Buying my first home at 29 felt like a dream. But three weeks in, I came home to find a teenage boy mowing my front yard. I hadn’t hired anyone. “I’m Tyler,” he said. “My mom told me to mow it. I usually get fifty bucks.” I blinked. “Fifty? I didn’t ask for this.” He looked embarrassed. “She said you’d be grateful.”

I politely told him no thanks and sent him home. The next morning, his mother—Julie—showed up furious on my doorstep. “How dare you not pay my son!” she snapped. “I never asked for the service,” I explained. “Next time, ask first.” She stormed off, vowing I’d regret it.

So that weekend, I returned the favor. Julie’s lawn was covered in tacky flamingos and gnomes. While she was out, I boxed them up neatly and stored them in my garage. Her reaction? Predictably dramatic. “You STOLE my decorations!” Oh, I was just being neighborly,” I smiled. “Didn’t think permission mattered around here.” She fumed. “This is different!” “Not really. You decided my lawn needed help without asking. I returned the favor.”

I gave Tyler the $50 anyway—he did put in the effort. I told him: Always ask first. But you’re a hard worker, and I respect that. We returned the ornaments together. Julie never came outside. A few days later, cookies appeared on my porch with a note: “These are from Tyler. Not me. But I told him to bring them. – J” Not quite an apology. But close enough. Lesson learned: Boundaries matter. Whether it’s your yard or your pride.