Life as a single mom is tough, but I, Catherine, 40, make it work. I’ve been raising my two boys, Liam (10) and Chris (8), alone for the past year since their father left us for another woman. After a difficult separation, I bought a new house for us to start fresh. Everything seemed perfect—until I met my next-door neighbor, Jeffrey.

Our first encounter was anything but friendly. Jeffrey showed up at my door with a folder, announcing his intention to build a fence along the property line. I was stunned to learn that this was based on an agreement with the previous owners, and he wasn’t even asking for my consent. I made it clear that I wasn’t happy with the idea, especially since I didn’t want my view and sunlight blocked. But Jeffrey was adamant, saying he needed the fence for privacy during his garden parties. His rude attitude set the tone for what would become a tense relationship.

A few weeks later, I took Liam and Chris on a long-awaited vacation. We were excited about the beach and building sandcastles. But when we returned, I was met with a shocking sight: Jeffrey’s fence had been erected right up to my windows, blocking our beautiful view.

I was furious. The fence not only obstructed our view but also replaced the sky and trees that my boys loved. I couldn’t let this stand. I decided to take matters into my own hands rather than deal with lengthy legal processes.

That night, I went to the pet store and bought the strongest animal attractant spray they had. I coated the fence with it, knowing it would attract not just dogs but a variety of animals. I waited for the results, and soon enough, the fence became a magnet for stray animals. Foxes, raccoons, and even a moose began marking their territory, making Jeffrey’s fence a nightly nuisance.

Jeffrey’s frustration was palpable. He tried to clean the fence every morning, but the smell lingered, drawing even more animals. The entire neighborhood soon began to notice, and complaints rolled in. One day, Mrs. Thompson, another neighbor, confronted Jeffrey about the awful smell coming from his yard.

Seeing his embarrassment, I felt a small sense of satisfaction. Jeffrey’s efforts to scrub the fence clean were futile, and soon, he threw in the towel. I watched in amazement as he supervised a team of workers taking down the fence.

Liam and Chris were overjoyed to see our view restored. They ran to me with big smiles, thanking me for getting rid of the fence. Jeffrey eventually approached me to apologize, admitting he had acted improperly and promising to respect my property and rights in the future.

I accepted his apology, and we agreed to start over. It felt good to stand up for myself and my boys, and the whole experience taught me that sometimes you need to get creative to solve a problem and teach a lesson.

Do you think I handled the situation the right way?