We’ve lived in our neighborhood for seven years now and we’ve seen a lot of neighbors come and go. Until recently, we’d never really had neighbors with kids around the same age as ours — kids they could truly connect with and with whom they could build lasting friendships. Over the past year, we’ve met some wonderful neighbors who have kids close in age to ours: two boys (10 and 8) and two girls (6 and 4). Our son and daughter love playing with them, and it’s become rare for our house not to be full of kids after school or for them not to be out riding bikes and scooters around the neighborhood.
There are so many things that I’ve loved about having my children become close with the neighborhood kids, but I’ve also become close with their parents as well, and it’s made our lives so much more fun! 
To start off, it’s free entertainment. I never have to worry that my kids are going to be bored after school. Especially now that the weather is getting warmer, we will have a house full of kids either jumping on the trampoline outside, playing in the sprinkler, or coloring with chalk outside. It has been so nice knowing that they are going to have something to do and they’re not sitting inside playing video games or watching their iPads all afternoon. When I grew up, we lived on a street with two houses and no neighborhood friends, so it’s so nice seeing my kids building relationships and hopefully life-long friendships!
Another thing that has been incredible about having neighbors that are friends is that you can help each other out with watching the kids! We are always willing to help each other out and that’s been truly incredible. I’ve helped out with watching the kids for my neighbor when she’s had doctor’s appointments and we’ve gotten help whenever I’ve had work meetings during the day and need someone to watch the kids if they’re out of school or it’s an unexpected event. The flexibility that comes with knowing that you’ve always got someone there that can help is really amazing.
My daughter and one of the neighborhood girls have quickly become best friends and they want to do everything together which is so cute. They have been enrolled in dance together and they’re on the same soccer team, and now they want to try cheerleading and tumbling next. This is helping my daughter branch out and do things that she may not have done otherwise and she’s really enjoying the new activities. It gives her confidence knowing she’s got a friend with her trying new extracurricular activities. Her mom and I have been able to take turns driving them to dance and soccer, which has been a huge help, especially with a one-year-old who usually isn’t too thrilled about sitting through his sister’s classes. It’s been great to have some days where I can stay home with him while my daughter still gets to have fun with her friend.
I know there may come a day when we move, or they do, and these after-school days filled with noisy houses, snack wrappers everywhere, and kids running around like crazy will come to an end…and honestly, I’m not sure what I’ll do when that day comes. It’s chaotic, but it’s so nice knowing that our kids are having fun and making core memories with their friends, and that they have so many close by to hang out with.
