Not too sure why this bugs me so much but it does and now you'll have to read about it. As some of you know we have an amazing large backyard - one that we have set up for the summer very nicely I might add. The kids have a ton of things to choose from to occupy themselves with; the trampoline, swing set, water table, slip n slide, water guns, nerf guns, badminton, bocce ball, footballs, soccer balls, stepping stones to make, painting...the list never ends. I have made it my personal gaol to try and keep the kids within the backyard so I can keep a better eye on them. For the most part my children have complied.
This sounds great right, now for the neighbours. We have an Indian family living right beside us that we have gotten to know well as their youngest is the same age as Tyson. The issue with this is that no one supervises this child, so when he is outside he is my responsibility. Now i can avoid this by not allowing him to play with Ty, but I'm not that much of a bitch. The mom works shift work, the dad is on the road driving truck lots, and the grandma doesn't speak a word of English. hte 2 older children say inside all day playing video games or watching tv. The oldest boy is very disrespectful to me and his younger brother and friends (ie tyson) so when the rare occasion that he is outside I make a point of being around.
The next friend is a neighbour a few homes down. He is great for the most part. He is very respectful of our things, the little kids, and me. He listens well and plays very nicely with Tyson. He will sometimes not want to go home when we go in for lunch and dinner and wants to play in the backyard or downstairs, which I quickly put a stop too. His mom and dad work full time and grandma and grandpa take care of him during the day. Again we hardly ever see them supervising. Not a big deal really.
Lastly, the new friend as of this week, is the neighbour in the back. They are also Indian, and by the looks of the house and the way they keep it, not very financially stable. I know the little boy has climbed the stupid cherry tree on many occasions and watched from afar the boys playing and I'm sure he wanted to join in. Well the opportunity came when he and his sister were delivering the paper and Tyson asked him to play. ( he had bkicked his soccer ball over the fence a few times - on purpose I believe so he could come over and knock on the door). He was/is very polite and well mannered. The issue here is; now he won't stop coming around.
Today for an example, we had a play date all afternoon and he was not around, but when we took the kids inside he scaled the fence, and started going for the toys. I told him we were inside for a while and we'll be out after dinner. He asked what time and i said around 6. (I get that he wants to play with the toys and kids, cause it really doesn't look like he has that much). Anyways true to my words we all went outside - in the front first riding bikes -side note Ryder finally rode a 2 wheeler with training wheels today - way to go Ryder; then we went in back. The kids (boys) played outside for a good hour. No boy came over - and if he was home he could have heard us as we are not the quiet family.
We take the kids in, get them ready for bed and Brent and I are talking on the bed. I then hear him (the boy) playing with our kids nerf gun. He is on our side of the fence playing with our toys. This hit a fuse with me. Brent told him that the boys are now in for the night and that we will see him tomorrow. But seriously....why is it my job to parent these children. I don't mean to sound racist, as I'm sure this is coming across that way, but I truly don't understand how this particular ethnic can let the kids go over to someones house totally unsupervised for hours on end. Please help me understand. And any suggestions to overcome this constant battle I would appreciate too. I will have a conversation with the boy in back tomorrow and tell him that unless we are outside he is NOT to touch/play with our stuff. Is that mean of me? I love having the kids outside, but I hate the extra parenting that I have to do with the other children. Its totally exhausting! Its one thing if we invite the child over for a play date....then yes it is up to me, but kids in the neighbourhood....is that really my responsibility? Don't I have enough with my 3 kids?
Rant rant rant. I know, at least its off my chest now and i can sleep at night. Lets see what tomorrow brings!
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