This Weeks "Mom-Monday" post Hey Kool-Aid

To my surprise this summer, two different 8 year old neighbor boys were home alone. I'm not certain how many days- maybe only a week or maybe off and on.  My son got mixed up (emotionally) when two of them were house-hopping and he felt ditched when they'd run to one house or another and he had to stay home, hoping they'd come back. They were going between their empty houses looking for something to do and I don't allow my 7 year old into homes that have no parents. So, I suggested they hang out here but they really just played video games, then ran off to one empty house or another then turn up again. Apparently I'm not the only parent that faces this  - worrying about all those kids riding bikes in the middle of the street when no one is watching them. I recently heard from a friend that runs a daycare in an adjoining neighborhood and all the "latchkey" kids gravitate towards her house during the day. It reminded me of the label we would give the house where all the kids wanted to hang out - "The Kool-Aid House".

Do you remember the old commercials with the happy mom serving Kool Aid to a zillion kids in her yard? At least she knew where HERS were and what they were up to.  Are you a Kool Aid mom?  If so, what do you do when you need a little break from the troops running in and out? I work nights, get up early to get kiddos off to school and sometimes I need a short nap before dinner, but my sons will be buzzing in and out with their friends. I stop and think, "Do I really want to send those kids home to their parentless homes?" I imagine 10 years into the future when they are all teens, trying to figure out where to hang out.  I usually tell my teen and pre-teen sons to keep an eye on the younger ones for 20 minutes while I sneak-rest. I dread having my kids announce to the whole neighborhood, "You can't come in 'cause my mom's takin' a NAP!" while my own kids are running in and out! I've attempted to sneak into my room and leave the door open (I listen while I rest - just in case), however,  my kids and their friends tend to end up in my room to ask me some "important" question - awkward.  
I noticed Sunday, my husband was taking a short post-church nap when the doorbell rang and the dog started barking right next to our bedroom door. It was the neighbor kids and their sister. I thought they were here to pick one of the other boys up so I called the boy to the door  as I  went back to my work in the kitchen. I quickly realized they had planted in front of the tv and were playing Playstation with my son and all four were shouting at the screen. I want them to know they are welcome and safe at our house, but sometimes I wonder if I need an "temporarily out of service" sign for my front door! While school starting will lessen these instances,  I'm wondering if any of you have this going on and do you just kick them out or find a happy-medium? Should I point at the neighbors house and say, "Hey look-she's got Kool Aid!"?

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