What Is the Appropriate Response?

When you get settled, I would stick a 'thank you' in the door where you know they will see it. Remember, they were trying to make you feel welcome, not one up you so you owe them something in return. Sounds like they did just what they set out to do. If they sent over a dish that needs to be returned, I often will put something inside the dish as an additional 'thanks'. I will bet that a sincere 'thanks, you made us feel welcome and lightened our load with a great snack' will suffice.

A sweet thank you note would be appropriate, and dropping it off in person would be good. If they're not home, leave in the door.

As far as inviting them over or making baked goods in return, wait until you feel you are comfortable taking the friendship to the next level.

Remember their kindness when new people move into the neighborhood or someone has a baby, is sick, death in the family...and return the favor. :)

Wow that is really great!!
Good neighbors are hard to find! I would just drop a thank you note in their mail box or in the door.
As a stay at home mom these women may become your new friends. It might be nice to invite them over for coffee/tea when you get settled!
Blessings, K.

A written thank you note is appropriate.

M.; yes i would get to know them, your thank yous were enough, if you feel compelled to mail them a thank you that is fine, too, they probably are enjoying the little kids if they are older, and knwo how it is to be a parent, it would not hurt to get to knwo them, its not a rush job, you will be there for a whie huh ? hahaha when we lived in a neighborhood, like that, some would have us over for dinner, and another would too, just your smile and your freindship is all that is needed, just be a happy person and enjoy it, who knows maybe you will get some benefit out of it, and learn from them, and their experiences, and just be happy, D. s

Invite them over for coffee. Private people or not, if you eventually will come to depend on each others' help, best you get to know them, see how your kids get along, just get a feel for them. And you swap telephone numbers for emergencies, etc. As it says on the middle school walls in my area: Best vitamin for having friends: B1. Better not to feel helpless when there are willing people to be there. And you'll feel good too when you can reciprocate.

Hi M.,
I have a friend that always returns the containers of a homemade treat with a little something in it. Even if you don't bake, you could put in a thank you card.
We never had anyone approach us when we first moved in, so I think that is fabulous that you have gotten such great greetings!

M.,

Sounds like the wonderful neighborhood we moved into a couple of years ago! Congrats on your new home! You've really lucked up if you've moved into such a friendly neighborhood!

Even though they're older they can still make great friends. Our next door neighbor is a retired school teacher and she is wonderful. We don't have family that lives close so she is our "family" here. And in return we're her "family" too as her children live a 1,000 miles away. She loves spoiling our children and buys them little presents often. She feeds our cat when we're out of town and we pay her back by watching her dogs. She's also willing to watch our children so we can go out on a date. So, like you we are blessed with wonderful neighbors.

A simple thank you note will be great. Maybe next time you cook a special meal invite some of the neighbors over to join you. If you want to host a party I'm sure it would be greatly appreciated. I know we attended a neighborhood breakfast about a month after we moved in and met over 10 neighbors and their families. It's a huge variety of ages so the ones with more experience at being parents are always available to ask advice. :)

God Bless!

C.

Our neighbor occassionally drops by with cookies for our children and I usually say thankyou there and then. I have been able to repay the kindness also when I bake with my kids by taking some of the bounty to the neighbor. We also have a garden with an abundance of veggies so we have taken some to the neighbor this summer.
Maybe you could do that sort of thing with your neighbors.

a written thank you is sufficient. They will appreciate it.

You're too cute. :)

That's great you have such wonderful neighbors! When we moved into our house a year & 1/2 ago our new neighbors were like that too. I just mailed them a nice thank you card. I don't think a party is necessary, especially if you're private people and your hubby works wierd hours. I'm sure you'll get an opportunity to return the favor sometime (let them borrow an egg, help with removing a tree limb, I don't know something neighborly...)

I would say a card is good, and better than nothing. And if you're outside just stop and say hello and chit chat now and then.

M., sounds like you moved intro a great neighborhood! If you'd like to send a thank you or take something baked over, both are appropriate. Treasure your neighbors! We as the "younger" women can always learn from those who are older. get to know them, you never know what treasure God has in store and how much you may be a blessing to them! We always tend to think that we have nothing in common with the older generation, but we fail to realize that they have probably gone through things we could never comprehend. It doesn;t matter so much that they are older, just that they are women! Hope this helps, L.

Hi M., Once you are settled in, invite these same neighbors over for a casual meet and greet. Hamburgers on the grill, pizza ordered out, or just some snacks. The purpose is simply getting to know each other, see if there is anything in common to develop a friendship on and to return the politeness. Good luck.

HI M.,
First of all be thankful for such nice neighbors. We live in a neighborhood with really good neighbors and have all gotten to be good friends. WE are all around the same age so that helps. But I think just a little thank you card would be nice. I would probably mail it out. Hopefully these will be people you can trust to keep an eye on things when you can't and people you can go to when you need something. We all joke around my neighborhood because it seems we have a borrowing chain going on, which is really nice when you are in a pinch and don't have time to go to the store. Best wishes to you and your family in your new home.

If they left a dish that needs to be returned(are these the older neighbors?) the old etiquette was to never return an empty dish. If the are likely to be your friends, then invite them over for tea/coffee/brunch, and start to make some invaluable connections. i have done this with one of my retired neighbors and she has blessed my life in many ways (giving me plant starts out of her garden, filling in with the kids when I only need someone for 20 minutes until hubby gets home, and just being a friend). Congrats.