Neighbor Problem

Excelent

We have a newer neighbor to the area, and she is really annoying the other parents in the neighborhood, with her severe lack of caring for her young kids.

Her kids are 3, 4, and 5 and are all over the area unsupervised at all times of the day. They run into traffic, etc. The youngest finds it necessary to turn on my hose and spray everything.

Another interesting thing happens, when Jen and I or other neighbors come out to watch our kids ride bikes in the street, her 3 kids surprisingly show up. Not once has this lady thanked us for keeping her kids safe.

One neighbor has already spoken to her about it, and her thanks was to call the police and say that she was being harassed.

Its a matter of times before one of her kids gets it by a car.

I don't mind keeping an eye on someone else's kid's but I wish she would get her fat ass out of her house and help or not depend on other people to do her job.

Thoughts/Comments?

Member

We have a neighbor like that ourselves. This kids been playing in the middle of the steet unsupervised since she was in diapers.

Gone Fishin

Member

We've got a neighbor like that as well except that the children are older. Talking to her (the mother) does no good and the kids are on their way to juvie pretty soon is my guess.
It's worse when they are small and have no idea as to the dangers surrounding them...

I don't know what the answer is. You and the rest of the parents will end up watching them out of kindness/circumstance until they are old enough to know better is my guess. (I'm not saying that's what you should feel obligated to do but it's what will happen).

Oompa Loofah

Since you have tried talking to her, and that failed, my advice is to keep a log--have other neighbors do it as well. Anytime you see the kids unsupervised and in "less than safe" conditions, document it. If it is severe enough, call the cops. Or call DFYS. She thinks you guys are harassing her by talking directly to her? What an a**clown.

Skip her altogether then. Call DFYS.

The Pinball

that stinks. the kids are neglected. i've been in this situation in another neighborhood. they just roam and you almost feel guilty if you ignore them cuz something's gonna happen to them unsupervised.

the mom sounds like a case from he!!. these kids totally do not understand the concept of you watching your kids for safety's sake. they probably think you're an alien hovering over your little ones cuz they know no different. no matter what you do/say to those kids, she is gonna get ticked off; sounds like that kind of troublemaker. too busy with her soaps to give a hoot about her OFFSPRING.

i'd tell the little "sprayer" to keep his hands off the hose cuz those are the rules and if he plays at your house he needs to follow them. Shocked

that might scare him off. make it zero fun at your house without being totally mean. sometimes they just get the message that "that house is no fun"...
and they stay away. (in a perfect world) Wink

Member

I'd keep a log. I'd try to speak to her again, being as friendly as possible. If the situation didn't improve, I'd call Child Protective Services.

The question that needs to be answered is, if/when something happens to these kids, did you do everything you could to ward it off, so take the steps so that the answer is unequivocally yes.

Member

Call the Department of Human Services and let them sort it out. All reports are confidential. If you really think she is being neglectful you should call.

Adjunct

CYS sounds like the would need a few calls from some of the neighbors.

They have amazing investigating power. They can even enter a house without a warrant. Shocked

Member

Member

Funny, my family always told me to go play in the street... Wink

I would call Child Protective Services. I would also keep a log and encourage my neighbors to do both. As for the hose sprayer, I would inform him in no uncertain terms that that behavior will not be tolerated.

Excelent

I am thinking of placing an anonymous call to CYS. Sometimes this lady is walking around the neighborhood at 930-1000 at night looking for her kids. One night she asked me if I seen them, and I asked her, why are they lost.

She obviously has no regard for their safety.

As for the hose sprayer, lets just say, his clothes accidently got wet today. I think my hose problems have been resolved

Member

I have a really irresponsible neighbor who lets his dog walk around the neighborhood w/o a leash and unsupervised. Worse still the dog's not potty trained and is really ferocious to strangers. We were pretty mad when it pooped several times in our yard. It has also confronted and growled at me several times. Luckily I had a handful of stones ready. On one occasion I managed to tell the neighbour off in a "nice" and "non-threatening" way to leash up that d*mn dog before it really hurts someone.

Neighbor Problem

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