Suspicious Man?

[youretooloud]

This is a total change of subject....

But, why would you let your daycare kids play on a boulder in someone else's yard? I realize every part of the country is different, but I wouldn't ever send my kids or dog into someone else's yard to play.

[melissa ann]

This is a total change of subject....

But, why would you let your daycare kids play on a boulder in someone else's yard? I realize every part of the country is different, but I wouldn't ever send my kids or dog into someone else's yard to play.

I wondered the same thing, too.

[sharlan]

This is a total change of subject....

But, why would you let your daycare kids play on a boulder in someone else's yard? I realize every part of the country is different, but I wouldn't ever send my kids or dog into someone else's yard to play.

I wondered that too. If a child were to be hurt, the homeowner could be sued because of your actions.

Back to the topic. I would go over to the man's house, knock on his door, and tell him that his actions are concerning you. I would venture that he's looking for human interaction. (After being stuck in the house this week, I'm ready to attack the mailman for someone to talk to. Problem is, he's really unfriendly.)

[EchoMom]

This is a total change of subject....

But, why would you let your daycare kids play on a boulder in someone else's yard? I realize every part of the country is different, but I wouldn't ever send my kids or dog into someone else's yard to play.

It's not very big. Don't think boulder to an adult, thing boulder to a 2 year old. It's just a big glorified rock that 2 toddlers can climb and stand on. And it's RIGHT next to the sidewalk. Like, I'm standing right there giving them a hand up with my feet on the sidewalk and they are 2 inches into the yard.

I don't know, it's fun to them and I remember many photos of me as a kid posing on top of my neighbor's much bigger boulder.

Seemed inoccent and fun to me. It's just part of our walk around the neighborhood. We sit and watch trees getting cut down (from a safe distance of course), watch the garbage truck collect, watch the mail carrier deliver to the houses, we pick up crab apples, autumn leaves, and dandelions. Climbing a rock just seems like an obvious thing to do when presented with the opportunity.

[youretooloud]

It's not very big.

It isn't the rock I was worried about. I would encourage any child to climb the big rocks.. I'm all about climbing, jumping, going too high, etc. I would give anything to have boulders and tree stumps for the kids to climb on.

I was just wondering about the neighbors. In the Southwest, you wouldn't send your kids on someone else's property or landscaping to play. I don't even let my dogs pee in the neighborhood yards.

[sharlan]

It's not very big. Don't think boulder to an adult, thing boulder to a 2 year old. It's just a big glorified rock that 2 toddlers can climb and stand on. And it's RIGHT next to the sidewalk. Like, I'm standing right there giving them a hand up with my feet on the sidewalk and they are 2 inches into the yard.

I don't know, it's fun to them and I remember many photos of me as a kid posing on top of my neighbor's much bigger boulder.

Seemed inoccent and fun to me. It's just part of our walk around the neighborhood. We sit and watch trees getting cut down (from a safe distance of course), watch the garbage truck collect, watch the mail carrier deliver to the houses, we pick up crab apples, autumn leaves, and dandelions. Climbing a rock just seems like an obvious thing to do when presented with the opportunity.

In SoCal, you would never enter someone else's property without asking. My children have been taught from day one to not even pick a dandelion from some's yard without asking. The people across the street have a lemon tree that hangs over the fence. My kids know not to pick one without asking the owners first.

I understand different areas react differently. CA is a sue for fun state.

[Michael]

Interesting this thread revolves about two situations regarding trust; A neighbor that could be a pedophile or another neighbor could sue for climbing on their rock.

Even though child molesters can use puppies to lure children this guy is a neighbor. You know where he lives and he "probably" is training/proofing his dog. I know my grandfather use to love walking his dog around the neighborhood and would always stop to watch people. Why not take a little time to have a conversation with him and ask how the puppy is doing?

[EchoMom]

It isn't the rock I was worried about. I would encourage any child to climb the big rocks.. I'm all about climbing, jumping, going too high, etc. I would give anything to have boulders and tree stumps for the kids to climb on.

I was just wondering about the neighbors. In the Southwest, you wouldn't send your kids on someone else's property or landscaping to play. I don't even let my dogs pee in the neighborhood yards.

So what do you do when your dog needs to poop? The norm around here is to take poop bags with you to pick it up.

[sharlan]

So what do you do when your dog needs to poop? The norm around here is to take poop bags with you to pick it up.

Your dog would be pooping in your yard. You would not be letting your dog poop in my yard, bags or no bags. My neighbor's dog pooped in my yard. I picked it up with a shovel and put it back in his yard before my gardener came.

I wouldn't be walking around with a bunch of little kids and a baggie or two of dog poop. (Sorry, but that's one thing I can't handle.)

[Country Kids]

Everyone here carries "Poop" bags for their dogs. The parks even supply them in these little boxes so you can grab them when your walking your dog.

I think you can even buy them at the pet stores now.

[sharlan]

I think they do, here, too.

[daycare]

Wow this does seem odd. I would think that if he meant no harm, he would make it a point to tell you so. There is a very cute asian man with a very long beard ( like one you would see in a story book) at the end of my block he walks around my court every morning, afternoon and night. He does not have a pet, but he will stop and talk to every single one of my DCK, high five them and tell them listen to your teacher. However, when I first moved here, he would just walk besides us or behind us when I took the kids for a walk. Finally one day I think he could tell I was a little bothered by him and he says to me, hello mam, I don't want to frighten you or the kids, I live over here and I walk around here all the time. He told me his name (still don't know what it is ) and we shook hands....

I would just talk with him. After talking with him see how you feel... I know that they so go with your gut, but I always try not to judge anyone. I have been judged my whole life because of where I originate from.

[Country Kids]

Maybe he's a "Secret Agent Man"! The dog is part of his coverup.-::

OK, OK-its Friday and I'm really reaching here for you-

[youretooloud]

So what do you do when your dog needs to poop? The norm around here is to take poop bags with you to pick it up.

We take poop bags.. but, we make sure our dogs have done their business at home first, then go for some exercise.

I would be kind of mortified if my dog did something on a neighbor's yard.

I realize it's very regional though... it just isn't acceptable here.. you don't enter someone's property, or let your dog use their yard.

*Our yards are very small, and close to the street.... we have 7 ft block walls in our back yards, and all front yards are professionally landscaped. So, it's not like grass just grows willy nilly here, and if you have grass you work hard to keep it green. If you have rock (most people here have rock) you don't want others messing it up.

[mom2many]

OK...I just have to throw something out there. Several years ago, I was taking my S/A kids to my neighborhood park almost every day during the summer vacation. We didn't always go at the same time, but almost every time we went, there was a guy in his early 40's wearing a baseball cap and sunglasses lurking around. He was always alone with his puppy and often times, he would just sit with his puppy outside the bathroom. Different kids would congregate around him and want to pet his puppy. It bothered me that he avoided all adult contact and every time I saw him, I got creeped out.

On several different occasions I called 911 and felt stupid thinking it was just my active imagination. Of course the cops took forever to respond and he was long gone each time I called.

Later that summer, I went onto a website that shows sexual predators in my area and the 2nd face to show up is this guy that was at the park all summer long and he lives right down the street from the park. I immediately notified the police and they put me in touch with a detective.

A few weeks later, school starts and as I'm picking up kids from school, I see him walking his dog down the street. It's totally innocent, but at this point I'm really concerned, since so many kids are without adult supervision. I once again called 911 and was put in touch with this same detective. I never saw him again after that.

I truly believe we are given instincts that alert us and tell us if things are not quite right. This guy might be totally on the up and up, but I was shocked when I found someone undesirable living just blocks from me!