Neighbors' kids

[Wishing on a star]

Also,

With the way these kids seem to be unsupervised, would you have any reason to believe that your Department of Childrens Services might be involved?

 

[sleepyone]

I just wanted to say that you need to take whatever action is necessary to keep those kids away from your house when you have not invited them, and are not supervising them.

It is a real liability issue!!!

A six year old messing around on your propery, in your garage, even in your home, etc... Who knows what could happen. And, yes, you could be held completely liable.

Don't be shy about this.
Take whatever action necessary to take care of the situation.

Thanks for that point. I really appreciate it.

 

[Tigger&Belle]

How very annoying, at the very least! I would take the angle that you are concerned about their safety when on your property. Tell the parents that as much as you'd like to help out (embellish...) that you're not able to keep an eye on them and of course they're too young to be unsupervised. Crazy that someone could think that kids that age should have free roam.

I let my almost 6yo son outside with his brother, but the brother is 12yo and almost legal to babysit. I don't even let him out front with a 10yo girl who I take care of, at least not without me sitting inside watching from a front room while they are just outside the front window. Never at someone elses house!

I feel very bad for these kids. What lousy parental role models they have. Of course that is not your fault at all, but if there are any kind words that you can give these kids (without encouraging them to remain at your house unattended) it might mean a lot to them. They might not know it now, but it could be something that sticks with them in future years.

 

[sleepyone]

How very annoying, at the very least! I would take the angle that you are concerned about their safety when on your property. Tell the parents that as much as you'd like to help out (embellish...) that you're not able to keep an eye on them and of course they're too young to be unsupervised. Crazy that someone could think that kids that age should have free roam.

I let my almost 6yo son outside with his brother, but the brother is 12yo and almost legal to babysit. I don't even let him out front with a 10yo girl who I take care of, at least not without me sitting inside watching from a front room while they are just outside the front window. Never at someone elses house!

I feel very bad for these kids. What lousy parental role models they have. Of course that is not your fault at all, but if there are any kind words that you can give these kids (without encouraging them to remain at your house unattended) it might mean a lot to them. They might not know it now, but it could be something that sticks with them in future years.

I've thought about that and tried to be kind to them but, I'm tired of letting them walk all over my family and our property. I'm so p!ssed at this point....I'm past being nice to them.

 

[raammartin]

We have a similar, less serious situation. We have new neighbors, been there about a month now. We live in what we feel is a pretty safe neighborhood. It's only a couple of years old, nowhere near a major road, we have five law enforcements people living here, etc. I know none of this is a guarantee, but it makes us feels safer. Anyway, our new neighbors, whom we've never met, have a four year old son. DH and I were hanging Christmas lights on the house Friday and we watched their four year old son walk down their drive, up the street, and up our drive. Not once did I see the parents outside. Anyway, I walked over to him and spoke, got his name, made small talk. Our kids (8 and 10) were in the backyard playing so I took him around there to play with them. Finally, I saw this child's Dad in the backyard doing some landscape stuff. He never looked concerned. Finally, the little boy wanted to go home, but wanted my two to come play basketball with him so I took them all over and introduced myself. Dad never seemed concerned as to where his son had been. Today, SAME THING. Three times this four year old child has walked down his drive and down the street to our house. We live side by side, but for some reason he won't walk through the woods to our house (scared?). The little boys Mom is a pharmacist and Dad is a physicians' assistant so I figured surely they have some sense.

I guess parents these days just aren't concerned for the kids' well-being or just count on others to take care of them. I know I never let mine just walk off anywhere, even in our neighborhood, unless I know where they are going. It just seems crazy that parents would be okay with their flesh and blood just wandering around through peoples yards and homes uninvited!

 

[grlpwrd]

If you have a video recorder...

Next time they are on your lawn record yourself telling them to leave, they are not welcome on your property. Record their reactions. If you don't want to do it then make sure you do it next time they allow their dog to poop on your yard. That could be a fineable offense.

In many states the person being recorded either by tape or video recorder needs to know they are being recorded or else it may be breaking the law. Also, these are minors so it may be opening up a can of worms.

OP, please make sure you know your state's law first then proceed accordingly. You don't want to jeopardize yourself or your case.

gl!

 

[luvflorida]

Ha! I didn't really allow them to. They just walked straight through the house and out the back door! I couldn't believe it!

Wow, that is very strange. I can't help it but reading this thread makes me think of the movie, Summer Rental, where the family rents a house on the beach and people walk through their yard, house, help themselves to the kitchen, bathroom, etc.

The movie is a riot, but I'm sure you're not laughing at your situation.

I really don't know what to say, it's just mind boggling some of the things people have to deal with. Good luck.

 

[Tigger&Belle]

I've thought about that and tried to be kind to them but, I'm tired of letting them walk all over my family and our property. I'm so p!ssed at this point....I'm past being nice to them.

I can most certainly understand you being pissed and I would be, too. I guess what I was trying to get at is that the issue when the kids are young is really with the parents. These kids are caught in the middle of bad, neglectful parenting. I do agree that if they are not being supervised that CPS maybe should be called. Or call CPS and ask them for advice. The kids are being put in a dangerous situation--they're going to walk in someones house sometime with terrible consequences.

 

[Tigger&Belle]

The little boys Mom is a pharmacist and Dad is a physicians' assistant so I figured surely they have some sense.

Book sense and common sense are not mutually exclusive. I can never figure out why they call it common sense since it sure doesn't seem too common.

 

[sleepyone]

Book sense and common sense are not mutually exclusive. I can never figure out why they call it common sense since it sure doesn't seem too common.

That would be a great tag.

 

[Tigger&Belle]

That would be a great tag.

Don't give that darn tag fairy any ideas. At least it wouldn't be embarrassing like my last tag. I still when I read it and don't want my DH to see it because I don't want to explain it to him.

 

[castleview]

Have you thought about a fence? An electronic one?

 

[WatchinCaptKangaroo]

Have you thought about a fence? An electronic one?

Or quiksand.

 

[Brendita]

I have a friend who put in motion detector lawn sprinklers.
Everytime they came in the yard they got a shower.
Problem fixed real quick.

 

[castleview]

I have a friend who put in motion detector lawn sprinklers.
Everytime they came in the yard they got a shower.
Problem fixed real quick.

From everything the OP said about these kids though, it sounds like that would be their first refreshing bath in weeks. Not nice, I know.

 

[Belle1962]

I second the Child protective Services idea. I would contact them and let them know you are concerned about the lack of supervision and care the children are receiving. They will be required to investigate. I would also call the police the next time they are in your yard and indicate there is a 6 year old in your yard without any adult supervision and could they please come and find the child's home.

 

[Pin Wizard]

They're 9 and 6 and not listening. I'd be chatting with their parents, and not over coffee. Good luck!

 

[Lorikr65]

Wow that totally sucks!!! One time we were having a problem with a neighbor and my step dad just went out there with one of his guns(not with the intention to shoot, harm etc.) and told them straight that it was his property and if they came again he would be protecting his property since the police were doing nothing. They called the police then and the police said he did nothing wrong and he was allowed to be on his property with a gun.... hmmmmm we never had any issues every again.

Sometimes something like that is the only thing that will work! Unfortunately my DH is a police officer and if he ever did anything like that it would be all over the newspapers and I'm sure someone would try to have his job. Don't get me wrong, I don't think your step-dad did anything wrong, I actually think it's pretty funny. Hearing your story just got me thinking how society expects certain people with certain jobs to not have any emotions and react as a normal citizen would.

 

[sleepyone]

I have a friend who put in motion detector lawn sprinklers.
Everytime they came in the yard they got a shower.
Problem fixed real quick.

I actually thought about that while lying in bed last night but, quickly put it out of my mind because, they would probably take it as an invitation to cool off from the heat.

 

[sleepyone]

I second the Child protective Services idea. I would contact them and let them know you are concerned about the lack of supervision and care the children are receiving. They will be required to investigate. I would also call the police the next time they are in your yard and indicate there is a 6 year old in your yard without any adult supervision and could they please come and find the child's home.

That's just what I'll do if they ever let it happen again....call the police to bring the children home.