Rafi Papadopoulos

I totally get where you're coming from with this neighbor thing. As someone constantly chasing after toddlers while trying to squeeze in Zoom meetings and unexpected visitors are like a grenade to my already chaotic day. I've had a similar issue with a well-meaning aunt who thought popping by was fine anytime, and it always ended up with me stressed and the kids hyped up right before bedtime. Thing is, people like that often don't pick up on hints, so you gotta be direct but kind. Next time they show up, smile and say something like, 'Hey, I love chatting, but evenings are my wind-down time - mind texting first?' It might feel awkward, but it'll probably stick better than vague comments about your schedule. And about hurting feelings, yeah, it's a risk in close quarters like a duplex, but boundaries are key or you'll resent them over time. I've tried the door sign route once, and it came off as passive-aggressive to family. a preemptive text might be smoother, like 'Just a heads up, I prefer planned visits to keep my routine intact.' Don't expect perfection though - some folks just don't change, and you might have to repeat yourself a few times. In the end, your calm home is worth the discomfort of speaking up.