We moved into our new house about 6 months ago. Previously lived on a lovely terraced street with friendly neighbours who welcomed us but now we don't know anyone and no-one has really made much effort to get to know us.
We're now in a semi and our only 'attached' neighbours are a married couple with two boys (I'd guess about 10 and 12). The husband seems 'friendly' enough and is overly chatty (like he'll lean out of his attic conversion and shout conversations down to me if I'm gardening!!!), but I get a shifty 'vibe' from him - something just doesn't feel right. His wife just says hello when she's, say, doing the bins, avoids eye contact or any longer conversations, then scuttles in. We never see the kids play outside.
In the evenings though, we regularly hear shouting (mainly from him, sometimes her) and the kid(s) crying and shouting back.
First time I thought, "Gosh, I'm glad our two aren't that whiny!" but then I started hearing it more and more. Shouting, screaming and howling / crying, quite late into the evenings/night - often once ours are in bed.
And then last week, it happened in school hours. Both parents shouting, kid (just one I think) crying and screaming, really howling, went on for quite a while - it's never just a quick telling off.
My mind started racing: "Why isn't the kid at school? If they are off ill, surely they should be caring for, not shouting at him? Why are the two parents both home anyway? WHY is the child crying so much and for so long? What on earth warrants that much shouting to a child anyway?"
I was beaten as a child (in a detached house, no one heard me scream...) so my mind just goes to a very dark place. It was a real deal-breaker with my husband that we would never hit our children.
It sounds like something bad is happening next door, but I have no proof.
We had a workman round and he heard it too - he actually winced.
I've discussed it with my husband (who had a much more idyllic childhood) and he thinks I'm jumping to conclusions.
Also we're both aware that because we're this family's only neighbours, if we called the police or social services, it would be pretty obvious it was us - and we've still got to live next door to them.
I'm also aware that our own very different childhoods may be influencing our viewpoints on what might or might not be happening.
Our workman said, perhaps next time you hear shouting go knock on the door and ask if everything's OK, so they know we can hear them, but surely that would just make them more careful? (And the guy terrifies me, if I'm honest - despite therapy - it probably triggers me too.)
I keep thinking about those kids and what if anything happened to them?
Am I being unreasonable: 'jumping to conclusions' and should I just keep my nose out?
Or am I being reasonable: to worry about these kids' safety?
More importantly, what on earth would you do?