Being a good neighbor is important, friends!

But it’s also important to not let other people take advantage of your kindness…

It sounds like that’s what happened to this guy, and he took to Reddit’s “Am I the *******?” page to ask the readers there if he handled this situation with his neighbor the wrong way.

Read on and see what you think!

AITA to tell my neighbor I am not their babysitter and to keep their kids away?

“I (23M) live within one mile of 4 elementary schools. So, there are tons of kids around here.

I have a garden so I’m outside a lot and most of the neighborhood kids end up at my lawn at some point in the day.

For the most part, it doesn’t bother me. They’re all great kids and they have tons of questions about plants, gardening, composting, all of that good stuff.

I recently finished my PhD in plant systematics, so I honestly do enjoy teaching them about plants and seeing them excited to learn about it all.

Also, it is a bit refreshing to have kids running around and screaming outside rather than sitting in front of screens.

But there’s a problem…

Recently, an issue has come up though. I was out gardening and the kids came by as usual. I finished up earlier than usual and I went inside. About an hour later someone is literally banging on my door.

It’s my neighbor and after I open it she instantly starts screaming about how “I left her kids alone to be kidnapped for an hour”. And I was at first a bit confused.

After some more discussion I learned that she lets her kids outside every day and tells them to “hang out with me” while she does whatever the hell. Eventually I just apologized and closed the door.

This is weird…

After some thinking though I really don’t think I’m in the wrong. I am not okay with watching someone’s kid. First, I did not know I was “watching” children.

What if someone got hurt? I don’t know what the hell to do.

Second, I feel like this is neglect. This woman doesn’t know me anywhere near well enough to be leaving her kids alone with me outside, while she leaves.

Lastly, childcare is expensive for a reason. I’ve been watching kids for free?!

He decided to give her a piece of his mind.

So, I went and knocked on her door. Maybe I was a bit harsh, but I told her that I am not a babysitter and I will no longer allow her children near my house or me.

I told her I was extremely uncomfortable by this situation and if she leaves her children outside without someone watching again, I will call CPS (I would not like to do that at all).

She went off saying she can’t afford childcare and I’m an asshole to not just watch her kids when she needs help.

I have now gone to the rest of my neighbors and told them that I do not want any children in my yard and explained the situation.

Most were very understanding (and watch their children). Today one boy came by and I asked him to leave and he said “okay” but was clearly holding back tears and now I’m feeling like a jerk.

I’m needing some outside opinion.

AITA?

How do I even handle this situation?”

Let’s see how Reddit users reacted.

This reader said he’s NTA.

Another person agreed.

This Reddit user chimed in.

This individual spoke up.

And this reader shared their thoughts.

He was only trying to be a nice guy and this is how he gets repaid?!?!

No ma’am.

If you thought that was an interesting story, check out what happened when a family gave their in-laws a free place to stay in exchange for babysitting, but things changed when they don’t hold up their end of the bargain.