, but well...I would rather be safe than sorry. Of course if it is a Jacob Black werewolf or Cullen vampire they can just come visit mommy for a bit.....haha! :P

re: No Monsters.

Clementine — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 17:29:00 GMT

This sounds so scary! We live in a pretty crappy neighborhood in Worcester, so we live with the threat of drugs and violence all around us. I feel safe most days, but every now and then things hit a little too close to home. It was bad before I was a mama, but now I find it intolerable.

re: No Monsters.

winecat — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 07:00:41 GMT

Jane I'm so sorry you had to deal with this s**t. I'm sure as a mom it even freaks you out more.

That's one of the joys of living in the middle of nowhere Ca, as long as you don't plan on taking hikes out into the very pot infested forest!

The happy family picture is adorable beyond words. Having read your blog since before the girls arrived I'm always amazed at how big they are and of course TCFW! It's so wonderful to have another bleeding heart and wiseass to hang with.

re: No Monsters.

Chelsea — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 00:35:03 GMT

Jane- this post could not have come at a more ironic time. I live in the uber-suburb of Grosse Pointe, MI (of movie fame) and just posted on my facebook earlier today that my kids (11, 4 and 1)got an EARFUL of the new Eminem album, along with several choice words from the people living next door to us. These are not teenagers, they are essentially squatters, people living in the house that are "taking care" of the elderly woman who owns the property. This is not the first day that they have caused us to raise an eyebrow, but it was the first time I called the police.

Long story short: It can happen anywhere...keep your chin up and the phone close by!

Your little ladies are darling by the way...I always enjoy your posts!

re: No Monsters.

Melissa — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 22:47:08 GMT

I live in suburbia and we've had a similar incident at the apartment complex directly behind our townhomes. Some guy tried to break in to one of the apartments that happened to belong to a federal officer. There was a shot, and the officer loudly kept telling the guy not to run or he'd shoot him. On a Sunday night. My partner wasn't home at the time, either. Scary.

re: No Monsters.

T's mom — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 17:05:05 GMT

So sorry this happened and that it scared you so badly. It does suck doesn't it. Last summer while I was down the street at the grocery store with my son at 10AM someone broke into our house. They ransacked the bedroom and stole all my jewelry and various other items. I had to sit on the lawn with my screaming son waiting for the police because I was too freaked out to go inside. Once I did and saw what had happened I LOST it. We moved a few months later. We lived in a beautiful suburban neighborhood in CA. Now we live in a remote suburban neighborhood in NH and we heard that it was happeneing here too. It really just sucks but even more so when you have yoru children to worry about too.. one of the harder aspects of parenting

re: No Monsters.

cindy — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 15:15:17 GMT

Jane, my heart goes out to you. Like it's been said, suburbia doesn't offer any added protection, just a veil. Violence happens everywhere. We just have to do our best to keep our children safe and surround them with love. I was with my husband and daughter at a mall in CT in the early evening, (7 months pregnant with twins I might add)and we were on our way out when a fight broke out between several teens and we were standing smack dab in the middle of it. I was able to move to the side but my husband and my 3 year old were stuck with fists flying around them. Scary stuff. Funny now to think about what I must have looked like though - hugely pregnant screaming at a bunch of kids and my poor DH trying to get my baby girl to safety.

re: No Monsters.

Kristan — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 13:42:42 GMT

Oy, that sucks. I hope y'all stay safe. I would just advise that if anyone comes to your door, ignore it, and in general stay away from the windows if you hear another ruckus. (And don't be afraid to call the police, of course!)

re: No Monsters.

Lena — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 05:47:48 GMT

We live in the 'burbs (about 45 minutes NE of Seattle) and we aren't immune to crap like this. In the last few months, we've had a bomb scare that closed down our street and 3 other visits from numerous police cars.

My stomach hurt when I saw that sweet picture of Elsa and Clio (in dresses!!!!) and thought about my own girls and how scary it is to have them be out in the world...

re: No Monsters.

Jessica — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 02:35:10 GMT

Oh, Jane, I know how you feel. We live in the city, too, and (mostly) love it - have no plans to leave and raise our 2 yo daughter and 4 mo old son in the suburbs. But. Several months ago, I was in the kitchen and noticed a strange hole in my window. A very small, round hole. Like, from a bullet. I freaked! It turns out it was a paint pellet or a bb gun - but someone in a rental house behind our house had been aiming at us - there were paint marks from a gun all over the back of our building. I think they were mad because we'd made them stop hoping the fence to use our dumpster. I called the cops. My husband was out of town, our neighbors weren't home - I felt so alone and totally at a loss! The good news is that renters move frequently, especially THOSE kinds of renters, and the people who shot at us are now gone (also, the cops went over there and scared them a bit - they were very nice and helpful to the weeping pregnant mama that was me at the time). I was very glad that my daughter was in bed when I discovered the whole business, so she couldn't see me lose my cool.

So, shake it off the best you can and if there's a next time, call 911 right away! No need to wait and see what happens - better safe than sorry. Cities are good places, and I really think on the whole that they're more neighborly than the suburbs, really. Besides, there are lots of crazy and bad people in the suburbs, too - so fleeing there just gives you a different brand of awful.

I know that must make you feel oh so much better. :)