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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To ask Neighbor to stop knocking on our door??

164 replies

Flymetothemoon18 · 28/04/2018 21:23

Ok so this is feels like quite an awkward situation... We have a neighbor who lives the opposite end of our cul de sac who on 3 occasions this week while I have been at work in the evenings has knocked (loudly) on our door wanting my other half to go to her flat and help her out with some things. I will explain these but first I should mention that this woman has cerebral palsy so it makes me feel mean to be making an issue out of it.

Wednesday night at 9.45pm she banged on the door waking my oh and 2 of my 3 children up (my oh has to be up for work at 2am so it is an inconvenience waking him up at that time and also the kids as they have school) He’s gotten up stuck a pair of shorts on and ran down the stairs wondering what’s going on coz the knocking was loud. It was the lady asking him to go and change her lightbulb for her as it had blown and she couldn’t do it. As she asked she told him he didn’t need to put his top on for it and laughed. My oh agreed (put his coat on) and said he would have to be quick as the kids had woken up and he didn’t want to leave them here alone for long. Tbh this reason alone wound me up thinking my kids have woken up and he’s just left them, the house is barely in sight from her flat. He’s got there the light bulb is in her bedroom, as they’ve walked in she’s pushed the bedroom door too behind them, he’s changed the bulb and she’s made another comment about him taking his coat off again laughing. He’s responded he needs to get back to the boys and awkwardly moved past her out of the bedroom and then out of the front door.

Thursday evening at 10.05 pm she again has banged on the door waking him up, he’s suspected it would be her so this time got fully dressed and answered the door, and again she’s said she has a problem with another bulb. None of the children woke this time so he said he would go but will have to be quick (he’s not the type to say no to helping people) as they’ve walked to her flat she has said it’s a shame he was dressed tonight! He’s laughed it off and gone inside and looked at her hallway bulb, it hadn’t blown was just loose and needing tightening to work, as he’s left she has said thanks sexy.... he’s ignored her and got home ASAP. Again this has annoyed me before any other reason him leaving the kids but also this time that she seems to be being a bit suggestive and my oh has stated it’s made him feel uncomfortable. I told him to ignore the door if she knocks again.

Last night the door bangs again at 9.30 waking him up, he stopped in bed attempting to ignore it but it woke all 3 of my children up (to point out they are 3,5 and 6!!) so they’ve all started running up and down the stairs which are on full view of the front door and where this lady is standing. So oh has gotten up and answered the door, this time her kitchen cupboard handle had come off, he said he would look at it in the morning when he’s home but she said she was desperate for a drink and her juice was In this cupboard. He’s grabbed his screwdrivers which he keeps on our hallway shelves and this time took the kids with him, thinking it avoids leaving them and also made him feel more comfortable that he wasn’t going alone. When he got there the whole handle hadn’t come off just the bottom screw, she could still open her cupboard if she had needed to. She said to my children that their daddy is very handsome.... they all giggled and my oh kept his head down and left ASAP with the kids.

Now again it’s not convenient waking my oh up and the children, it’s certainly not appropriate them being left alone in the house at that time of night and also her comments are pretty inappropriate too especially when it’s making my oh feel uncomfortable. We only moved here 7 months ago, she doesn’t know us very well, and from what I have been told by a neighbor she is friendly with a few of the people who live in her block of flats so it appears she does have other people to ask. I mentioned this to a work friend who is also a part time carer locally and she said she is aware of this woman as there have been 2 complaints made by male carers as she has basically sexually harassed them when they would visit her, there is now something in place that only female carers are allowed to attend to her. I have also seen her stood in the middle of the street in a nurses outfit welcoming a man who she’s then taken in to her flat. (Which is fine we all do it but probably not so publicly and inappropriately, I was washing my car with my youngest son at the time) I’ve also had another neighbor when we moved in make a comment about her being a bit of a man eater and for my oh to not go in her flat. So she’s definitely that way inclined which again is fine each to their own but it’s not acceptable making people like my oh feel uncomfortable when he just wants to be helpful. Obviously I’m at work and my car isn’t on the drive so I’m assuming she can see I’m not there. So far tonight she hasn’t knocked on the door and I’m wondering wether she will if she can see I’m here?!

So aibu to speak to either her or her mum who visits most days and explain about my oh having to be up for work, and her knocking disturbing the kids and ask that she doesn’t keep knocking? I don’t want to seem unhelpful or unsympathetic to her situation but it is before anything an inconvenience. I know I sound like I’ve mentioned the inappropriate side of things a lot but I wouldn’t want to get into a situation where perhaps she reads more into my oh being just helpful. If I’m here il go and help her, I’m a dab hand at diy so that would just solve that issue. I don’t want to seem horrible or like I’m discriminating her in anyway and of course would be as nice as I can about it. It’s just been a strange few evenings for my oh and he’s shattered bless him, my kids are also a bit thrown by this lady knocking on the door the last few nights. AIBU??

OP posts:
hiblueblue · 28/04/2018 21:33

Your husband left all 3 children alone?

Chinesecrested · 28/04/2018 21:34

It's certainly not right for someone who you barely know, and certainly aren't friends with, to keep knocking at your door at night wanting your OH to go and do maintenance work. Inappropriate isn't the word! I'm afraid it really does look like she's got him in her sights and is hoping for a bit more than house repairs! You and OH will have to be firm now, and just say no. Potentially he's putting himself in a dangerous situation - she's clearly unbalanced (hard to think of a pc way of putting it!)

Louiselouie0890 · 28/04/2018 21:34

I think he needs to tell her. She doesn't sound like someone that would take a hint if you were to drop a few.

NotUmbongoUnchained · 28/04/2018 21:37

Hide your car so she thinks you’re not home and when she knocks, answer it and tell her to fuck off.

MarmaladeIsMyJam · 28/04/2018 21:38

Your husband left 3 small children in the house on their own? Why are you not furious with him Shock
And she can get to fuck as well. Tell her to fuck off.

ThereAreTooMany · 28/04/2018 21:39

I can’t believe you don’t already know you wouldn’t be reasonable to tell her to stop. Hmm Obviously your husband should have done this either the first or second time she knocked.

Leopoldstotch · 28/04/2018 21:39

Don't see how that comment was helpful hiblue Hmm OP you need to tell your husband to put his foot down. This woman is incredibly inappropriate. I would speak to her myself and I wouldn't care about embarrassing her since she should be embarrassed of her behaviour. What kind of woman pursues a taken man in such an obvious fashion?!

QueenArseClangers · 28/04/2018 21:39

Tell the mithering pervert to fuck off and stop coming round.

condepetie · 28/04/2018 21:39

It's inappropriate to knock on an unknown neighbours door at 10pm, let alone ask a person with very young children to leave them alone, let alone to be so inappropriate verbally with them.

You should let her know that your OH works nights (maybe not technically true but waking at 2am for work is very similar, he needs his sleep and you maybe don't want her to know when exactly he works) and that when he's alone with the children he cannot leave them, and she should not knock and wake them up.

If you don't want to be rude also note that you're available if she needs help, as is your OH at reasonable hours, but she sounds like she's really taking advantage.

Akire · 28/04/2018 21:42

He needs to tell her NO. I wouldn’t go telling her mum. That’s just babying her if she can live alone there’s no reason why she can’t be told truth. You have perfect excuse the kids are in bed and he’s sleeping and you are out. Unless it’s life or death and no one closer then he can’t leave the flat.
If he’s uncomfortable maybe say he’s shy around women and he didn’t want to be alone with someone who’s not his wife or something. Either way she sounds like trouble! I’m disabled if my lightbulb went I’d cope until next day landing lights, tv, phones no need to be causing drama to other people and waking them up.

lynzpynz · 28/04/2018 21:43

I wouldn’t mess about with this, you’ve been more than accommodating given she’s woken your children up three times! She’s made inappropriate comments to your hubby alone, and in front of your kids. If she comes back don’t make up excuses and don’t feel bad for saying this is unacceptably late at night, it’s disrupting your kids sleep and she needs to call an electrician as she clearly has an issue with her lighting so you can’t help her any further.

Fruitcorner123 · 28/04/2018 21:44

He needs to tell her. Not you. If she is an adult then don't speak to her mum either she is capable of fighting her own battles.

There's no need to make a big thing about it he ca just knock round in the daytime and explain that she keeps waking him and his family up etc. Or next time she calls round he can answer but say that no he is unable to help and actually he won't be helping in the future as he has to leave his young children and its not ok. it really isn't right to leave children that age alone at night.

hiblueblue · 28/04/2018 21:46

Don't see how that comment was helpful hiblue

Because 2 of the children are 6 and 3.5, no idea about the third but no I don’t think it’s right to leave children that age.

I’m ALLOWED to say that if I want to. It’s s PUBLIC forum.

StaplesCorner · 28/04/2018 21:46

Is there some reason your husband is unable to take care of your children? How on earth can you two manage your lives from one day to the next if you can't see how to sort out this situation?

pasturesgreen · 28/04/2018 21:48

Time for your OH to don his big boy pants and have a word with this woman. Knocking at that time of night is absolutely unacceptable unless in a dire emergency, better to put a stop to it before your neighbour makes a habit of it.
That said, your OH was bang out of order leaving the DC alone!

eggcellent · 28/04/2018 21:48

It would be perfectly reasonable for your husband to say, if it happens again, that she needs to stop knocking so late at night. I don't think you should get involved until he's said something himself.

StaplesCorner · 28/04/2018 21:48

I'm entirely with hiblueblue - the OP doesn't need helpful hints she needs some sort of parenting course.

The second time she knocked the DH should have said I am really sorry but there is no way I can leave my children unattended please don't keep knocking on my door late at night. Like any reasonable person would have done.

OpiningGambit · 28/04/2018 21:49

Because 2 of the children are 6 and 3.5, no idea about the third but no I don’t think it’s right to leave children that age.

The children are 3, 5 and 6.

Flymetothemoon18 · 28/04/2018 21:50

Yes he did leave them and to say I was p**d off is an understatement!! My eldest is a worrier and even my oh said when I asked what the kids were doing when he got back, that my 6 year old was sat on the stairs looking worried and asking 100 questions about where he had gone😡 it’s not acceptable I’m not saying at all it is and it’s what has wound me up the most before any of the rest, I’m at work oblivious to any of this, if anything happened I’d have no clue what was going on.

I definitely think I need to say something, he won’t cause he’s a soft touch and doesn’t want to seem horrible. (Irrelevant to this but a man let his dog poo on in our front garden the other day and I told my oh to go out and give him a bag to clean it up as I was in my dressing gown but he wouldn’t as he doesn’t want to argue with the neighbors, so there’s me in my dressing gown telling this bloke to come back and clean up his dogs mess in my garden where my kids play!) I just don’t need a situation to arise from this! So would you go straight to her or speak to her Mum? I wonder wether she might take it more seriously if she knows it’s been mentioned to a third party ie her mum? I don’t want to fall out with neighbors either or offend her but I’m not about to sit back and just allow this to keep happening!!

It’s now 9.50 pm and no knock! Is deffo a bit strange... thank you ladies

OP posts:
greathat · 28/04/2018 21:50

Honestly I'd tell her to fuck off. Or start charging. Your hubbie is putting her welfare above that of the kids

WishingOnABar · 28/04/2018 21:50

Tbh I really think it needs to come from your DH as she’ll probably just wait til you are not around and come up with another problem for him.

Maybe find the number of a local handyman and next time she appears your dh should say he’s not helping her and give her the number, so she has no furthee excuses to knock

ilovesooty · 28/04/2018 21:51

Surely it's possible to draw some assertive boundaries in this situation without telling her to fuck off?

PetulantPolecat · 28/04/2018 21:52

I just can’t believe anyone is this big of a doormat in real life. Being woken up and have their kids woken up because some random demands her lightbulb needs to be changed immediately?

What shite am I reading? Oh wait. Saturday night. Ok.

ChasedByBees · 28/04/2018 21:53

Your DH should not be leaving your children alone, that is reason enough. She is being hugely inappropriate and shouldn’t be knocking that late anyway.

Homemenu1 · 28/04/2018 21:53

He needs to tell her, but if he can’t the then yes you tell her. Hide your car and when she comes knocking tell her you’ll do it