Does it really take a village?

Maybe I was raised by an odd mother. Maybe she imparted an overly defined sense of self-sufficiency. Maybe I'm a cold, unfeeling, critical wench. Maybe. But when did I become responsible for complete strangers?

There's a neighbor kid who consistently solicits people for help. I'm not talking: "Hi, I'm Susie. Would you like to buy some Thin Mints?" I'm talking: "Can you give me a ride to the pool and then do my laundry?"

Let me make an important distinction-I speak of total strangers. I don't know who these people are or their names. I'm not even sure where they live. Yet this kid asks me to complete chores and run errands for her on a regular basis.

It's totally bizarre. It started one day while walking my dogs. Her dog ran outside and tried to engage my puppies. The kid comes to her back patio, leans against the door in her jammies lazily snacking on some toast and asks if she can pet my dogs. I tell her she's welcome to. She proceeds to instruct me to bring my dogs to her so she can pet them. WTF?

Naturally I'm not going to walk into a total stranger's house to ask their 8 yr old kid to pet my dogs. (Can we say pervert?) I reply that we haven't concluded our walk yet but she is welcome to come outside and pet the pups with her parents' consent. The kids tells me to "wait a minute", then goes back inside leaving me to await her return. Ten.Minutes.Later. Right.

The next day when her dog gets loose and begins terrorizing running around the neighborhood, she directs me to find her dog and bring it to her house. Sure thing. Just this weekend as I pulled out of my driveway she flagged me down to ask me if I could take her to the pool. At your service.

Safety issues aside, since when did it become appropriate to teach our children a) to ask total strangers for assistance, and b) to delegate one's responsibilities to others?

There's a narcissistic slant to social interactions these days. I'm not sure if it's a sign of the times or just plain old complacency. People not only assume that you should want to do their crap but they expect you do their crap. And the part that pisses me off surprises me is that they have no shame in doing so.

I fully endorse the concept of a collective conscience and social responsibility. Some McCarthyites Republicans might even accuse me of having socialistic views on some issues but...I have enough to do. If I wanted the responsibilities of raising a child I'd have my own. I have my own household to run. I'm not a chauffeur. I'm not a babysitter. I simply happen to live in your neighborhood. Since when did proximity engender familiarity?

I understand if you need someone to pickup your mail, walk your dog or drop your kid off at the pool. We all lead busy lives. My life is just as busy. I don't ask you come over and scoop my cat's shit. When was the last time I asked you go ahead and pickup my mail also while you were at the mailboxes? Never? There's a reason for that. I don't know you. I'm. A. Stranger. I'd like to keep it that way.

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