our neighbour and his kids are in our garden

[thereisfreedomwithin]

We usually let them come in and use the swing. The kids usually come and ask.

Today he's just done it - I guess he's feeling pretty desperate to entertain them (3 year old twins and a 5 year old).

What do I do?

Just give them the swing....

Just shout to him via an upstairs window to use the swing but to wipe it down with antibacterial wipes when they’ve finished l if you too wipe it down, you’ll be fine

Not antibacs! They won't touch viruses. We need to clean using products containing bleach, alcohol or hydrogen peroxide.

OP, it would be a lovely thing to do if you gave them the swing. Obviously square it with your younger son first.

Getting the neighbours to stay out of your garden must be a priority, so that your family can use it freely.

You shouldn't give away your kid's swing I know he's 14 but teenagers still use then and enjoy them. I know I would spend hours on the swing when I was a teenager listening to music...you can ask him him if he wants to loan it to them but don't force him. With the neighbours you're going to have to ask them not to come into your garden and use it.

www.journalofhospitalinfection.com/article/S0195-6701(20)30046-3/fulltext

Just read the summary. It is concise and informative.

Alcohol needs to stay on the surface for one minute before evaporating, which can be tricky.

That's a lovely idea op to let them take the swing. And it teaches your 14 year old about kindness and collaboration - making 3 young children happy. Communities need people like you.

I'd rather have the wild garlic myself.

My neighbours and I are like family and we are often in and out of our houses - my kids 11 and 14 and theirs 2 and 7 are playing in our gardens together as they have an open gate between them and we are not going into each other's houses.
Both families are totally isolated from everyone else as we live rurally so if we have it or get it it will be contained between our 2 families and will be for the full incubation time of 14 days

We are being kind and caring and taking a risk with each other but no risk to anyone else - does that make sense?

OP you sound like a really nice person. Trust your instincts

Turn the hose on them and when they have gone, burn down the swing.

Or just let them get on with it 🤷‍♀️

Slight tangent but linked re neighbours.

Is it possible to clean a fence (going into our house to divide us from neighbours)?

Person isnt smymptomatic but Im scared. Ive read about 9 days on surfaces too.

We can get buckets of dilute bleach but do we jusg wipe it over wood? Same with a wooden table?

If you are not going to use the swing, and lets face it your 14 year old is not going to ever need it again, I would also allow them to use the space. Their need is greater than yours, and as long as you go nowhere near anything they have touched you will be fine.

I can't imagine how desperate they must be, with three children of that age and no garden, kindness is what is going to keep us all going, whatever way we can make it easier for each other, that is the way forward. I am delivering shopping this afternoon, I am not excited about trudging round the village with bags of food, as I am so tired, but we all have to pull together and do what we can.

You need to exchange phone numbers with your neighbour from 2 meters distance and communicate by phone. It'd be nice to let hom use the swing, or have it, but he needs to ask and you need to know so your teen doesn't unknowingly touch the swing 5 minutes after his 3 year old. If you give him the swing he should order your 14 year old a hammock from Amazon.

I really don't understand what the issue is!

Are you worried you are going to catch Corona Virus from the swing?

If we are are not able to touch something that someone outside your family has touched then life is going to get VERY difficult! You have probably just filled your fridge and cupboard with items from a supermarket which numerous people will have touched- from the warehouse staff, to the shelf stackers, to other customers and the check-out staff! Did you ani-bac every item you bought? I certainly didn't!

I would let them use it, this is a time for us all to come together and help one another out.

I would just let him use it as he pleases 😊

my husband, older son and I would love to see the swing go! It's got wild garlic growing underneath it...

Not used often then?

I think your first impulse to let them have is both kindest and best. You could always offer to lend it to them for the duration, and if your son loses interest tell them afterwards that they are welcome to keep it.

I wonder if your sone doesn't really want the swing - but just wants to make his presence felt, as teenagers do?

And they will be more likely to overlook any noise from your son if you oil the wheels with the swing.

I don't envy anyone with young children at the moment - they can be difficult to keep entertained at the best of times, and our tempers are probably that bit shorter when we ourselves are worried and frustrated.

I do clean my shopping as much as possible.
Gloves to handle the bag and unpack.
Wipe packaging or unwrap and discard.
Wash fruit and veg under running water.
Wipe tins.
I use bleach and detergent solution as advised by Journal of Hospital infection.
I clean the fridge door/handles and the work surface.
Shopping bag stays at the door.
Clean gloves
Wash hands.
I am at high risk so I have to be careful.

I'd rather have the wild garlic myself.

Have to admit, so would I MitZik

We had a lovely pot of it - the scent was intoxicating - but my DD's great dane thought so to, and ate the lot!

Your neighbour absolutely can buy his own swing - but in these times we really do need kindness. I would give them the swing, and would talk to ds14 beforehand so he sees it as HIS great act of kindness to them.

I would just say sorry, while this is going on they can't use the swing. No need to guilt trip the 14 year old into giving away something he wants to keep.

Honestly, People need to be kinder to each other,
The premise of the law is to stop/minimise peoples interacting with each other outside their family unit.
Letting your next door neighbour's small kids cross a gate and play in your garden for an hour doesn't increase anyone's risk as long as your kids don't mind staying off it today.

People need to stop using this lock down as an excuse to just be mean.

OP, I have just bought a hammock from Amazon. Quick delivery too. If you want to buy one I wouldn’t think there would be a problem, and it’s something you could all use. It’s a lovely gesture to offer the swing to your neighbour.

I'm sorry for your neighbour but his needs do not trump yours during a lockdown.
Keep the swing for your 14 yr old, this family does not come first and don't teach your 14 yr old that they do.

IF they choose to give the swing away with your agreement, different issue.

Just tell him.

Right, can't believe this is trending! (all my neighbour threads seem to do so - sigh)

1. turns out neighbour did ask (DH) (but to reference Fawlty Towers, you might as well ask the cat...). So I was maligning the neighbour :(
2. The four of us went out there wearning disposable gloves and moved swing into neighbour's garden.
3. There's a "sort of gate" to our private bit and I've now closed it which I hope is sufficiently symbolic and will save the wild garlic.
4. I've ordered a freestanding hammock stand, let's hope it arrives...

It's going to be a long summer people!

OP I think giving them the swing is a lovely idea.