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AIBU?

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My neighbour allows kids to play at her house

403 replies

Eolhc1990 · 23/06/2025 15:20

OK so I feel like a bit of an @ssh0le here but this is driving me crazy. Last year I moved into a new house with my husband and DC (now 6 and 3) we live on a small quiet road with only a few houses. There are kids under 8 in 5 of those houses. We have front gardens but the kids that are 7/8 years old play on the street riding bikes/scooters etc and they can be loud which is a bit annoying but its kids what can you do. Anyway one of the other families is a lady with a 5 year old child and a baby. Because her child is too young to play on the road she will let the older neighbour kids play in her front garden, she will set up a table with play doh or paint or today a splash pad! and the kids will play there for a few hours while she sits and watches.... my problem is now everytime I try to bring my kids in from creche I'm getting pestered by them to go over there.
She always invites them and is a very sweet lady but by the time my kids are home it's 6pm and I just want to get them in and into the bath etc.
With the recent warm weather this is EVERY evening im dreading this evening because il have to face a meltdown if i say no to them playing on the splashpad with the other kids and I just think its a lot. Im sure the other parents think this is great they can just leave their kids over there but for me it's a nightmare we are not really playdate house at the best of times. I prob need to get over it but just needed to vent. I feel like asking her can she get the kids to hide when I come home from work

OP posts:
Thirdcoff · 23/06/2025 15:25

You talk a both your very young children at though aren’t 6 and 3 and you’re their mother!

mikado1 · 23/06/2025 15:25

Wow, that sounds lovely for all, including your kids when it does suit. Unfortunately when it doesn't, it's just another time you have to manage expectations and disappointments etc. It's unavoidable and will stand to them once they get it! I found predicting the disappointment in advance really helped. So when you're on the way home from creche, bring it up, say you know they'd love to go over and it might be difficult to see others there when they can't join and that you'll help them if they feel sad, there's no problem if they feel upset, you'll understand. Going there in their heads beforehand and laying down the boundary worked really well for me when mine were small, especially the part about you being totally OK with disappointment and being ready to help if needed.
Best of luck and enjoy the entertainment when it does work for you! And no, obviously you can't ask the neighbour to hide the kids lol, but I know you're joking there.

Thirdcoff · 23/06/2025 15:23

Stop your kids pestering you FGS

You collect and you say “I do not want to be pestered by the pair of you to go to the neighbours, if anyone even goes to ask - then there will be no tv tonight. This pestering has got to stop”

op you need to channel your energy into parenting not this very friendly sounding lady