in saying no to my neighour's dd's coming in to play, when my own children weren't here?

[onthepier]

Last weekend our two children went to stay at their aunt's on Friday evening, and were brought back on Sunday. They stay there every now and then and spend time with their cousin, sometimes their cousin comes to ours.

Anyway, Saturday afternoon the doorbell rang and it was our neighbour's children, they knew our two weren't here, but asked to come in and play! (Btw, they're in our house a lot of the time when our two ARE here)!

I politely said no, as I was in the middle of clearing up, (enjoying the peace!) and that the children would call for them on Sunday when they were back. Well they looked so disappointed, really downcast and said "But we LIKE it here"! I wavered, but said no not today. (I knew my afternoon just wouldn't be my own if I let them)!

Was I being unreasonable? My dh thinks I was,

of course you weren't

Not at all - you're not your neighbour's free babysitting service!

I agree, you are not a babysitting service. I bet it makes you feel good to know that they think your house is soo much better then home though

No, not even slightly unreasonable, Hope you enjoyed the peace.

Kids, eh?

You weren't in the least unreasonable. I'd have probably refused entry to my own kids if I was in the middle of my peace-and-quiet-time

Dare I say that as your DH thought you were being unreasonable, next time this happens you invite them in and go out for the day, leaving your DH to entertain the neighbour's children (and a long list of the chores you had planned to address)?

of course YANBU!

I'd be mortified if my children had said that to our neighbours. And I'd be peeved if they'd said yes!

Other people's toys are sooo much cooler though, aren't they?

you are soooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
nbu

YANBU

I like Vallhala's idea though

You should have let them in then gone to your neighbour's and asked to sit on their sofa to watch telly. Fair's fair, right...?

Why don't they like their own home? This seems weird to me. I've never even heard of any kids I know doing this.

Do you think their mother put them up to it to get some peace and quiet of her own?

Oh, YANBU. Not at all.

The only reason they don't like it at home is probably because if they are seen looking bored at home they will be given chores to do.....that's what would happen when I was little!

But no yanbu....and from your DC's point of view, I would be livid if some other kids were in my room playing with my toys without me there to supervise

Of course you weren't being unreasonable. Why on earth does your dh think you were?

we used to get that ... neighbours children wanted to come and wait
unbelievable.