Is it wrong.....?

[ilovejack02]

My oldest had a bratty friend that lived down the street. It got to the point, he would knock and I would answer immediately and tell him he couldn't come in. I didn't feel bad about it one bit.

Locking door discussion, I wasn't really strict about it until pot smoking drug dealer moved in about 6 months ago next door and I found him in my backyard trying to steal my husband's hunting equipment. House is locked down like Fort Knox now.

 

[kimblebee]

My oldest had a bratty friend that lived down the street. It got to the point, he would knock and I would answer immediately and tell him he couldn't come in. I didn't feel bad about it one bit.

Locking door discussion, I wasn't really strict about it until pot smoking drug dealer moved in about 6 months ago next door and I found him in my backyard trying to steal my husband's hunting equipment. House is locked down like Fort Knox now.

In that situation I can totally understand why you would lock up all the time.

 

[sunnyday123]

Even after reading the replies I am no closer to locking my doors during the daytime. I've been around it for 34 years now and nothing has ever happened. Not to say it couldn't happen but I don't want to live my life in fear of things that may happen. If I did that I would sit in my house all day. Well, I couldn't do that, it might explode. I guess I could go and sit in the back yard. No, I might get bitten by a mosquito carrying West Nile virus. An open field is out because the pesticides will get me for sure.

I'm not as worried about the pesticides, house explosions or mosquitos as I am about the unknown person wandering around looking for unlocked doors.

A few years ago, and woman was gardening in her back yard around here. Very well-to-do neighhborhood. A man walked in the front door, killed her husband, and kidnapped her and held her hostage for about a week.

I'm not sitting in my house in fear, but I am taking enough precaution to lock my door. No biggie.

And as far as not liking the neighbor kids, don't feel bad OP. I don't like mine either. In fact, no one in the general area likes them.

 

[kimblebee]

OP, sorry for hijacking the thread.

I don't like the kid next door and she is my daughters cousin


She is almost 3 and isn't potty trained because the mom ( my ex husbands sister) can't be bothered. The kid is spoiled beyond belief and gets away with everything including throwing her dinner at her mom because she didn't like it and wanted something else. Yep, the mom made her a different dinner

She will be a nightmare when she gets older.

 

[Tink888]

Nope, nothing wrong with not liking the neighbor's kids.

I agree with Pumba, your house/your rules.

Bratty kids are hard to like but if your kids like them, I might not write them off completely. I've come across some kids who were really bratty when they were younger and as they got older they grew into pretty terrific and remarkable people.

 

[wdwiala]

We had a neighbor girl who would just walk in our house. Sometimes I would turn around and she would be standing in my kitchen. I would have to stick and sign on the door to keep her from ringing the bell when the door was locked. I can't tell you how many times she woke my baby up. I could stand in the living room and watch her turn my doorknob trying to get in. Her parents were clueless that this could all be an issue.

We had company one time and the older sister came in and picked up some pizza and started eating. We told her that this wasn't the time to visit. She stuck the bitten pizza back in the box and left. Clueless again.

Neighbors are a crapshoot! You just have to figure out how to all get along. Make some rules and enforce them for your own sanity. Don't feel bad about it. Sounds like the kids need them!

 

[marthachick]

She will be a nightmare when she gets older.

She already is!

 

[goofinoff]

Well, luckily for us they aren't around much this summer. But it gets to the point on the weekends (especially in the winter) that we just leave the house for the day because we know that they are going to end up at our house. Sometimes I swear their parents send them to our house so they don't have to deal with them. Last year the youngest one (who is too young to be walking around the neighborhood himself) was ringing our doorbell at 7:30 in the morning!!! Rediculous!

As far as locking the door, our door was open....the screen door was closed. We were sitting at the kitchen table which is right next to the door. I normally lock my door when I am home alone with the kids. Hubby was sitting right at the table with us.

 

[Tigge50447]

wow I'd march that kid back to his house and ring his parent's door bell (many times) at 7:30 in the morning and be like ummmmm excuse me. Is there a reason your kid is on my door step at 7;30am? if this happens again I'll call social services, lol..... I'd be bent. I value my weekend morning sleep.

 

[LynnTH]

Just an idea for the pool. Our neighbor across the street has a great in ground pool. His kids are older than most in the neighborhood but still lets everyone use the pool. He will hang a flag/windsock in his tree outside. When that flag is hanging there then everyone knows that anyone in the neighborhood can come swimming. But, they must bring an adult with them.

It works out great. We all bring drinks/snacks and hang out. The kids are always waiting for the flag to appear...

 

[Disney845]

Even after reading the replies I am no closer to locking my doors during the daytime. I've been around it for 34 years now and nothing has ever happened. Not to say it couldn't happen but I don't want to live my life in fear of things that may happen. If I did that I would sit in my house all day. Well, I couldn't do that, it might explode. I guess I could go and sit in the back yard. No, I might get bitten by a mosquito carrying West Nile virus. An open field is out because the pesticides will get me for sure.

Locking your doors isn't about living a life of fear...it is about taking a very simple precaution that can protect you, your family, and your belongings from a threat.

It costs nothing to lock a door and it certainly isn't an inconvenience, flick the lock to walk out, flick the lock again when you come back in.

Just because you have never been hit by a car before doesn't mean that you should blindly walk out into traffic. It is like looking both ways before crossing a road, it is merely a precaution. Doesn't mean that you still couldn't get hurt...just like locking a door doesn't mean no one could break in...but you are just engaging in a little precautionary behavior.

 

[Elvistelth]

I agree. The people who think they live in Mayberry and don't need to lock their doors are jeopardizing their safety and possibly their lives.

 

[RebeccaB]

Nobody shoot me, but I don't even know where the keys to our doors are. Granted, we live on 250 acres and my drive is 1600 feet long. Plus, you have to go through my inlaws dooryard to get to our house.
On the bratty kid note, I bet I was quite the pest to my best friends mom back in the day. I was always at her house and I never called first. Maybe times were different then

 

[goofinoff]

THEY'RE MOVING!!!!!!!! Just found out! I'm so happy!

 

[Elvistelth]

THEY'RE MOVING!!!!!!!! Just found out! I'm so happy!

Problem solved.

 

[Sheree Bobbins]

PSA: Lock your doors and windows.:

 

[Tasha+Scott]

THEY'RE MOVING!!!!!!!! Just found out! I'm so happy!

Now it's time to start praying that you don't end up with new neighbors that are worse than them.

 

[C.Ann]

Well if we want to be truthful here, not all children have endearing qualities.. It could be that they haven't been taught any better.. Or - it could be they're just rude, nasty, arrogant kids..

Bottom line is it's your house.. Talk to the kids and tell them what your rules are (even if that includes you would rather not have them hanging out at your house).. Until you lay down the law, they will continue to do whatever they please - and especially if their parents aren't open to any dialogue regarding their behavior..

That doesn't make you a bad person.. It makes you a person who doesn't want to (and shouldn't have to) tolerate bad behavior..

Good luck!