Furious but focused, Mike and I decided to return the favor. That night, we redecorated their lawn with their own trash and let our kids get “creative” with paint on their fence. The next morning, Jane’s horrified scream was music to our ears. We strolled over with coffee in hand and delivered their own words back to them: “You’re blowing this out of proportion. Kids will be kids, right?”

After we showed the footage to the rest of the neighborhood, the Johnsons were left cleaning up their mess—literally and socially. That warning note may have come too late, but it was right. And next time, we’ll trust it the first time.