Mother Says “No” When Two Neighbor Kids Ask If They Can Hang Out With Her 2-Year-Old Son, Their Mom Gets Mad
When transitioning to a new neighbourhood, the uncertainty of neighbourly relations looms large. It’s a spectrum, ranging from the warmly welcoming to the distant and reserved. A common ground for forging connections often involves children playing together, fostering bonds among families. However, the effectiveness of this strategy typically relies on the children being of similar ages, facilitating natural interaction and camaraderie among them.
In today’s story, a family recently moved into a flat with their two-year-old child, only to find their downstairs neighbour’s sons, aged around 11 and 12/13, repeatedly asking to play with their toddler. Despite not knowing the boys well and being aware of their rowdy behaviour, the family felt pressured to agree, albeit with some discomfort. However, when the eldest neighbour insisted on taking the child out alone, the family declined, leading to a confrontational encounter with the boys’ mother the following morning.
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Source: Mumsnet
1. Was I wrong to say “no” to my neighbor’s sons?
2. After moving into a flat two months ago with their 2-year-old, they’ve had the downstairs neighbour’s sons repeatedly asking if their son can come to play over the past 2-3 weeks.
3. For context, OP hardly know their neighbours. The neighbour’s sons, who seem to be around 11 and 12/13 years old, keep asking for their 2-year-old to come and play.
4. Although OP doesn’t have an issue with the boys, she finds it odd that the older kids want to spend time with a 2-year-old, especially since they have nothing in common.
5. According to another neighbour, one of the boys put dog p**p in her letterbox, and they’re generally known for hanging around outside, and getting into trouble.
6. However, to avoid any awkwardness with the neighbours, OP agreed to go out with them.
7. At that point, the eldest got annoyed and insisted he would take OP’s son out by himself. She declined, shut the door, and assumed that was the end of it.
8. This morning, the boys’ mother came knocking, angrily demanding to know what OP’s problem was and increasingly shouting and swearing.
9. OP doesn’t believe she is being unreasonable, but the boys’ mother has made her feel otherwise, and she is concerned they won’t let this go.
Now that you have read the story, it’s time for you to see what Redditors had to say about this. Read till the end to see what are other people’s opinions on this.
10. “He’s too young to be out without his mom, but thank you for asking.”
11. It’s not unreasonable at all; it’d be irresponsible to let a toddler out with a 12-year-old, even if they were more familiar.
12. Why the sudden insistence to be alone with your son? It seems suspicious like they might have ulterior motives.
13. You’re completely justified; your son is only 2 years old! Handing over a toddler to two unfamiliar boys is certainly not acceptable.
14. Just stay composed and politely decline; considering the age gap, it doesn’t seem beneficial for your son.
15. It’s baffling how OP could doubt herself here.
16. It’s not reasonable to give your 2-year-old to just anyone, let alone two teenage boys. I would’ve firmly refused too!
17. She seems irrational! There are multiple valid reasons why you’re not at fault: the boys are too young, you don’t know them, and your child is just a toddler.
18. It’s a serious concern. It immediately brought to mind the Jamie Bulger case.
19. It’s quite uncommon for older boys to show such interest in a toddler. Their persistence is concerning, especially given the age gap.
20. Regardless of how well-behaved the boys might be, toddlers can be unpredictable. It’s unfair to expect young lads to handle that alone.
In navigating the complexities of neighbourly interactions, it’s essential to prioritize the safety and comfort of one’s family. While it’s natural to want to foster community relationships, boundaries must be respected, especially when it comes to the well-being of young children. The family’s concerns about their toddler’s interactions with older, unfamiliar children are valid, and their decision to politely decline the neighbours’ requests reflects a responsible approach to parenting. Let us know in the comments how you would have responded in this situation.
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