How do you folks handle the annoying neighborhood kid?
Looks like we got our first legit pool weekend coming up here in New England (Western MA). I live next door to an only child who is 2 years younger than my daughter.
Like clockwork, she appears in our yard every day like a ghost out of nowhere asking to play. My daughter has way more empathy than I do so she plays with her all the time despite the age difference.
The issue is she’s a spoiled, annoying little brat and I cannot stand her. I know this Saturday I’ll be getting settled in a lounger in the sun with a Seltzer and she’ll show up with her towel in hand asking to swim in the pool.
I’d just assume drop kick her into the woods and be done with it but that will send me to jail or worse.
In the past we’ve had rules that kids need their parents with them watching to be in the pool but that introduces small talk which I hate almost as much as this kid.
I think we’re leaning towards “you can swim for 1 hour then that’s it for the day” just to get it out of the way.
I realize I sound like an old angry dude but summer weekend time is precious and I work a stressful job so I cherish my relaxing time with my family.
How do you handle such situations?
— edit — I should add that I am friendly with the dad but we’re just not similar people that would hang out a lot. He does appreciate us and I know he feels bad sometimes about her constant looking to play with my kids. But still…. Get busy and provide her with a sibling FFs dude
— edit 2 —
Great advice here. Thanks for the inputs. I’m starting to lean towards just trying to cherish this time when my kids are young and as long as my daughter enjoys her company give her 45 minutes to an hour once a weekend and then cut it off.
….BUT the liability thing is very real and never crossed my mind.