Step one: UPDATE in post 14 :)

[Husky_mom]

you might be low rankers but they are kids and you are an adult, they should show respect to you, one would think a high ranker parent should´ve tought that to theirs kids.........if you want respect show respect.........

and besides it´s YOUR yard!!........you have full rights to let them know you don´t want them playing there from now on........and letting them know is kind enough........IMO and that way they can be understanding and not trying to work out vengeance......(sp?no clue about that )

[pitc9]

Stand your ground!

If they start showing up, tell them they have to leave!
OR they can stay but they all have to pay you $5 a day to play in your yard to cover any future damages that may occur.

[caseysmom]

I think kids respond to reason more than threats yelling, etc. I think if you just go tell them what happened and that you are trying to figure out a solution that would be the best way to handle it. Kids can be very reactive to things and if you are the "mean lady" they will want to do damage.

[Lady's Human]

Being that it is contract housing, and you mentioned the MP's, I'm assuming you are in on post housing?

If so, is there a mayor/military community leader? If there is, they should be able to take care of the issue without you getting directly involved.

(BTW, there is no such thing as a low ranking NCO. There ARE low ranking lieutenants, though......>LOL)

[Sirrahsim]

I did it! The kids had come out to play a particularly rough game when I gathered them all around and had a talk with them. Besides one kid who was suspiciously defensive ("I didn't! It wasn't me! It's not like you saw it happen!!" ) all of the kids did a good job of looking concerned and apologizing. They said that they would go play somewhere else and THANKED me for letting them play there for a while Shortly after that I was chatting with my neighbor (the one who helped rescue Tyler ) and I warned her that she may hear reports from her kids that I'm the mean lady on the block She said that she would have done the same thing! I'm so glad that they were all so nice. I hope that word travels and this is the end of that. At the moment I can hear and see them playing down the street happy as can be

[Laura's Babies]

Lets wait and see what happens when you are not at home now! The kids here always went to the houses where there was nobody home to pick all the flowers, break clotheslines, play on porches and by the cars.. That will be the real test!

[Sirrahsim]

They never know when I'm home or not We only have one vehicle at the moment and we trade off when hubby takes it to work and when I get to keep it
On the other hand it is nice to know that at least 1 of my neighbors is just as "mean" about it as I am