Dear Prudence What was he thinking? Advice by Enter your email to receive alerts for this author. Sign in or create an account to better manage your email preferences. Unsubscribe from email alerts Are you sure you want to unsubscribe from email alerts for Jenée Desmond-Harris ? May 10, 2026 7:16 PM Photo illustration by Slate. Photos by Nadezhda Kurbatova/Getty Images Plus and Florin Cristian Ailenei/iStock/Getty Images Plus.  Dear Prudence is Slate’s advice column.  Submit questions here . Dear Prudence, My husband and I bought what was supposed to be our dream home in a beautiful neighborhood. Unfortunately, the house next to us is occupied by the neighborhood crank, an ancient lady who endlessly curses at us and threatens to call the police if we so much as barbecue in our backyard with friends after 7:00 p.m. If she sees our kids (ages 5 and 7) playing outside, she screams at them to stay away from her place.…