Do your neighbors ask you to watch their kids?

[starlily]

Yes, but we are actually friends with them and ask them to return the favor.

[Deleted]

What? No of course not. Who the hell is on that kind of terms with their neighbors?

[justkly]

Fuck no. Thank god I recognized the crazy in my neighbor from day 1, but she is constantly asking the whole neighborhood to babysit her kid and her dog, and they do. I'm pretty sure she knows what my answer will be from my death stares. She takes psycho to a whole new level and I want no part of it.

[juliagoulia]

We are the only people with kids younger than college age in our development. None of them ever watch our kid though. H's Aunt lives beside us though and adores our son, so he will go over to visit and raid her pantry which she keeps fully stocked for him. Spoiled little turd.

[Deleted]

Message: No "it takes a village" on ML! Seriously, if they watch your kids then this seems normal. We watch our neighbor kids from time to time. This sounds really excessive, but then, if they've been reciprocating it isn't really out of line. How did you not know they babysat your kids? Isn't that something parents normally know?

[sonrisa]

Wait, your husband has been dumping your kids on them on short notice for an entire work shift (since he goes in and back without you realizing), multiple times? That sounds like many, many hours. I'm guessing they were feeling pretty taken advantage of. I'd keep my mouth shut and address this with him (as well as offer some way to make up for his past actions).

[mrsjuleshs]

Nope. Luckily our neighbors kids are all grown and having kids of their own so it hasn't been an issue. Dd's aunt lived 10 houses down so I had my niece a few nights but that's family. My neighbors have pretty much all lived here even longer than I have, and that's 16 years. We are really close so if I am in a bind I can ask them to please watch our house. But dd is almost 14 and is ok on her own for a few hours though I never leave her here alone at night.

[Bree Van de Kamp]

My neighbors don't even know my first name, let alone my phone number.

Given, they aren't fans of children and therefor have none, but if they did, I wouldn't be down with watching their kids on a Saturday night. Nope.

[Deleted]

Jul 6, 2013 23:59:16 GMT -5 sonrisa said:

Wait, your husband has been dumping your kids on them on short notice for an entire work shift (since he goes in and back without you realizing), multiple times? That sounds like many, many hours. I'm guessing they were feeling pretty taken advantage of. I'd keep my mouth shut and address this with him (as well as offer some way to make up for his past actions).

He doesn't go in for a whole shift.  Just has to run in for 30-60 min at most.  Usually the kids go with him, but I guess a couple of times they wanted to stay with the neighbors.

[speckledfrog]

So, how later were they there last night?

[bugandbibs]

It sounds like they think this is okay because your husband does this to them. Sounds like you have to suck it up.

[Deleted]

Jul 7, 2013 9:59:20 GMT -5 speckledfrog said:

So, how later were they there last night?

9:45    They did mention that they would reciprocate, but I'm not going to keep this going.  I told DH to say no next time.

[vanillacourage]

So they asked you to watch them for an hour and a half and then were gone for three hours? No. Done.

[LauraMoser]

Jul 7, 2013 13:54:42 GMT -5 vanillacourage said:

So they asked you to watch them for an hour and a half and then were gone for three hours? No. Done.

This. They totally took advantage of you guys last night. Not cool.

[EmilieMadison]

We do, but our neighbors (who live below us) are kind of like a bonus set of grandparents to our kids and LOVE having them over. They have told us that they'd have them over every day they're free, but they're elderly and we dont want to impose, so it's more like once a week or so for an hour or two. 

But yeah, if you keep watching your neighbor's kids, they're going to keep asking you to do it. If you dont want to watch them, then start saying no. You dont even need an excuse, just a "Sorry, can't do it!"

[EmilieMadison]

Jul 7, 2013 12:18:52 GMT -5 @tifvolley said:

Jul 7, 2013 9:59:20 GMT -5 speckledfrog said:

So, how later were they there last night?

9:45    They did mention that they would reciprocate, but I'm not going to keep this going.  I told DH to say no next time.

Wait...why not? I mean, aside from your DH offering to take them on your only Sat off, it sounds like a great setup. I didnt read all your replies when I posted that they also watch your kids and that they pay you (even sometimes). 

[tigress]

Yes one neighbor friend does periodically.