Not sure where to put this

[dooley1]

But I feel teary and upset. We moved house a couple of months ago and both me and dh are tired and stressed a lot of the time. We know we shout at the kids too much (in particular our 3 year old ds who is a normal 3 year old - adorable but trying!).
We have seen our neighbours a handful of times - elderly coupe, grandchildren of their own, possibly disappointed they haven't seen us at church yet...
Anyway dd was crying in the kitchen (teething) and ds was nagging me while I was making lunch but as far as I recall I didn't yell this time.
2 minutes later the neighbour comes round and asks if everything is okay, if we would like to come round for a cuppa one day . Then she quantifies this by sayong it's not for their benefit as they have lots of hobbies, are busy with family etc (ie for my benefit as the kids are obviuously driving me nuts)
dh just says they are being friendly, it's a different generation and we are not used to neighbours coming round etc but something just feels a bit odd about her to me

She may just remember being a mum to a toddler and wants to be friendly? Take her up on it you'll either find out for sure what feels odd or make a friend for life. . .

I'm not even sure how to take her up on it, wait to be asked again or just turn up?

Up until very recently, this was normal neighbourly behaviour.

I would make friends with her ... she could prove to be very useful

I think you may be feeling a bit paranoid. She sounds like a nice friendly neighbour and it wouldn't hurt to pop round or invite her to come in for a cup of tea one afternoon to get to know her.

I'm sure she's done her share of exasperated shouting with her kids.

This is totally normal behaviour in my village where we all know each other, borrow eggs etc from each other all the time.

next time you see her. . just say have decided to take you up on the offer of a cuppa and a chat if that's still ok. . .

thanks, I've got pmt and just feel unnecessarily wound up by it all I guess
It's hard moving from somewhere where everyone does their own thing to a village

Go for coffee. They are just being friendly. Down our road all neighbours are like that ? people who keep themselves to themselves are seen as odd and standoffish. They might turn out to be potential baby sitters, or people to turn to in an emergency when you can?t get back to pick your kids up from school ? or future pet feeders when you go away.

how though? just knock on the door with the 2 kids one day/ what if she has a friend round and it's awkward?

Normal behaviour in a village, really ; make the most of it.

TBH she sounds nice. It's so easy in our relatively isolated parenting to feel that people involving themselves uninvited are being critical.

I was forever being invited over by two (different) elderly neighbours in my block of flats, but always put it off because I felt uncomfortable. Then one day I locked ds1 in the car, together with my keys and mobile. Fortunately the sons of one of the elderly neighbours came past and rescued us, and then took ds and me up to their mum's to recover. So I got to know her a bit better, and realised that she was lovely and friendly, and not in the least bit critical or judgemental. Which in turn gave me the courage to respond to the other lady's invitation, and so I got to know a rather unusual and interesting person.

So go ahead, get to know them. It's lovely to be friendly with your neighbours, and it might work out very nicely if your LOs and their GC play together.

dooley1, to answer your question on how,
either as chrissnow says, or invite her
round for a cuppa with you next time you
bump in to her.