My Neighbor Is So Immature - Ignore or Confront? UPDATE POST 43

[sorcerormickey]

Why is it the only weird people in the neighborhood have to live next to me?

A little background: Our next-door neighbors are a family of 4: Mom in her 40s, Dad in his 20s, 2 kids probably 4 and 1. We have only talked to them 1 time when they first moved in (trying to be neighborly on our part) and their whole conversation was about how they should have never gotten married, only did it for the kids, yadda, yadda,....oh, they are also "Very rich because they moved here from Rhode Island." We just kind of avoided any conversation after that other than Hello's.

So the other day, my Boyfriend and I are out cutting the lawn - he mows and I edge and trim. Where our 2 lawns meet, my boyfriend accidently mowed 1 strip of their grass. No biggie. So, the next day there is a hedge of shrubs and plants along the property line. We were out in the garage and we hear the neighbors telling some other neighbors that we "are so rude to cut their grass" and they "wanted to put up a fence to keep us on our property but the HOA would not allow it." HOW CRAZY IS THAT???

So now the neighbors are going around telling other neighbors bad things about us that are not even true - my neighbor on the other side of us had heard some doozies going around the block (he knows us and knows none of it is true.) HOW CHILDISH!

So, what to do? It is killing me to hold my tongue whenever I see them outside, but I do not want to make a scene in front of their kids. My boyfriend says to ignore them, and Mom says confrontation of any kind will probably make it worse. What do y'all think??

 

[Cebhfhionn]

What?!!! Your BF mowed part of their grass and they got mad?!!

I only wish that someone would mow part of our grass by accident. That would be great!

Just don't bother with them, they are just miserable and taking it out on you.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Let's put it this way...some people are looking for it. They seem to be that type. Don't worry about it. If you do say something they will blow it out of proportion.

Did you scalp it? My neighbor scalps our lawn. We aren't happy about it but we also aren't going to trash them.

Some people are very touchy when it comes to "their" grass.

 

[SherryNC]

Ignore the freaks.

 

[popeyeohoh]

Wow!! good luck. I think I would initially ignore it and act as if nothing happened. IF they continue to be jerks I may say something to them. I agree with your mom, if you involve yourself with their petty behavior you may just get sucked into a situation that could become ugly. They don't sound very rational. Do you own the house your living in? If renting I may consider moving. Living next door to freaks can wear on you. I have had bad neighbors as has many people on these boards. I hope someone can help you with a solution you are comfortable with.

 

[sorcerormickey]

I only wish that someone would mow part of our grass by accident. That would be great!

Me too!

Did you scalp it?

No, actually with type of grass we have (St. Augustine) you have to set your mower on the highest setting possible. It stay 3-4 inches long after you cut.

Ignore the freaks.

That is totally what they are too. I did not want to use that word in OP - not sure if it was DIS-appropraite.

 

[mtblujeans]

I can offer support....but heaven knows I can't offer advice!!

I am sorry you are having to go through this experience with your freaky neighbors!!

 

[mom2boys]

Don't lower yourself to their level. If the other neighbors haven't figured them out yet, they will. You won't be their only targets.

 

[sorcerormickey]

Do you own the house your living in?

Yes, it is our house. We lived here before they did! They make me nuts!

Did I mention the little girl (the 4yo) has hearing loss because her "father" plays the guitar in the house with the amp turned all the way up??

 

[minkydog]

I'd ignore it, don't make it any bigger than it already is (in their minds). Your friends will know the truth. Be civil for your the children's sakes, both yours and theirs. And you might even want to consider sending over a plate of cookies and apologizing for accidentally mowing their grass. You can catch a lot more flies with honey than with vinegar.

 

[Chicago526]

What I would do, next time you see them and it's a good time to "chat", is to tell them about all the rumors you've heard floating around, but that no one can confirm who the rumors are about, and then say "Wow, I wish I knew who those people are, they sound like freaks!"

Worth it just to see the look on their face when confronted (sort of) on the trash they started!

 

[Stacey2grls]

Some people are just nuts! Avoid them like the plague! Unless they say something to your face, or blatantly start a fight, I would keep far away. I am all for the old "say it to my face" deal, but since they are next door, there is no getting away from them. It will blow over, give it time, or better yet, they might move!

 

[vacanut]

What I would do, next time you see them and it's a good time to "chat", is to tell them about all the rumors you've heard floating around, but that no one can confirm who the rumors are about, and then say "Wow, I wish I knew who those people are, they sound like freaks!"

Worth it just to see the look on their face when confronted (sort of) on the trash they started!

Yup that's what I'd do!!

 

[Jilliebean]

Some people are just looking for something to be unhappy about. I'd continue to steer clear of them.

If you've noticed these people are annoying and odd, other people probably have too and will take anything that they say about you and DBF with a grain of salt.

 

[Lisa F]

Don't lower yourself to their level. If the other neighbors haven't figured them out yet, they will. You won't be their only targets.

This advice bears repeating. That's my thought exactly.

 

[lulugirl]

I would ignore them, they sound like losers.

 

[Stitchfans]

Ignore them they arent' worth your time. That's what I do with the neighors that are to the right of me. They complained because some of our snow fell into their yard. Yadda Yadda Yadda

 

[WampusCat]

When I was in high school a wise teacher told me that "the more your stir it the more it stinks."

Ignore it. If they libel you, then you can sue them

 

[lorisnuts]

These people sound as bad as the lady who lived next to my grandparents in St. Cloud. She used to "pull" out all the grass in her yard by hand until all you could see was bare earth. then she would yell at my grandparents for not keeping the grass out of her yard when it grew under the fence that separated their yards. she was a riot.

 

[cruisnfamily]

What?!!! Your BF mowed part of their grass and they got mad?!!

I only wish that someone would mow part of our grass by accident. That would be great!

I haven't read all the replies yet but I saw this and had to say this is the first thing I thought of. Please, please, come accidentally cut my grass!