DD's school is about a 20 minute walk from our house. In the mornings we walk to school. For pick up, my neighbour has very kindly offered to take us in her car. It has been working ok until now. Her two DSs, especially the younger one, always wants to come over to our house and play with my DD and DD also wants to go over to theirs all the time. Most days of the week, his mom is occupied taking her elder DS to after school classes so most of the time the younger DS wants to come over to ours and play with Dd. I don't mind him coming occasionally but not every day. DD doesn't do any after school clubs so I have no excuse to say why he can't come over either. After school, I'd like to spend time with DD and have some quiet time talking, playing etc. I can't do that when the neighbour's DS comes over. Usually he will stay till about 5pm. Dd has dinner around that time.
When dd goes over to theirs, it is very hard to get her to come home at the end of the play date. She will throw tantrums and the neighbour also takes her side and says come on, she can play for a bit longer etc. it is this too familiarisation that I'm not comfortable with.
Of late, I've been using excuses like, DD likes to stop at the park on the way so we'll walk home, we are going to the library after school etc. but I'm soon running out of excuses. I don't mind walking back home with dd after school.
Can you advise me how to stop taking her lifts to school without hurting her feelings? Other than the over familiarisation and lack of boundaries etc, she has been nothing but lovely to us.
Thanks in advance!