Should we "Tattle On" Step-Grandson?

[Tigger&Belle]

I do think it makes somewhat of a difference that the houses are in the country, but I also don't blame you for locking your doors. What if you and your DH were, uh, having fun sometime and he walked in? Maybe your son should consider knocking, too.

 

[BriarfoxinWA]

We have a really similar setup to the OP. My parents live just up the hill from us on a dead end street. We are on the edge of town so not too many houses around. We moved here when my oldest DS was 3. Since we had horses around and I wasn't too thrilled with DS wandering all over the country side, I made DS call his grandparents before he left the house. So not only did he learn their phone number he could make sure they were home and had time for him. Then when he would leave the house the grandparents would call and let me know he was on his way home so I could watch for him. I've also had to talk to both DS's at times about knocking on grandma's door and not just walking in...so we do a courtesy knock then walk in and they do the same at our house.

Good luck OP, I think you need to discuss with your DS some rules for the grandson coming over. I think it's worked so well with us because we had the groundrules early on.

 

[Planogirl]

I would lock the doors and talk to the boy. I won't judge whether it's wise for the kid to even be out though because that's up to the parents particularly in a setup such as you describe.

 

[PaulaSue]

OP, why wouldn't you lock your doors?

 

[Chattyaholic]

OP, why wouldn't you lock your doors?

Nobody locks their doors around here. Small town, everyone knows everyone else, very little crime. It's just the way it's done. There was a thread on this topic not long ago. Many chimed in who don't lock their doors, and many others couldn't understand why.