Sticky neighbor situation, wwyd?

[Amy Carey]

So this family moved in around the corner in the spring. I believe they are from England and they have just one child. He's about my son's age. Meanwhile, right down the street is a family we have been close with for a while, that also has a son my ds's age (10) and they have been like peas and carrots for EVER. BEST friends. So Adam (kid from england) moves into the neighborhood and they start hanging out, all three of them. Fast forward a bit, I have my scrapping friend over one night who also brings HER spirited 10 year old boy. He has "issues". ...his dad recently left them, they live in basic squalor...not a happy kid. So he's hanging out with them and things start to go wrong. Things get broken, stolen, messed up, etc. One night he broke the front door to my neighbor's house and she said he could no longer come over. Well then my friend needed me to keep her kids for two weeks straight, so that was a long run of the boys not playing together, since Jonah was not allowed down there. So Adam and Curtis (pea to my Jacob's carrot, lol) hung out and jacob was stuck with jonah and left out. I had some nasty thoughts about the Brittish mom...she was always so quick to blame every single thing on other kids like her boy was a complete angel (only child syndrome) and she was kind of snotty to me. Well then Jonah finally went home and I thought the other three boys would go back to playing and didn't. (gosh this getting long, sorry!! LOL) I decided maybe we got off to a bad start and told Jacob to try to mend fences wtih Adam so the three of them could play, and he wouldn't have to feel like the new kid stole his BFF, yaknow? so that went well for awhile (I'm having to leave a lot out here for length sake) NOW...meanwhile curtis' mom had agreed to keep adam during the day this summer so his mom could work. THEN she ended up taking the mom to work every morning cause she found out she was walking (newly pregnant). So curtis's family is on vaca this week and Britt mom asks ME to not only keep adam all day every day, but take over the other mom's role of taking her to Work???? WTH? but anyway I stupidly agreed cause I want the kids to get along. But this mom NEVER has anything good to say about my son. NEVER. it seems like every time we talk she has to bring things up that may or may not (usually not) be his fault and she just goes ON and ON. Like for instance today, I'm up and out early, don't want to be but am taking HER butt to work and she proceeds to tell me that I need to have my son tested for ADD (already done, and no he doesnt' have it) and he needs medication, gripes because he turned the tv on last night when he couldn't sleep (slept at their house), woke up this morning with his shirt wet cause he had had an accident in his sleep (this happens sometimes, usually when he's on sleepovers and I'm not there to remind him to go before he goes to bed)..I mean this woman just goes on ad nauseum. Add to that the fact that she calls all hours of the night and day and expects me to sit on the phone with her for hours while she runs down my son, or my friend's son ... to the point of claiming games are going missing, etc. I can't get her off the phone and even worse, she has such a THICk accent half the time I can't understand her and I feel bad making her repeat herself. Bottom line (you were waiting right? LOL) she wastes HOURS of my day, she rags on my kid, her kid is extremely disrespectful and annoying when he is at my house and I feel put out by her assuming I would keep him and take her to work, just cause my friend does it......I'm just tired of the "SUPERIOR" attitude she has. And I can't stand her. But what do I do to keep the relationship between the kids right, so that my son doesn't lose HIS best friend? I mean he and this kid are as close as any two kids I have ever seen? Adam thought I was 'mean' so I slacked off on him, so now he is here ALL the freaking time and driving me up the wall. Do I HAVE to put up with that so that Curtis and Jacob can still be peas and carrots? LOL make any sense? Have any suggestions? Man I'm sorry it was so long but boy that felt good to get out there...but seriously...HELP before my summer is ruined!!!

[beaucat]

Hugs. That sounds like a rough situation. After this week of watching her son (for what sounds like free) and driving her to work, I'd conviently have something else going on if she asks again...

[Sharon Kay]

You have to say NO. Sounds like it is ruining your family life! Your son will make new friends...and if this kid is anything like his mother...the other friend will figure it out and come back to your son. I'd be concerned about her child being around mine, if his mother acts this way. I understand about the "friends" bit...

She is taking advantage of you...apparently she does not know what it is to be a "reciprocal friend". She needs to learn...especially when bashing a child to his mother! So...she's an expert on ADD?! That's some nerve a woman saying that outright! I'm afraid I would be a bit outspoken at this point and tell her if she doesn't want to get along, you can't play with HER. If she doesn't understand...say "if you don't have something nice to say, don't say anything". She is making your life miserable. Friends don't do that. {{hugs}} on getting this figured out.

I'm usually careful speaking out in forums...but that woman hit a few raw nerves there...you don't deserve this type of treatment! Maybe you should only let the kids play together when YOU are supervising so YOU know what is going on...and it won't give the woman anything to talk about?? Sigh. Good luck!

[newfiemountiewife]

I don't think I could ever be a friend, or let my kid be around someone who obviously puts them down, is accusing, or just plain mean.

Just say no. And mean it. I would cut her off. Life is too short for crap like that!

[ajf9597]

That would be a hard one, since it has to do with your son, you don't want him to lose his friends, but his mom sounds nasty. Good luck with what you decide.

[Amy Carey]

well strange thing she didn't call me this morning to take her to work or to watch her son, so now I don't know what's going on. i know I had to interrupt her in the middle of a tirade yesterday to answer an important phone call...maybe it ticked her off? who knows? I just don't want my son to lose his best friend over this Curtis (other boy) feels like he's in the middle and just wish they could all get along for all their sakes.