When my new neighbor Lisa moved in, her laundry habits became a spectacle outside my 8-year-old son Jake’s window. Her colorful panties flapped in the breeze daily, prompting Jake’s curious questions. I decided it was time to confront her after he asked if her thongs were “slingshots.”

When I approached Lisa, she dismissed my concerns, saying, “It’s my yard, my rules.” Determined to make a point, I hung an enormous pair of bright flamingo-print granny panties in front of her house. When Lisa saw them, she was furious and demanded I take them down.

I calmly explained, “Just starting a neighborhood trend—consider it a learning opportunity.” Eventually, Lisa agreed to move her laundry elsewhere.

From that day on, her underwear was no longer a public display. Jake may have missed the “slingshots,” but he learned that sometimes even moms need to play the superhero by keeping the peace—with a bit of humor.