Over-friendly neighbor

[Anonymous]

We have a neighbor who is always inviting us over to do things. They have a pool so they call us in summer for swimming play dates. Just in the last 3 days, we have had 4 invitations from them - once for breakfast, another time to go out with them, and two other times for the kids to play together. The thing is that we really don't want to visit them that often. I have 4 kids ( ages 7 to 1) so we tend to be a busy household. The three older boys play well together and I am usually busy with my 1 year old who is 'high-needs'. The neighbor has two kids a boy who is 3 and a one year old who is very chill. She calls us over mostly so the three year old has someone to play with. My son is mature for his age and prefers playing with his older brothers more than the neighbor. I don't want to avoid them but it is difficult for me to reciprocate. We invited them and some other neighbors to sled in our backyard but they was the only thing I could arrange this weekend.

How can I convey to the neighbor that we don't want to visit this frequently without hurting their feelings?

[Anonymous]

"We like a lot of family time."

[Anonymous]

I feel bad for your neighbor. She's probably like "oh great, another family with kids! They can make fiends and I can make a friend!" And then she met...you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I feel bad for your neighbor. She's probably like "oh great, another family with kids! They can make fiends and I can make a friend!" And then she met...you.

Jesus Christ. OP is obviously friendly with the neighbor but she's not required to spend every waking moment hanging out with them. Four invites in three days is excessive.

[Anonymous]

Just say now is not a good time or not today

[Anonymous]

Keep saying no and then make a plan for a few days hence. Maybe that will help slow down and spread out the invites. How old are your other kids? 1, 7, ___, and __?

[Anonymous]

I bet that her three year-old loves being at your house, there's a lot of kids, it's probably a bit rough and tumble and chaotic and that's fun for him after his boring and quiet house. The kid is probably constantly asking to go to your house to play and the mom is just trying to appease him.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I feel bad for your neighbor. She's probably like "oh great, another family with kids! They can make fiends and I can make a friend!" And then she met...you.

What is fun for one family isn't for another. I was with you until the way you ended your post.

In any case, op, you do need to tell her you guys like to have more family time and then you need to suggest the next get together, which will give her an idea of timing between get togethers that works better for you. I have a neighbor that is similr and I've been working through this.