Recently, we ran into a situation that I am sure is common across America. We have a swing set and our neighbors don’t. When we first put it in, our neighbors behind us (whom we don’t know very well) came by, and we—in an effort to be friendly—said they should feel feel free to use it. It seemed like the right thing to say at the time.

Everything started off fine, but we soon noticed that these neighbors were using our swing set and backyard as if it were their own. Our swing set is not very fancy, and it cannot take weight from more than a child or two at a time. I had to ask the husband not to hang off it one of the first times he was out there. One a few occasions, they sent over their kids to use the swing set with someone else such as their grandparents or a babysitter (who also hung off the monkey bars until I came out and asked her not to). They also left some toys in our sandbox and came over and used the swing set one night while we were eating with guests on our deck (who commented that it was very awkward). We also saw their kids bike through our yard on several occasions, which is something we don’t even let our own children do. And these are people we don’t even have any real social relationship with.

I was initially reluctant to say anything because I did not want to make things awkward or come across as unfriendly. And while I worried about people getting hurt, I hate the litigious nature of our society and did not want to hide behind the liability angle. Then, last Sunday, our neighbors held a big party for friends with children, and we came home to find unsupervised kids playing and biking in our back yard. Several kids were on the swing, and some were way too big for it. They were climbing on top and creating a very notable bend. We watched for a while from our window and most of the time no adults were supervising them. This was the breaking point for me. I went over and made a somewhat regrettable scene in the middle of their dinner party. I was angry because I felt they were being completely disrespectful of our property and our space. It’s one thing to invite a neighbor to use your things; it’s another for them to extend that invitation to others without your permission.

So now things are, as predicted, a bit awkward. When cooler heads prevailed, I told them I was happy for our kids to play together on the swing set, but I’d appreciate it if they wouldn’t use it without us there—so now the boundaries have been set. I also told them I don’t care if people run through our yard, but I would prefer that they keep their bikes in their own yard or driveway. The odd thing is, they don’t seem to feel as if they did anything wrong, which I just can’t understand. But, I guess that’s how we got into this in the first place.

So my question to you all is, what is the protocol when one neighbor has a swing set and the other does not? When you extend an invitation, do you need to set limits? Should the neighbor without the swing set ask each time? I’d be curious to hear people’s own stories and suggestions about how they have dealt with this issue.

I have been asked on a few occasions about adding a jogging stroller to my list of baby gear reviews. Given that we aren’t big joggers, this was not something we had in the stable. However, after talking with many friends, asking Bobby’s Best vendors about their best sellers and testing out a few models, I have added the Bob Revolution Jogging Stroller to the Baby Gear page. The Bob Revolution is the best balance of both price and features for parents looking for a jogging stroller.

Read the Bob Revolution Review

I am excited to announce the launch of the new Stork Avenue Coupons and Review section on Bobby’s Best. Stork Avenue is a great company that was started by a husband and wife team. They have a great selection of well priced birth announcements and birthday party invitations, including lots of popular themes. Most importantly though, they have excellent customer service and a quick turnaround time on orders. Check back for new exclusive deals and discounts for Bobby’s Best readers throughout the month.

Weber has now made select Weber Genesis and Summit models available in a new copper finish. Previously, these grills were only available in green, black, or blue, so copper is a new addition to the family. This new metal tone brings new life to the series, especially for those of who have become bored of the old colors. I recently check out a colored Genesis E-310 and it’s definitely unique and will turn some heads.

When you can afford to make a great impression, nothing compares to the Weber Ranch Kettle. Admittedly, most people don’t need this grill—it can cook enough food for an army (or a whole vacation compound full of guests). And not many people are willing to shell out the almost $1,000 sticker price. That said, if you like to entertain in a big way, you can really turn heads with the Weber Ranch Charcoal Kettle. This is the king of charcoal grills. With a 37½-inch diameter cooking space, you can grill multiple turkeys and steaks and still have room for side dishes. There is such a massive base for coals, it’s easy to control your cooking temperatures by piling more coals on one end for searing, leaving the other end free for slower cooking. If you’re really into grilling, and grilling at parties, this is the grill for you. It’s so mammoth, you can feed an entire party of 30 people, no problem. It features a huge removable ash catcher base, wheeled frame, and a tuck-away lid holder. Best of all, meat cooked on the Weber Ranch Kettle grill tastes like it was cooked over an open fire pit out in the wilderness.