Please Don’t Pray For Me

Well in your specific situation, it's not great as she didn't engage with your request to do a small thing that would actually help in a practical way. It might have been difficult for her though, noise from children is difficult to reasonably do much about and it sounds like there more issues there. The family might have been struggling.

Generally though, YABU. When people say they will pray for someone it is just a nice gesture that shows they are thinking of them and hoping for the best.

I'm not religious but my grandma often used to tell me I was 'in her prayers' and I found that very sweet.

I appreciate you have health difficulties but to ask a neighbour who is already struggling to not live freely in their own home with their child who you have worries about seems a bit of an expectation. Her offering a prayer is neither here nor there. If you are a believer and you think it comes from a good place then that's all good, if you aren't a believer or question her motive then ignore it and don't give it head space.

You said you "used to have a neighbour..." so you don't any more?

I'm not religious but if it makes them feel better and like they are being supportive somehow then they can knock themselves out

Does she know you reported her to social services?

Is her child now out of the house and going to school etc?

Speaking personally as a Christian, prayer is quite an emotional commitment. People think the offer of prayer is an empty gesture, but earnest prayer takes time and concentration. Some people are extremely generous with their prayers and I am always extra appreciative when I ask them to throw some extra prayer support my way.

I can't imagine she enjoys sitting in with a distressed child day in day out, no one would. By all means report if you think the child is being abused but honestly I think you were unreasonable to ask her to keep the noise down - it'll be a hundred times louder for her and I would guess she's tried.

She either meant it sincerely or she meant it as a "fuck off", I kind of think either are fair enough in the circumstances.

I would sssime she can’t facilitate your request, which does seem quite onerous. Only using certain rooms in her own house, it is a bit much to ask of anyone. Clearly she is caring for someone with special needs of some kind, regardless of whether you know the details or not.

You need solutions of your own. Moving to the other side of your house. Headphones, white nose. Ear plugs etc,

I appreciate you aren’t well, but maybe it’s time to move? A more permanent solution.

Prayibg for you is irrelevant and was meant kindly I expect.

If she has a baby who is screaming at all times perhaps she doesn't have the time or energy to offer practical help.

She likely means we'll but because a) you are pissed about the noise and b) perhaps you are an intolerable avoid atheist you have taken her prayer offer really badly. It does you no harm really.
Can you let this go and try to focus on something else? Otherwise gently tell her you don't need her prayers.

I have had people pray for me and my family at various times. I see it as doing absolutely no harm and just because I don't believe in a God doesn't mean there isn't one!

Your case is slightly different though and I would be pissed off too. Perhaps suggest the little one learns to pray with her, in silence?

In this situation, of course it’s not reasonable and it’s borderline offensive. She’s using it as a sticking plaster to make herself feel better.

In other situations, and I’m an atheist, I don’t mind at all.

My best friend since childhood (who’s basically the sister I never had) is a committed Christian and she sometimes prays for me, which just feels like love, to be honest. When a youngish relative was dying (she didn’t know him) she asked if it was OK for her church group to pray for him (for comfort, not for a miracle cure or anything), which again just felt like love and kindness. The world needs more of that, I think?

I always graciously accept prayers. Believer or not, it has nice intentions

Assumption that they are Christian? Did I miss that from the OP?

Why would you check? The thing is that if you want to pray for me, go ahead and do it but there is no need to tell me. In fact, you telling me that puts me in an uncomfortable position because then I have to acknowledge you doing it and thank you for doing it which I don't really want to but have to do out of politeness.

As someone who believes, if someone needs prayer, you can pray for them if they are in your heart. I have been in situations where prayer has felt performative, and that sucks because everyone leaves feeling awkward. I defiantly think do something practical and useful first, and once you know someone or if you can feel that the person needs to hear a prayer, then offering a prayer can be beneficial.

As a Christian, I would not do or say that

Loving your neighbour is of paramount importance and I have always been taught that the way to handle problems is:
If you can do something to help a situation - you get on and do it, plus pray if that is wanted
If there is no way you can do anything tangible - you just pray

I would always ask a person if they wanted me to pray for/with them though - not just tell them I was!

Would have been kind to help the OP. It’s hard to know what tone a text is written in, too - she could have been being sarcastic for all we know.

I am a very devout person of faith and here is my perspective:

She needs to shut her child up and keep her prayers private. Being demonstrative about prayer when it isn’t requested is just performance worship and not genuine. If she actually wanted to pray for you, she can do so in private. She is just antisocial and rude and using her supposed beliefs to pretend to you that she is decent.
And that child ought to be in school, not hollering so loud that you can hear it through the wall. Jesus may have said ‘let the children come to me’ in Matthew’s gospel but noise like that would have tried even his patience.

If you don’t believe in a god, then whether she prays or not makes no difference to you. She may as well be talking to a wall.

If you do believe in a god, then accept her prayer irrespective of whether it’s the same god or not. It’s the act of kindness that counts.

The neighbour could be dealing with a ND child and is struggling, now she possibly has to deal with accusations of child abuse

Why do you think there could be child abuse going on?

Sending thoughts and prayers about your situation OP 🙏

In general when someone offers to pray for me I interpret it as them wishing me well. You don't need to be a religious person to appreciate good wishes😀

However, in your specific case it appears to be a hollow gesture as your neighbor isn't willing to even attempt to do something that might improve your situation. So basically just an empty platitude.

Although to be honest it sounds like there's a whole lot going on with your neighbor.

I would have to say there's no need to pray for me just keep the bloody noise down.