Our new neighbours are possibly some of the kindest people I've ever met!

[listsandbudgets]

I had to take DS to A&E with an obvious case of bronchilitis at lunch time. I didn't want to take DD 9 unless I had to (she started school holidays on Friday). My friends who'd normally sit with her if necessary was't answering so I tried my neighbours. Neighbour 1 was out. Tried neighbour 2 who moved in relatively recently - elderly couple with lots of grandchildren in and out and was overwhelmed by response when I explained the situation.

She said she was baking and DD could come in with her to help and then eat. He said he knew I didn't drive and insisted on driving us to the hospital. They phoned several times while I was at hospital telling me not to worry about time everything was fine.

DS spent a bit of time on oxygen and was discharged with antibiotics and instructions to come back in morning for chest x ray. He's sleeping now though very wheezy :(

Came home by taxi half an hour ago to find DD had watched a film, been given supper, bath and spare pyjamas belonging to a grandchild and was tucked up in their spare room with a cat on her feet. They said to leave her until morning and they'd pop her back but she woke up when she heard my voice and came home giving them both a great big hug.

Utterly completely overwhelmed by their kindness. How on earth can I ever repay that they hardly know me for goodness sake.

For the love of fuck. It's not the trolls that do my head in, it's the ridiculousness of some posters.

Biggest threat to kids is family and trusted adults not your next door neighbours.

OP how lovely to have such great neighbours. Enjoy. It really does make life so much nicer when you have good friends & good neighbours.

Fucking hell. Some right charmers on this thread.

Some posters on here just love to see the bad in every possible situation.

Ignore them,OP your neighbours sound lovely.

Omg usual, look at our posts and posting times.

Ignore the haters!
Your instincts were proven right and the world is a little brighter for their good deeds.

Friends for life now, I'd say

Even if the DD said he always had a bath before bed I would never ever bath a strangers child even in this situation! I'd have said either that she'll have a bath when she gets home or he doesn't need a bath for this one night here's some pyjamas for you to get comfy in. It's just very very odd!
But then, I still don't understand why the OP left her child with people she didn't know? Why couldn't he go with you? Why couldn't you call someone else if the person you usually call didn't answer? Why couldn't you take her until someone else could pick her up? Just would never ever cross my mind to go round my street knocking on random doors asking someone to take my child!?!

Great minds,Chipping

Usual really? You'd honestly leave a 9 year old with someone you'd never even spoken to? All OP had in common with them was that they live near her!

sands I'm not a "hater".

I just think it's naive.

When I read this thread my first thought was what a relief it must be for OP to have been able to knock round in the emergency.

Those people who immediately think danger and abuse must have really sad distorted life views.

what Minnie said

Just would never ever cross my mind to go round my street knocking on random doors asking someone to take my child!?!

It's a good job she doesn't live next door to you then,Minnie.

They'll be giving her an advent calendar next.

Festive and it was a very frightening situation OP was in with a son so poorly but it wasn't an emergency in that she could have taken the DD with her.

Most people would opt for that rather than knock on random doors asking for a stranger to care for her child!

Or you Timely.

God help anyone who ever asked you for help.I mean you must be a peado if they don't know you.

Well if a woman I'd never met came knocking to ask me to care for her child because she had to take the other to hospital, I'm afraid that yes...I would refuse! I'd suggest she took the child with her!

If her child was in a very bad way, I would offer to go to the hospital along with her. Not to care for her child in my home when I didn't know them from Adam.

She didn't knock on random doors, she knocked on a neighbours door whom she knew by sight . It sounds like the sort of thing my Mum would have done for a neighbour and I would certainly do it.

My neighbour, whom I only knew to chat about the weather, came and sat on my sofa in her dressing gown to look after my two year old, when I went into labour in the middle of the night and couldn't raise the person I had arranged to look after DD.
The vast majority of people rise to the occasion in an emergency, which this certainly was.

But they aren't random. They are neighbours. The OP knows where they live. The neighbours weren't "fishing" for opportunities to have her child alone. They simply responded with kindness when called upon. The OP instinctively trusted them, and she was right.

Also OP doesn't say she's never met them.

I don't think anyone would ask someone like you,Timely. I wouldn't worry about that.

Jeez, who are you tin foil hatters with your paedo screeching? Did you read in The Daily Mail that child abusing predators move into houses near children and publicly display loving and sustained relationships with grandchildren for the sole purpose of luring unsuspecting children in with unplanned, unforeseen emergencies that are totally out of their control? Ffs.

Op, they sound lovely and thank goodness they could help. Fwiw we would do the same if someone was in need and we could help. Glad your little one is on the mend too :)

Usual

You should try really really hard not to abuse kids Timely.
Maybe wear a sign that says you are a child abuser so us normal folks don't bother you?

Obviously I know you aren't an abuser but you should have confidence in yourself amd fellow people that most of us aren't.
Or at least check the facts so you look in the right place for the bad man.

Firstly..... the reason your children are most at risk from family and friends is because those are the people that have access to them. If you're in the habit of palming them off onto complete strangers then you are significantly increase the risk of abuse.

But it's not the risk of abuse that would stop me. I just think it's unfair on the child as much as anything. They're probably not paedos, but you don't know that they'll be nice to your DD, or will have enough patience to loom after her properly all day or that she'll be able to get food/drink/toilet when she needs to. It's such a weird thing to do IMO.

Or carry your flaming pitch fork with you at all times Timely?

Just in case!

It'd be more the minor stuff like her spilling a drink and being shouted at and then being desperate to come home that would concern me.