Despite my pleas to their mother, Linda, the kids from my neighbor’s house broke my lawn decorations several times last holiday season. Their lack of respect for other people’s property led to a clever answer.
I spent days putting together a holiday show with a rainbow-lit sleigh, an inflatable Santa Claus, and animals with lights that twinkled. But Linda’s kids thought of it as a playground and threw things around while ignoring the fact that their mum didn’t care.
When I talked to Linda about my worries one night, she told me I was “rich enough to fix it.” Her kids kept breaking things on my land.
To keep my display safe, I used industrial-strength spray glue and glitter to cover each decoration. The kids came back and found that their hands were stuck to the shiny surfaces.
It was pleasant to hear their frustrated cries and Linda’s subsequent anger. It was hard to get the glitter off of their clothes and the house.
This unusual method accomplished two goals: it stopped future mischief and taught Linda’s kids to respect other people’s property. Neighbours who had been through similar trouble thanked me.
Is this a strategy I’d use again? Of course. There will be even more Christmas joy for me, and I will keep protecting my stuff in creative ways.
