Thanks, Steve. I'm winging it here... never had kids, and at this stage in my life I won't be having any, so I've known/seen "other people's kids" my whole life. Watching the neighbor grow up over the last decade, I've seen her go from noisy child to thoughtful young woman, but always at arm's length. I mean... what am I going to talk to a 7-year old about? But yesterday we were just able to chat and hang out and talk about whatever came to mind. I also got to watch her interact with two "dangerous" dogs, and control them with proper technique and a firm hand. (a Pitbull and an Anatolian Shepherd that tops 100 pounds now) She needs some help learning to drive a stick shift, and her mom is a white-knuckle passenger... so I might be able to help out there somehow. It's up to her. I've let her know I'm here to help, if she wants it, but she's going to have to ask for it. And yeah... it's all about being a good neighbor. She's the only kid on our small street of 8 houses, and COVID has her basically locked down with her Mom, Aunt, Grandmother, and their tenant who is a senior woman, too. She's got a lot of estrogen in her circle! Good kid. Hope the best for her.
and I'm realizing I may be coming off preachy or like you now have some obligation... I don't mean to sound that way at all. Just being the cool person you are and her knowing you're a person to talk to is all that matters. You know all of this. I think I just get giddy and grateful on behalf of her future self at the prospect of having a dude like you as a neighbor.