We have neighbors that have an 8 year old daughter, who is friends with our 9 year-old daughter. My husband and I are also “friends” with the parents. We have been neighbors for 4 years and have talked on and off. We consider them friends, just not great ones. Well here is what I need advice on. Their daughter is “scared” to come to our house. This is a child that has never slept over at someone’s house except for once, and it was our house. She has a brother that is 3.5 and when he was born we kept their daughter for them. She was up all night crying for her mom and dad, saying that she sleeps with her mom every night…. YIKES! Since then we have always offered to have her sleep over, our houses are all of 12 paces from one another. Because we have offered for her to sleep over instead of our daughter always going to their house she is scared to come to our home. We might offer again?
When my daughter calls to play the invitation turns around to have her go to their house. Our daughter is fed up with it. Because their daughter told ours that she was not allowed to come to our home anymore. The mom denies it, but in all honesty I believe it since the parents are the same way.
Example: when coming home after a two week vacation (theirs not ours), we invited them for dinner so that they did not have to cook, go shopping etc. They accepted the invitation and then called the day of dinner to ask if we can take the dinner over to their house because they purchased a dog. I was aghast could not believe the nerve.
This is the same situation, so my question is do I no longer encourage a friendship? We want to teach her that friendship is not who is convenient at the time. Friendship is valuable, something that you do not just cast aside. And to tell the friend that she no longer wants to come over because the friendship is not returned. Our daughter does not want to do this she would like to just avoid the girl which makes it awkward for us. What to do….
I would confront them with the situation. Maybe they don't realize that they are doing it (hopefully). Tell them that you would like to continue the friendship, but that it needs to be more give and take, not just take. Hopefully, they will see what they were doing and fix it. If not, then you know where you stand.
I think asking your neighbor what the situation is would clear things up. Just say, "It seems to me that our daughter is always going over to your house. Do you feel uncomfortable for some reason having your daughter at our house? I would really like to know since I care about our friendship."
i think we should be teaching our children to trust their instincts and we should respect their feelings about being uncomfortable in whatever situation it is, even if it is indeed safe. would you want to teach your daughter to ignore her feelings like this? what if the dad was a child predator? i would NEVER force my child to go someplace he is uncomfortable, what kind of message is that teaching him? and i would never be offended if a child felt weird in my home. sometimes kids have strange fears -- but i don't think it's the right message to teach them to ignore those feelings. maybe you should use the situation to teach your daughter about respect and tolerance for others' feelings.
It sounds to me as though you're creating a needless problem for yourself.
If your daughter is no longer interested in a friendship, why push it? Leave it alone.
If your interest is based on the fact that you apparently want to raise a kind daughter who values friendship, trust that she'll be considerate to this girl regardless of the idea that they're merely becoming acquaintances.
I hear what your saying about your plans with the neighbors and their request does sound odd but to them it could be completely normal from their perspective. Obviously, they co-sleep which is OK in their family. You don't have to react to their lifestyle. Just accept the difference and explain to your daughter that not everyone lives the same way your family does.
It sounds like your daughter has already made up her mind and the other little girl is high maintenance. Being honest is always best. If the other girl wants to know why your daughter doesn't want to play she can tell her the truth..I don't think its fair that we always do what you want to do and it hurts my feelings that your not allowed to come to my house.
Avoiding people and lying takes too much effort :)
This sounds like way too much stress! I would just wash my hands of the whole thing. If their daughter wants to play with yours, I would say, ok, come over since my daughter always goes to your house and she would like to stay home and have you play over here. If they can't switch on and off like that, then it's too much resentment and negativity which no one needs. I would not feel obligated to them just because they live next door. Hopefully your daughter has other friends and interests that can keep her busy. Good luck to you!
Hi C.!
The best thing to do is listen to what your daughter wants. This is her friend. I have learned from experience to not get in the middle of my kids friendships. Dont push your daughter to be friends with her just because you are neighbors. Otherwise she will start to resent you. Been there, not fun. So my advice is to just talk to your daughter and let her know this is her decision and what ever she decides you will support. As for your neighbors, Best advice is to just be neighbors not friends. Be cordial but that is the extent of the relationship. It sounds like you have reached out many times and they just slap you right back in the face. That is terrible. But hey, just make sure your not trying to stay friends with them just for your daughters sake. If your daughter decides to stay friends with her. Just be a neighbor to her parents and nothing more. That will take the strain off. And then your daughter can really see if this girl is really a friend. Hope this helps a little. Been there and done that. I have learned from experience. Good Luck.
D. P
Girl i dont blame your daughter.....Leave 'em alone. There has to be a reason they are acting weird...letting a 8 year old sleep with them is reason enough for me to stay away. Your offers are not being reciprocated. There are alot of us out here in arizona that are not originally from here that are dying for friendship!!! I wouldnt ignore them but I wouldnt invite them any longer and I wouldnt accept invitations to their home either.
I agree with the other posters - this is taking way too much energy of yours. Let it go - be pleasant and civil, and accept that they are who they are. It has nothing to do with you, so don't take it personally. It sounds like your daughter wants to avoid this friendship Listen to her. I understand your point about teaching her to be a good friend, even through tough times, but these people obviously don't want to be friends with you. They may want the pleasant presence of neighbors, but they are not acting friendly. I think it's important for kids to learn to trust their own instincts, and your daughter seems to be saying she would rather let this friendship go. So, let it go. Don't worry about what they will think of you. They do not seem at all concerned with what you might think of them. Be pleasant and cordial, and model that for your daughter. But don't insist on keeping up a one-sided friendship. Share your lovely energy with people who reciprocate and appreciate you, and teach your daughter to do that, too!!
Great advice already---Have your child and you speak to a school counselor.(they specialize in child psychology and may even know this child and family) I had one tell me "You cannot choose your childrens friends, all you can do is teach them what a healthy friendship is and point out the plus's and minuses to the existing friendship and allow them to make the choice if they want to continue this friendship". If it is any consolation--my children have always made the right choice. Also--both my children grew up on a street where they really didn't play a whole bunch with the neighbor kids.
They are your neighbors and we are to love them; but, we don't always have to like them and have relations with them. I encourage you both to talk to the school counselors for coping encouragement.
I would definitely stop catering to that. If they do not accept and follow through with the invitation then do not go to their house instead, make plans with someone else. It's not a friendship of value to them. Frankly they are just being rude.
I dont think its unacceptable for your daughter to let her friend know that the situation makes her feel uncomfortable at times. If she wants to say to her friend "I feel like you/your parents dont like me/are upset with me when 'this' happens", that is speaking her mind and its healthy. She deserves an explanation to ease her mind. The other parents should also know that they may be creating a monster by being so overprotective.
Above all else YOUR child needs to know that she doesnt have to please everyone. That just because people behave differently it doesnt make anyone wierd or wrong, just different.
Arent there any other kids in the neighborhood? Get her into some activities, or play outside with her where the neighbors can see. This may cause their daughter to want to get outside the box a bit.
Good Luck =)
I think that is rude to suggest that they bring the dinner you offered them over to there house. I think that is extremely nice of you to ask them over. I would not ask the girl over unless she initiates it. If she asks your daughter to come over, I would tell her that you would like her to come to your house instead. If she declines I would just tell her OK maybe next time. I would keep doing this. If she really wants to play with your daughter she will accept after a while. If not she will probably stop the asking her to come over and your daughter will know that she is not really that interested in a friendship and then she can have others over that would appriciate her company.
Let your daughter avoid them if she wants to - and you too. If they decide to confront you about it be honest and say you don't understand why their child is afraid to go to your house and that your daughter is tired of always having to play at theirs - and let her say the same if their child asks her. Then it is up to them to either explain honestly or lie. Whatever - then the ball is in their court and you can go about your lives with self respect and dignity - either associating closely or not - but putting up with people's neurotic behavior isn't something I would teach my child to tolerate or find appropriate - I have taught my kids that real friends are people you have a kinship with - wherever they are - not just because they live next door.
I wouldn't be bothered if an eight year old was too homesick to sleep over at my house. She's only eight, for crying out loud. There could be a THOUSAND reasons why she prefers to stay/play at her house, so why assume the worst? Sometimes in life and in friendships, you simply have to take people as they are. And if you don't like how they are, you have to move on. You should always try to give people the benefit of the doubt, though, and not assume there is some malicious intent on their part (unless it's undeniable).
I honestly don't see why it was so nervy of them to ask you to bring dinner over to their place (especially since it's only twelve paces away). If I had just purchased a new dog, I wouldn't want to leave it alone for a while until I was certain it wouldn't tear my house to pieces while I was gone.
But look, for whatever reason, these people rub you the wrong way. So you have two choices, you can exercise some tolerance and get over your frustrations...or you can cool your friendship off and maintain a civil acquaintance. Either option is perfectly acceptable.
But as far as your daughter's friendship, I wouldn't interfere. Tell her to be honest but try to spare the other person's feelings as much as possible. A good life lesson for sure.
