The Kids Were Inseparable, Until One Mom Suddenly Didn’t Want Them Playing Together Anymore
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It can be wonderful when children have friends in the neighborhood. Playdates become easy and more frequent than if kids’ friends live far away.
In this story, one mom shares that her child often played with a neighbor’s child who was close in age. But then the neighbor kid’s mom got involved and decided they shouldn’t hang out anymore.
This mom feels bad about the situation and gives a couple of examples that may have led up to the neighbor’s decision.
Keep reading to see if you think the neighbor overreacted or if this mom actually did something wrong.
AITA? Neighbor told me that my children should stay away from her child and property.
I have lived in my neighborhood for almost 18 months.
The lots are rather small so everyone is right up next to one another.
The neighbor across the street has a child a couple years older than one of my children and they play together frequently.
There was an issue among the kids’ friends.
Yesterday, this neighbor sent me a message via social media saying that another child called another child a derogatory term.
The child that said this term is a neighborhood kid that my child plays with occasionally, not my child.
The child being called the name was her child’s friend.
My response was polite and concerned. I told her I would speak to that child (even though he is not mine) and tell his parents and have a talk with my child to ensure they know that behavior is unacceptable.
In an unrelated issue, her child lost her phone.
This morning, I woke up to a message asking if my child and I were looking in this neighbors car windows with a flashlight.
I explained that my child lost her phone while playing with all the kids in the street, and that Find My Iphone was pinging right where her car was. Since her child was outside (approximately 13 years old) we looked under the car and on the roof of the car as well as on the hood.
It may have looked like we were looking in her car (we did not), but her child was there so we did not feel this was inappropriate.
She thinks her neighbor overreacted.
Now the neighbor is saying “I instructed my child to turn the other way and not hangout with your kids anymore”, and “since there are no boundaries, just stay away”.
I feel like this is being a bit blown out of proportion and I am wondering if I am in the wrong. I have no problem respecting her wishes to stay away, but why the aggression?
There is more background to the story in which the child who had been called a derogatory name had stolen items from my child.
I am not saying the name calling was ok, in fact, it really upset me to hear that happened, but I do not quite understand why my neighbor is upset with me and my children.
That neighbor is on the verge of gossiping and seems to be overreacting. Maybe they’re better off staying away from her anyway.
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Let’s see how Reddit responded.
This person thinks OP only made one mistake.
But another person has a question about the car.
This person thinks she could’ve handled both situations better.
Another person thinks a text would’ve made a big difference.
I don’t think she did anything to warrant her child not being able to hang out with the neighbor’s child anymore. Sure, she could’ve sent a text before looking for the phone, but she explained herself when the neighbor asked. The neighbor seems to be overreacting.
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