Neighbors always coming in our yard

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So it seems like it really is the rule that kids can't just go play with other kids in their yards, unless they are formally invited as part of a "play date"? Sheesh. When I was growing up we actually had a shared backyard with the next-door neighbors.

Growing up I bet both families were fine with it. If one family isn't fine with then the situation changes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So it seems like it really is the rule that kids can't just go play with other kids in their yards, unless they are formally invited as part of a "play date"? Sheesh. When I was growing up we actually had a shared backyard with the next-door neighbors.

Growing up I bet both families were fine with it. If one family isn't fine with then the situation changes.

Duh. The age differential is a BIGGIE. If OP's kids are 12 and 10--then an 18-month old and 2-year old coming over is NOT a play date. It's babysitting for free and annoying to boys who aren't inti playing mama. I think she said her own kids' friends have an open door policy. These other kids are not their peers/friends.

[Anonymous]

Maybe the OP hasn't come back because the neighbor recognize themselves and worked it out with the Op.
Just a thought.

[Anonymous]

OP, just take the kid home, knock on the door and tell the parents that their kids CANNOT be in your yard. If the kid(s) show up again simply say "Go home."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So it seems like it really is the rule that kids can't just go play with other kids in their yards, unless they are formally invited as part of a "play date"? Sheesh. When I was growing up we actually had a shared backyard with the next-door neighbors.

Growing up I bet both families were fine with it. If one family isn't fine with then the situation changes.

Duh. The age differential is a BIGGIE. If OP's kids are 12 and 10--then an 18-month old and 2-year old coming over is NOT a play date. It's babysitting for free and annoying to boys who aren't inti playing mama. I think she said her own kids' friends have an open door policy. These other kids are not their peers/friends.

Sure, nobody is saying that the 10 year olds should have to constantly play with a 2 year old. But some degree mixed-age, casual play is good for all kids! It seems to be only the highly-structured DCUM world where you have to have hermetically sealed divisions. This is just a sad world we're in right now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So it seems like it really is the rule that kids can't just go play with other kids in their yards, unless they are formally invited as part of a "play date"? Sheesh. When I was growing up we actually had a shared backyard with the next-door neighbors.

Growing up I bet both families were fine with it. If one family isn't fine with then the situation changes.

Yes, you can not assume that anyone else wants to supervise your small (or older) child. Friends that play together often run back and forth between each others yards - it's expected. Moms/dads often talk to each other while their small children play in the front yard but it would be odd for a grown up to carry a baby or toddler into someone else's fenced yard to hang out there uninvited, unexpected, without permission. I would be extremely alarmed if I came home or looked outside and saw some person laying in my hammock while their toddler zoomed around my yard. No thanks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, just take the kid home, knock on the door and tell the parents that their kids CANNOT be in your yard. If the kid(s) show up again simply say "Go home."

PP, I don't think the children are there by themselves. OP said they are toddlers/babies. The parents are sitting there with their children on her patio.

[Anonymous]

You know there is just too much question about this. OP, can you explain this a little bit better. Your neighbors are sitting on your patio furniture and playing in your back yard when you're inside the house?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, just take the kid home, knock on the door and tell the parents that their kids CANNOT be in your yard. If the kid(s) show up again simply say "Go home."

PP, I don't think the children are there by themselves. OP said they are toddlers/babies. The parents are sitting there with their children on her patio.

Right. I forgot that part while reading the responses.

OP, tell them to GO HOME.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So it seems like it really is the rule that kids can't just go play with other kids in their yards, unless they are formally invited as part of a "play date"? Sheesh. When I was growing up we actually had a shared backyard with the next-door neighbors.

Growing up I bet both families were fine with it. If one family isn't fine with then the situation changes.

Duh. The age differential is a BIGGIE. If OP's kids are 12 and 10--then an 18-month old and 2-year old coming over is NOT a play date. It's babysitting for free and annoying to boys who aren't inti playing mama. I think she said her own kids' friends have an open door policy. These other kids are not their peers/friends.

Sure, nobody is saying that the 10 year olds should have to constantly play with a 2 year old. But some degree mixed-age, casual play is good for all kids! It seems to be only the highly-structured DCUM world where you have to have hermetically sealed divisions. This is just a sad world we're in right now.

That is what front yards and neighborhood bbqs are for. You can not assume that the neighbor wants to watch your kiddo.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So it seems like it really is the rule that kids can't just go play with other kids in their yards, unless they are formally invited as part of a "play date"? Sheesh. When I was growing up we actually had a shared backyard with the next-door neighbors.

Growing up I bet both families were fine with it. If one family isn't fine with then the situation changes.

Yes, you can not assume that anyone else wants to supervise your small (or older) child. Friends that play together often run back and forth between each others yards - it's expected. Moms/dads often talk to each other while their small children play in the front yard but it would be odd for a grown up to carry a baby or toddler into someone else's fenced yard to hang out there uninvited, unexpected, without permission. I would be extremely alarmed if I came home or looked outside and saw some person laying in my hammock while their toddler zoomed around my yard. No thanks.

+1

Call the cops.

[Anonymous]

If you have a hot tub, legally you are responsible for any possible accidents that could happen...We have a pool and MoCo rules state that we needed an 8 feet locked fence. You could say that since you can't be constantly watching their little kid, it's too much responsability for you so please not use it. You can add you want to be alone.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, just take the kid home, knock on the door and tell the parents that their kids CANNOT be in your yard. If the kid(s) show up again simply say "Go home."

PP, I don't think the children are there by themselves. OP said they are toddlers/babies. The parents are sitting there with their children on her patio.

Right. I forgot that part while reading the responses.

OP, tell them to GO HOME.

+1000

Free babysitting????? NO. WAY. Not for one minute.

I have seen this on vacation, at a house my IL's rent. There is a family where the mom is never around, and the grandmother is "supposed" to be taking care of the small children, that literally roam around the neighborhood - sometimes together, but usually separate. The kids talk to everyone, and look for strangers to talk to them; all day, every day. It's awful. I have no idea what the mom is doing th at she thinks is more important than her children. If it was an AA family, they would have called the cops a long time ago, sadly.

[Anonymous]

Lol. One of our vacation rental houses came with a kid, too. Well not really but it sure seemed like it.

We were staying ocean front and I don't think we had been there a day before a kid staying at a grandparent's beach house began playing with our kids on a regular basis. Even coming over when we grilled hot dogs....

He was a cute kid but as soon as he saw us open up the curtains he was knocking on our door. Saw the parents once and waved to them but that was our only interaction. Never did meet the grandparent.

[Anonymous]

Lock on gate and water sprinklers.