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Neighbour's ex and boundaries with my DCs.

11 replies

AdultHumanFemale · 31/03/2018 23:42

I wonder if someone can give me some perspective on what I find an odd situation, but will have to do something sensible about.
Neighbour's ex-gf, who lived with said neighbour until a year ago always had a soft spot for my DDs (now 4 and 7) and would often bring them treats and little gifts. She would also regularly offer to take them for days out, to babysit them and have them for sleepovers, all of which I always said no to as they were far too little, we weren't close, she's no experience of children, and neighbour and gf used to drink a lot and fight like cat and dog. I did use to think it was a bit peculiar that she kept suggesting stuff like that, but didn't dwell on it. She had had some fertility related issues, so I felt a bit bad for her, if anything.
This weekend she is staying with neighbour for a few days and messaged me to ask to come over to say hello. We had a brief chat over a cup of tea, during which she asked about our plans for the next couple of days. I had to empty the washing machine, so she went in to the living room where the DDs were playing and I overheard her ask them whether they would like her and neighbour to take them out to a particular venue on Sun or Mon. DD1 came streaking in to see me, really excited, as venue is lovely and lots of fun. I had to be the bad one, reiterating that we had already made plans with family. Ex-gf kept saying how she'd got a kids-go-free deal, how lovely it would be, and if not Sun then perhaps Mon? I already had a surprise activity planned for Mon, but didn't want to spoil it just to explain to her, while DDs were in earshot. Meanwhile, DD1 starts to cry, saying our plans won't be anywhere near as nice, etc. I politely said I'd get back to her, things got a bit awkward and she left. DD1 disappeared upstairs in tears.
I felt irritated that she would 'go behind my back' and try to make arrangements with my very young DC whom she hasn't seen for a year, especially knowing that we already had plans, getting their hopes up. And for the record, while our neighbour is a nice enough bloke, there is no way that he gives a monkeys about taking our DCs out for a day, so it absolutely isn't about him.
When I went to check on DD1 in her room, there was a big bunch of flowers in a pint glass which DD1 said ex-gf had given her. This surprised me even more; I didn't see any flowers when I let her in, which seems weird to me -if you visit a family you haven't seen for a year, surely you give any flowers you have brought with you to the adult who lets you in, as opposed to somehow hiding them in order to give them to a 7 yo kid to take straight to their room? Normally DD1 would come bouncing in to show me any gift / treat someone had given her, but she didn't say a word about the flowers.
I can't tell whether I am over-thinking this, or whether it really is a bit weird. DP, who is a paranoid sort, says he doesn't want her in the house again.
I ought to get back to her about Mon, and could either say: "I didn't want to say in front of the DCs, but we have a surprise activity planned, so they won't be able to come out with you, but thank you for thinking of them." or "Back off!" or something in between. WWYD?

OP posts:
HonkyWonkWoman · 31/03/2018 23:54

She's massively overstepped the boundary with your children.
Ask your Dd about the flowers, was she told to hide them from you?
I would be furious with this weird woman and wouldn't invite her to my home ever again.
Tell her she should have asked you before inviting your children and you are pissed off about it as the kids were upset when they couldn't go.
Ask her also about the flowers, ask her what that was all about, giving things to your Dd without consulting you.
Tell her your Dp is not impressed at all and just leave it at that.
Next time she stays, don't be so friendly, keep her at arms length, there's something a bit odd about her and I wouldn't trust her at all.

ParadiseCity · 01/04/2018 00:00

I would message saying 'a bunch of flowers has mysteriously appeared in Dd's room and she says they were a secret present from you, is that right?'

Mookatron · 01/04/2018 00:08

You're not over thinking. It's weird. Apart from anything else it is not done to have a secret from a kid's mum. That is associating with a small child 101.

Planning things by asking the kids first is also not on.

Her reasons may be 100% innocent but that's not your problem. She needs to back off.

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AdultHumanFemale · 01/04/2018 00:11

Thanks, Honky and Paradise. I think I have a big blind spot wrt this person, as she was really quite unwell when she lived across the way, and was definitely someone we all felt quite sorry for, and took care not to upset, hence my reluctance to be too brusque now. But I am glad that I'm not just making it up, that it does sound off to someone else as well.

OP posts:
AdultHumanFemale · 01/04/2018 00:19

Yes, Mook , it really put me on the backfoot that she was so obviously going behind my back, in a way that could only, to my mind (I work with children in a safeguarding capacity), be construed as secrecy. My kids know secrets aren't OK, only surprises.

OP posts:
AdelicaArundel · 01/04/2018 00:27

She may not have any negative intent but her judgement and boundaries are very poor.

So, you have to be very firm with her.
I would be having a chat along the line that Honky suggested.

Adamsmom · 01/04/2018 00:32

Trust your instincts. She seems too forward, be polite but definitely avoid her!

Pannacott · 01/04/2018 07:28

Oof no. I wouldn't have her round again.

AdultHumanFemale · 01/04/2018 08:07

Thanks again, that's helpful.
I asked DD about the flowers and she just shrugged and said ex-gf had given them to her and her sister (how and when still beats me), but didn't elaborate further, and I didn't want to probe any further as I don't want her to think anything is amiss. I will talk to her about it at a separate occasion, and perhaps bring this up as an example.
I'll message ex-gf this morning and set some boundaries.

OP posts:
OnTheRise · 01/04/2018 14:18

I'd tell her flat-out that she isn't going to be taking your children anywhere and she mustn't make them promises she can't keep.

This is really inappropriate.

UpstartCrow · 01/04/2018 16:08

Yanbu.
Its not your problem to work out if she is just silly or dangerous. Its her job to act as a responsible adult, and she isn't doing that.

I wouldnt message her, but I wouldn't have her in my home again. I would also tell your DC's she is not a family friend.

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