Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

cfs or family in need?

192 replies

Sheruns · 30/05/2023 18:58

More of a wwyd than an aibu but not sure where to post.

I've lived in a new estate for a while with dp and dc. We were one of the first families in but as the weeks have passed a few other families have moved in. There are two kids across the road and a few doors away similar age to my two and they've been playing out a lot together.

Not sure it makes any difference but their mum appears to be by herself with these two and two older dc. Haven't spoken to mum other than a brief hi.

With the weather being good the kids have been having lots of fun playing out and especially now it's half term but these two children are becoming a bit of an issue. At first I thought mum was a bit of a cf because the kids always seemed to be in my garden and running in and out of my house but my younger one struggles to make friends and they seem like nice kids so we accepted that. As time has gone on, we've become concerned with how much food her kids are asking for and taking without asking for.

At first it was the odd thing like they were calling round to play just as we finished dinner so our kids we're finishing up a yoghurt or piece of fruit and they requested one. One night I ordered takeaway pizza and their kids helped themselves. My dp caught one of them in our snack cupboard helping himself with chocolate. I've seen them both just take fruit from our fruit bowl. I was out yesterday late morning when my two requested eggs on toast for brunch and they asked for some too. So my partner said something like you better ask your mum in case she's started making your lunch thinking once they asked their mum she'd tell them to stop asking for food at ours. They came back and she'd said it was fine. Last night asked them to go home while mine had dinner. They were really difficult to get them to leave, asking if they could play in our garden while they waited. In no time at all they were circling our table like vultures, asking for a piece of cucumber or a chip and then devouring my youngests left overs the minute he stood up.

Tonight I've been to the gym after feeding the kids and one of them has asked dp for dinner!

We've tried to ask about meals at their own house and at one point the other week one told us that mum would feed them when it was dark.

Do you think they're trying it on and just greedy kids? Do you think mum is a Cf just happy to let me deal with them? Do you think mum is struggling?

I kinda want to say something to mum because I'd be horrified if my kids did this (although I will say they're very polite when they do ask), but I don't want to embarrass her if she is struggling. If she was struggling though I'd try to help perhaps.

So wwyd?

OP posts:
MrsElijahMikaelson1 · 01/06/2023 09:01

It’s our dinner time now. You must go home. See you tomorrow.

Do not help yourself to snacks, in this house we ask as that is polite.

no-do not help yourself from our left overs. You must ask first.

And if it was ok and I had enough-maybe once a week, would you like to stop for lunch?

itdoesnt · 01/06/2023 09:41

Because people like you need to get your privileged heads out of your privileged backsides and stop berating posters for not being willing ti.feed random kids just because you can that doesn't help.the situation if The mother genuinely can't afford to feed her lots of is unwilling to, giving them jam butties won't help in long term ,report to The appropriate authorities
The cost of living crisis is very real for many families

Your reading comprehension is just so poor.

Sheruns · 01/06/2023 10:01

FeetupTvon · 01/06/2023 06:40

Absolutely!
If they were just asking for sweets/treats they are being rude.
If they are eating eggs/fruit etc these children are hungry.
A very sad sign of the times I’m afraid.
I work in a primary school and sadly we are seeing this more and more at the moment.
I would happily feed them if I could afford to.

Same, I work in a school too and see genuinely hungry children often. If that is this family's situation I would like to help, but what I can offer would be more like signposting, perhaps through my church, than regularly feeding the children.

As it was last night they weren't here at dinner time and we didn't see much of them yesterday but we were out most of the day and again at football training in the evening. I did notice them coming out of another neighbours house though so I'm wondering if they ate there.

Dp is of the opinion that they're genuinely hungry what with the mackerel gratin. My kids wouldn't touch that.

OP posts:
mynameisnotthis2 · 01/06/2023 10:27

My issue isn't so much the money but I only go to the supermarket once a week and buy a loaf of bread and a bag of apples so my son can have toast for breakfast and take an apple to school everyday for breaktime. If the local kids come in to my home and ask for an apple or a sandwich, I say yes but it might mean that I then have to go to the supermarket again mid week which is annoying.

Op I think you're just going to have to talk to the mum and find out what the situation is. And even if they are struggling, I think it's ok to put boundaries in place ie: giving them squash and toast but not allowing them to join in with family takeaway pizza.

CruCru · 01/06/2023 10:58

I think this is two separate issues. It is possible that the family is in need but it is also possible that they are just more relaxed about going to a neighbour’s house and eating there.

I used to have a friend who lived next door who was the youngest in a very large family and she spent a LOT of time at my house. She was in no way neglected but it wasn’t as though there were a lot of activities which were aimed solely at her. I wonder if this family is rather similar - they eat at a later time that suits the older children and the mum but is a bit late for the younger ones.

Sure, go for a coffee with the mum but I would not be surprised if she doesn’t reveal whether she is struggling or not over a twenty minute coffee. It might be worth saying that you’ve noticed that her children eat at yours quite often and is she okay with that (I would expect that if they had a nut allergy, she would be more hands on).

If you want to feed the children, go ahead. I’d probably tell them that they are not to help themselves to your cupboards without asking. Tell your children that they are not to tell people to “help themselves”.

The second issue is how much time they are going to be at your house. If they are neglected then this may give them a real bit of respite. However, if it is down to boredom then it may get to be a bit too much.

JaneBeyre · 01/06/2023 11:15

We've had neighbourhood kids like this. I fed them once to be nice and after that sent them home. Kids need to be spoken to bluntly or they don't understand, if you've fed them once they will assume they will always be fed.
"If you're hungry you need to go home, this fruit is for us."
"We're eating, time to go home now, we'll see you soon."
"Please don't go into the pantry" or "what are you looking for - if you're hungry you need to go home" x 10 on repeat.

JaneBeyre · 01/06/2023 11:18

Also what is this

"So my partner said something like you better ask your mum in case she's started making your lunch thinking once they asked their mum she'd tell them to stop asking for food at ours. They came back and she'd said it was fine."

Again you need to be clear - if they go home and ask if they can have eggs then as the mum I would take that at face value and say yes. Not realising i was in fact supposed to say no because I'm not a bloody mind reader.

You're giving them mixed messages. Be direct!

Cara671244 · 01/06/2023 12:04

What on earth is a CF??

duchessofginlane · 01/06/2023 12:13

What on earth is a CF??

A cheeky fucker. Gets used on MN a lot!

Cara671244 · 01/06/2023 15:15

Thanks, I've seen it on a few posts and it was driving me mad

Teder · 02/06/2023 14:25

I know MN is full of apparent kind hearted souls who’d happily feed the neighbour children. I am certainly not suggesting to refuse food (if you want to feed him and you can afford it) but it’s not safeguarding them. It’s feeding them. Safeguarding them would be to ensure you refer them to the proper channels, depending on your concerns. Perhaps this is “only” a low income, struggling family or perhaps these children aren’t having their needs met. By all means, offer them bread and jam but these children are quite young and their parent appears not to leave them for extended periods of time.

Sickofchangingmyfuckingusername · 03/06/2023 04:51

OP the thread has really focused on feeding them or not and I think now half term is finished you must report this to the safeguarding lead at their school. They are best placed to check the home situation and offer support to mum if it is required. It is not normal for 6 yo to go into strangers houses and that alone is a safeguarding issue, even if he is with his 9yo brother. The food thing is also an issue- especially eating the mackerel and beetroot. That is a detail you should include. Please do this ASAP, so that it can be investigated by people who will be able to get to the facts.

Beautiful3 · 03/06/2023 09:46

Some kids are cheeky. Just let them.play then after a couple.of hours tell.them to go.home.

MrsMikeDrop · 03/06/2023 09:55

Sickofchangingmyfuckingusername · 03/06/2023 04:51

OP the thread has really focused on feeding them or not and I think now half term is finished you must report this to the safeguarding lead at their school. They are best placed to check the home situation and offer support to mum if it is required. It is not normal for 6 yo to go into strangers houses and that alone is a safeguarding issue, even if he is with his 9yo brother. The food thing is also an issue- especially eating the mackerel and beetroot. That is a detail you should include. Please do this ASAP, so that it can be investigated by people who will be able to get to the facts.

This is probably a good point. I try not to get too paranoid about things, but they probably shouldn't be wandering into lots of different houses

Foxyaus · 08/01/2024 05:50

They are 6 and 8 years of age. Little children.

Feed them, on your terms, but get to know their family then make a decision on the children's needs.

I fed my DC's friends at different times and still do - and they are now adults.

I was a single mum, but made things like pasta and rice dishes stretch to feed whoever sat at the dinner table.

And those kids are still grateful and remember.

EmpressaurusOfTheSevenOceans · 08/01/2024 07:48

The OP last posted in June so hopefully she’ll have talked to the mum by now.

Foxyaus · 08/01/2024 08:31

That's the trouble with the "similar threads" when you are tired you forgot to check the date lol

New posts on this thread. Refresh page