Would you get involved with this neighbour?

[unsureloretta]

About a month ago whilst I was getting the kids ready for bed I could hear screaming outside.

I looked out the window to see my end neighbour who is 24 screaming things like “You 2 faced effin bitch” etc at an older woman (about 60ish).

The police have been called twice about this apparently.

I have never spoken to this neighbour until today when she approached me about her missing cat.

She was very polite and concerned about the cat and we spoke for about 10 minutes.

I got the impression that she wanted to be friendly as she asked for my number to keep me updated about the missing cat and told me she was finding it hard with 3 kids as a single parent (youngest is 8 months old).

I am a bit hesitant as I don’t really want to be the next person she goes off on like that.

Shall I just keep it as a “hello” whenever I see her (not often) or be friendly with her?

I wouldn't rush to be friendly but reserve judgment till you see what she's like. She may be horribly embarassed about the screaming and swearing - it could even be some family argument if it's an older women who could be her MIL or mother and she doesn't want them visiting or whatever. Or she may think it's perfectly acceptable behaviour. I wouldn't be doing her any favours though in the meantime.

The effin and jeffin one or the other one???

When in doubt, dont crap where you eat

Keep away from her.

I'd be civil and friendly-ish but I'd also be wary, somebody who behaves like that is probably fairly volatile and either can't control themselves or doesn't see it as poor behaviour. So I'd take as I find, but yeah... I try to avoid people like that as they don't behave within normal societal parameters which bothers me.

I wouldn’t get involved with any neighbour more than saying hello and taking parcels.

Alarm bells. It's sad, but you'll get dragged in if you're not careful.

Red flags all over this one.

Why did she feel the need to tell you how hard she finds motherhood and then insist on getting your phone number when she doesn't even know you?

If she wants to keep you updated about the cat, it's not like she doesn't live just down the road.

i would be pleasant and polite but don’t get involved in things like lending her money or helping her out with children unless there is a crisis where she needs to shelter from violence or something and then only until the police come and suitable action is taken to protect her and the children.

Always write texts in a way they will be future screen-shotted and put on local spotted pages if she falls out with you over some perceived slight, so they are clear and cannot be twisted! 😂 she sounds a character, keep distant is my advice

I wouldn't give her my phone number or discuss anything personal with her. By all means ask if she's found her cat next time you see, but don't get involved in offering to watch her kids or anything deeper than passing the time of day.

She was calling a neighbour that lived across the street from her an effin bitch etc

From what I understand this olde neighbour had reported her to the police for something hence why the police went round twice.

Yeah my instincts tell me to keep my distance but I don’t want to come across rude to her as she is struggling with 3 young children.
She did say she barely leave the house with the kids unless it’s a school run for the eldest and was praising me for taking my DC every day (she said she see’s me on the Ringdoor go past her house every day).

I never have anything to do with neighbours except a cheery good morning. They are invariably more trouble than they are worth. Your neighbour sounds as if she would definitely be a great deal more trouble than she's worth. It's very difficult to back away once you've given phone number and had her round to yours. Resist.

Hi
Thanks all for the input.
I said I don’t really go on media and she told me to have a think about it and get back to her.

Shes nice enough to talk too and all that but she’s just a bit much for me.
She likes to have neighbours round etc and I definitely don’t want to be doing that.

The first time I spoke to her she told me all about fleeing from DV, court case etc and then wanted to know where OH was in the week (he works away).

She offended my other neighbour my telling me all her neighbours business (despite them even never talking to each other) all from word of mouth from the other moms on the street, and again it’s something I definitely want to stay away from.