Neigborhood Friends/Foe?

I agree with Angie, steer clear and get him involved with some activities outside your neighborhood. He could get involved with soccer, the Crystal Lake Raiders football teams will be starting up any time. He would be able to do the touch football http://www.clraiders.net/ My son played for the Raiders because we were home schooling him when he wanted to play in 8th grade. It was a great experience.
Another physical activity would be karate. (My son did this too) A good school teachs them control in any situation, not just physical. That also could be a father son activity.

YMCA has day camps and what about the Crystal Lake Park District they must have something, I know Woodstock does.
Also by joining the YMCA you would meet lots of moms with kids your age.
Soon Summer Bible Camps will be starting, most are a week long and you can always attend more than one. Don't know which church's in Crystal Lake have them. I do know Woodstock Assembly of God Church will be having a week long Sports Camp for all ages. ###-###-#### This is a non-denominational Camp.

If you are planning on home schooling your children I can put you in touch with a home school co-op that has get together. The co-op is located in Crystal Lake. I just brought that up since you were a teacher and a lot of former teachers end up home school there children at least the younger years. I loved the years I home schooled. He is now 17 and out of high school and on his way to study in the ministries.

Well there is a couple ideas. Good Luck!

S.

Hi M.!

I've been in a very similar situation with my neighbor's kids who are older then my almost six year old... I feel your pain! They have two boys who are 1 and 2 years older and while good kids, just have way too much freedom I'm not ready to give my son yet (I am way overprotective and the mom is the total opposite)- and so it started creating bad vibes between my son and I where I felt like such an awful mother holding him back.

My solution? I joined meetup.com to find mom's with kids his age in my area and joined the YMCA and got him into a short term fall preschool session where he met tons of friends. The outcome? He barely even thinks of the kids next door now becuase we're so busy with all of the new friends he's made. I think he thinks about going over to see them maybe once or twice a month now when it used to be EVERY day.

I hope this helps! While my story and problem may be slightly different, my solution should work just as well for you I hope!

A.

Hi M.,

I am in CL as well and am part of a great moms group in the area called Mom-2-Mom. I too have experienced similar situations with both kids in the group and neighborhood friends. At first I never wanted to be the "mean" mom and wouldn't say anything to the kids if they did something wrong. But then I decided that it was my house and if the kids wanted to play with my kids then they had to abide by my rules as well. When we are out and if kids are doing something I don't want mine to do, I just remind them that mommy & daddy say no to it.

I hope this helps
C.