This lovely boy (7) passed by my gate at about 10am on Monday and my little boy (4) invited him in. The other boy, let's call him Sam, said ask your mummy so my fella did and I said of course he can come to play, but I told Sam to let his mum know where he was.
He wasn't in school because he had an eye appointment later in the afternoon.
So they played so well together all day. We fed him here and he was such lovely company for our little one. We face painted and played in costumes and he was honeslty just so nice and polite. He loved the baby too - he's a gentle little soul and we like having him round.
Anyway, my point is that his mother didn't come to check on him the whole time he was here. I sent him to his mum's to ask if she had made lunch for him otherwise we'd feed him. He said she hadn't so we fed him. We also went on a walk to the shop for icecream (it was so hot) and again I told him to ask his mum if he could come with us.
It isn't normal surely for a mum to a) not check on him, b) not check us out and c) not ensure he wasn't being a nuisance.
I spoke to my own mum and she reminded me of my little sister's friend who was always around ours. It turned out that her mum smoked weed a lot and was just happy to have her daughter out of her hair for a hew hours. Sam told me his mum was pregnant and it might be twins (along with a whole host of other personal info about the family!!).
Also, it was his 10 year old sister who called him home to his appointment (which was at 3.30 - he should have surely gone to school?!).
My mum (grouch) also warned me that this could become a regular thing and to watch out as he'll be round here the whole time. He actually has been here Tue and Wed eve but is lovely so I don't actually mind. The child isn't the problem, I'm thinking that his mother's nonchalance is unreasonable.
What do you think?
Ps - I would have gone round to her house, but I have 3 children and don't want to schlep around there with them in tow.