Family Time: If the Porch Light Is On, Our Yard Is Closed!

When my boys were young, we lived in a bustling neighborhood absolutely full of BOYS!

We had about 21 boys on our street who were 12 years old and younger—and about 12 of them were nine! It was the most wonderful time in our lives.

Everywhere you looked, there was a group of boys. They were running through yards, knocking on doors, making plans, playing games, and looking for the next adventure. Our house and yard were always part of the action, and I loved it.

But eventually, it got to the point that we needed a little time with just our own family.

The Porch-Light Rule

That is when I came up with one of my favorite family rules:

“If our front porch light is ON, do not ring that doorbell. Our yard is CLOSED!”

Simple, clear, and easy enough for a whole street full of boys to understand!

And let me tell you—I would even leave that porch light on all night Friday night just to make sure it was already glowing on Saturday morning. That way, nobody could claim they did not know the yard was closed!

Good Boundaries Protect Good Memories

We loved those neighborhood boys. We loved the noise, the energy, the friendships, and seeing groups of children everywhere we looked. Those years truly were some of the most wonderful years of our lives.

But loving an open-door home does not mean the door has to stay open every minute. Sometimes a family needs to slow down, be together, and enjoy its own little circle.

Our porch-light rule gave us that breathing room. It let the boys know when friends were welcome—and when the Shoemakers were having family time.

Looking back, I treasure both parts: the bustling street full of boys and the quiet moments when our yard was closed.

Sometimes the brightest porch light means, “We love you—but today, we are loving on our own family.”