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Neighbour kid is annoying me! Help!

160 replies

Momofthreeloudkids · 03/07/2013 05:27

We just had new neighbours move in right beside us. The day they started moving in an adorable 9yr old boy walked into my house, introduced himself, proceeded to tell me how we will be seeing a lot of him. I thought it was cute at the time. I didn't even think to say something about it then because he's new and overly excited. I let it slide. (noted that keeping the doors locked would be a good idea incase he's used to just walking in on strangers)

I have a 2yr old boy, 3yr old girl and an 8yr old girl. My two toddlers keep me hopping as it is. We don't have play days everyday because its just too much. Anyways, this new child comes over about 10am the day after. No problem! My oldest girl was delighted to have a friend right next door. I was excited for her as well. Most of the morning was spent perfect. Then lunch time came around and I told him if he wanted to stay he was welcome but had to go home and ask his parents if it was okay. Not two minutes later he was back and his dad asks if I can watch him for a little while they have to run out. Uhhh... What?! You don't even know my name. We have not met before and that's the first thing you ask me? mind boggled Being neighbourly I say " sure, that's okay." So he stays for lunch. We continue playing outside. He starts fighting with my three year old daughter over every toy she has. I get that he's a single child but at 9 he should know how to share and not snatch. Yet every time I or my DH caught him he claimed she did it first.

Then dinner time rolled around ( take into consideration that I'm used to parents picking their children up before dinner. It's like an unwritten rule where I live). Parents didn't come over to get him. I tell him that he needs to go home for dinner. He says " My dad said I can stay for dinner too." Umm... Okay, I guess. So we have dinner. By now I'm thinking surely the parents will be calling him to come home. Nope, no such luck. At 7pm I finally shipped him home. Day one is over.

Day 2- ding dong. "Can I come in?" I tell him the girls are outback. It's a beautiful hot day. Not three minutes later he wants back inside the house. I tell him that we are only playing outside today because its so nice out. He pouts, I don't want to play outside blah blah blah. My kids enjoy all the time they can get outside. I stand my ground and ship him back outside. Then the battling with my three year old beings, I watch him take toys away from her and tell my oldest girl that he doesn't want to play with my 3yr old. My daughters are very close and my oldest ALWAYS includes my youngest. She's not happy he's acting like this. Then he starts doing anything to make my youngest cry. I try talking to him but he constantly talks over me while I'm trying to correct him. He argues EVERYTHING! I've even threatened to send him home and it doesn't make a difference. Then my DH and kids went out so I sent him home. Before leaving he spent 5mins arguing DH as to why he should be allow to go too. I'm in the house cleaning about 20 mins later and ding dong. I answer the door and its him. He wants to come in. I explain that I'm home alone and the kids are still out. He proceeds to beg, argue and offer to help me clean. After about two mins of saying No. I finally had to say "Go Home!" My husband pulls into the driveway and isn't even out of the car yet and he's at the car door. My DH tells him that we need to have lunch and will come over to invite him over when we are done. He begs, pleads, argues and wont leave. Finally we have to yet again tell him to go home. He doesn't take no for an answer, constantly arguing and talking over you. It's such strange behaviour for a 9yr old boy! As we are in the kitchen our daughters tell us that he's in the living room window telling her to tell her dad to let him come in. REALLY!? DH goes to the window and it takes three times saying no and to go home before he goes over to his house. After lunch I send my daughter over to invite him back. After all we said we would. Although by now we didn't really want to. He continues to pester my 3yr old every chance he gets and complains about playing outside instead of inside my house. He stayed till dinner and we sent him home. We had a late dinner around 630 so he didn't come back after.

Day 3 - the kids and I go outside in the morning. Not 5mins after he's here. I let him come into the yard to play. He starts asking to go inside. I tell him no, we are spending the day outside. He starts fighting with my three year old again, making her cry, whining and arguing about playing inside my home vrs outside. I'm not exaggerating when I say this kid argues with me about everything!!! The mom yells from her Deck she has something to do and will be back. didnt even ask my permission to leave her son. I may have three kids but that doesn't give people the right to assume I babysit theirs. he starts telling my oldest not to let my youngest onto the trampoline. Finally, I've had enough, my kids had enough... Time to tell him to go home. We go inside :( just to avoid having to play with him. Not an hour later he's back. I tell him we are busy and won't be able to play for the rest of the day. He whines , begs, keeps asking what we are doing that he can't do too. I keep telling him no, he has to go etc. Bot playing more today. He leaves. 30 mins later ding dong! He's back. Ugh! I tell him " I told you we aren't playing anymore today" .. He demands to know what we are doing that he can't do, he could just watch etc etc... No matter what I say is not getting through to him. Finally I had to say... "Please go home right now". He proceeds to tell me " this sucks!" I shut the door. One hour later ding dong! Really? You have got to be kidding me! Open the door and no one is there. Go to close the door and he jumps out from around the side of my house! "Did I scare you?" mind boggled I tell him that I've already told you we aren't playing anymore today. He now wants to know again what we are doing in our home. I don't feel I owe this child an explanation at all. I just say " we aren't playing everyday all day , we don't have friends over that much.I've already explained this to you. Stop coming back and go home." He pouts, still talking over me. Finally I say goodbye and shut the door. Not two hours later he's back! And says to me " I can't remember did you say all day they can't play." Gezz! I tell him " yes, all day." He says why? I repeat the other conversations. Again he's pouting, arguing, begging and again demanding to want to know what we are Doing that he can't. I said that we needed family time and now I was making dinner and the girls were playing together. Wrong answer! "Playing!? Why can't I join?" I tell him I'm sorry but I already told you we don't have friends over all the time and I've told you numerous times no more today. He begs, talks over me while I'm explaining and finally I just say goodbye and basically have to shut the door in this child's face cause he won't leave until I do! He got the message this time. He didn't come back. Until tomorrow I'm sure :s

I feel bad for him because he's in a new place, new house, new friends but my three year old is constantly being tormented by this boy and my 8yr old doesn't like that he's not nice to her sister. I have no idea what to do! I would appreciate any advice! Talking to him doesn't do a thing. I thought about talking to his parents but its only been three days. I'm scared to make enemies with the neighbours. After telling my husband all this he wants to go over and tell the parents he doesn't want their child at our house anymore. I don't know what to do. Thought I'd write here and maybe someone would have advice for me. Help please! :(

OP posts:
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mistlethrush · 03/07/2013 13:30

Thanks Merry, for lumping my DS in with this child because he is an only child. I am absolutely fed up with people jumping to conclusions because a child has no siblings. My son is only recently 8 but there is absolutely no way that he would think it appropriate to talk back to an adult in their own home like this. He knows that no is no and he wouldn't keep on pushing. He is also great with small children and loves involving them - and looks out for them too. So please do not think this is anything to do with being an only child as it isn't. Angry

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MerryMarigold · 03/07/2013 13:32

Grin at LingDiLong's idea of reciprocative babysitting!

But seriously, the first part is great. Yes, I don't think it needs to be a confrontation. A friendly, welcome to the neighbourhood and then, "We were thinking Wednesday afternoon would be a good time for x to come round and play for a couple of hours."

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Standautocorrected · 03/07/2013 13:37

You need to take him back home and explain to him and his parents that he is welcome to come over on x day at x time and not before. I'd make it the next week.
The parents sound like they are enjoying your hospitality a little too much.

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MerryMarigold · 03/07/2013 13:37

Sorry, mistle. I don't think ALL only children are like this, and you've clearly done a very good job of parenting. However, I think there are certain kids who have these tendencies and without siblings it is hard to parent it out of them. My ds2 would certainly struggle with this kind of behaviour if he was an only child.

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mistlethrush · 03/07/2013 13:56

Sorry Merry, you got it in the neck there - just had a horrendous year 1 at school where "We see this a lot in only children" kept on being bandied about - the fact that they weren't describing the child that I knew was also somewhat worrying and biased me against anyone that thinks you can pigeonhole 'only children'. They were actually describing behaviour of a 5 - 6 yo with any number of siblings ... it still wasn't mine and they had just about worked that out by the end of the year. Luckily year 2 and 3 have been much better!!!

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Squitten · 03/07/2013 14:16

If you want this boy to be able to come and play then give him a set time and stick to it. If he shows up at your door at 9am or whatever, tell him that this is not the time that you agreed and he needs to go home and come back at the right time. If he refuses or argues with you, take him back to his front door yourself and inform his parents that he has not been invited over and that he is refusing to listen to you so you thought you would tell them instead. Keep doing it until either he or they learn!!

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MerryMarigold · 03/07/2013 15:34

I can't believe they got your child mixed up, mistle!

Do feel a bit sorry for this boy, who clearly wants to play with other kids and interact with people (sounds like his parents don't really want to interact with him if he'd rather watch someone else cleaning Shock) but has very few boundaries (as do his parents).

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CruCru · 03/07/2013 15:41

I had this growing up. The girl next door would come round sometimes five times a day. She was the youngest of five.

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WaitingIsWhatIDo · 03/07/2013 15:53

We have this with next door, well similar. The kids hang over the fence all day. We end up all coming in to avoid them. Tbh if they ring the door, I don't answer. Not that they are bad kids but the mum has no social boundaries and they would never go home. When we first lived next door, had the same thing, mum always trying to dump them off on me or get me to run one to school etc. one day she overstepped the mark, I had pmt and was having a tough time with my toddler who I now know is autistic and I basically lost the plot and told her stop taking the piss.

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SaucyJack · 03/07/2013 16:48

I wouldn't be feeling too bad for him if I were you. He sounds like a horrid little boy. Hardly surprising his parents are more than delighted to pack him off round to yours every day.

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Still18atheart · 03/07/2013 16:59

Have you spoken to his parents! Could you go round to theirs and do the usual welcome to the neighbourhood type thing and casually bring it up.

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ovenbun · 03/07/2013 17:00

Oh no, poor you...sounds a bit of a nightmare....perhaps you could have a clear rule and say to him its nice that he wants to vitsit but explain you need family time and that you allow neighbours round mondays and wednesdays (or similar)...if he argues i would say 'actually in our family we do things this way..' I would chat to his parents to...welcome to the neighbourhood but we have family time most days...
I know I've not seen this child but this type of clingy/aggressive behaviour screams attachment disorder at me...

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formicadinosaur · 03/07/2013 17:11

Answer the door the fist time it rings and say 'not playing today' then shut door. Do not discus or argue. Don't engage in conversation. Then don't answer he door at all. Ignore ignore ignore.

Don't allow him in the house unless he can behave. If you are happy to have him play, tell him he can only come in if he does what you say fist time without arguing and plays nicely with the little one. Remove him from the house as soon as he is naughty straight away. You need to set firm boundaries and at the moment he is used to getting his own way.

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Flicktheswitch · 03/07/2013 17:19

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

MintyChops · 03/07/2013 17:23

OP you sound very patient and kind and the new neighbours are totally taking advantage of your good nature. Agree with those saying set boundaries, e.g. You may come for an hour on Wed or whenever suits you and lay out your rules: no being unkind to dd2, no answering back etc. Return to his parents at the first hint of trouble and immediately if they yell that they are going out "here's x, you clearly couldn't mean to leave him with me while you go out". You will have to get tough or these people will take the piss. Let us know how you get on, horrible situation.

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formicadinosaur · 03/07/2013 17:24

No empty threats. Just remove him straight away for bad behaviour.

Tell him he can come and play every Thursday only at 3.30pm. Don't answer any demands.

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MintyChops · 03/07/2013 17:26

Oh and don't engage in any discussion/reasoning with him. No. Just that. Perhaps no, it doesn't suit us today if you are feeling charitable. End of conversation, close door.

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FederationPresidentBarryFife · 03/07/2013 17:30

OP you have been very patient. Talk to his parents and I like the idea of having set "calling hours" where he is welcome.

BTW: Did someone upthread seriously suggest calling Social Services about this? What an insane overreaction surely??? What is this strange trend for jumping in with "call the police" "call social services" it is so ODD.

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HeffalumpTheFlump · 03/07/2013 17:33

My blood pressure went up reading your post! Well done for staying so calm!

From what you have said about him and his parents I would say its a safe assumption to say he's getting very little attention at home. He sounds desperate for people to play with and interaction with your family. However sad that is, it's not fair on you or your daughters to have this boy over all the time.

His parents seem pretty neglectful IMO. I think you are going to have to forget about upsetting the neighbours and be clear with them that their child is being a nuisance. Repeatedly coming over after you have been clear that he is not welcome can only be dealt with by speaking to the parents. It's their job to stop him.

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mumofthemonsters808 · 03/07/2013 17:43

I think you have been very patient and kind with this little boy, now is the time to be very firm, no discussions, you are the adult who sets the rules, do not be dictated to in your own home. He will eventually get the message, in the meantime you will feel terrible about excluding him, but he is not your responsibility.

It is only child like to push boundaries and over step the mark, if you give a child an inch they take a yard.

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digerd · 03/07/2013 18:04

I still have his words in my head when he first introduced himself "and you'll be seeing a lot of me" - he was warning you that this is how it will be Shock. Seemingly he has had years of practice.

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EDMNWiganSalfordandBlackpool · 03/07/2013 18:08

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

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claudedebussy · 03/07/2013 18:12

well i think you're well within your rights to ban him straight out.

but if you want to keep some sort of relationship going then have him round once every week or two with a very clear end time. call him on bad behaviour and explain very clearly that he has to be kind to your dd or he's straight out the door. stick to it.

what a nightmare!

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SlimePrincess · 03/07/2013 18:14

What's today been like, OP? How many times has he been to your door? Grin

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Pimpf · 03/07/2013 18:16

Usual mn reply, no is a complete sentence. Stop engaging in a conversation with him, no is good enough

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