Just the other day, columnist Abigail Van Buren was advising us on how to deal with over-involved in-laws, and it’s forward neighbourhood kids that are at the centre of the latest conundrum.
In her Dear Abby column, the world-famous writer is asked for help from a mum whose kitchen fridge has become the ‘favourite buffet’ of the local children.
“We recently moved to a new neighbourhood. Soon thereafter, some kids who were at our house playing with our kids began rooting through my pantry for snacks. A few days later, kids from another family did the same thing,” she explains.
Figuring that this was how things went in that particular neighbourhood, the mum reveals that she proceeded to start picking up extra snacks for the children - $30-worth a week, to be exact. However, when she spoke to her kids, she found out that the same courtesy has never been reciprocated in other neighbours’ houses.
“Yesterday, my kids told me that they are rarely offered treats when they visit these children. They even take snack breaks and eat in front of my kids without offering them anything,” she adds, clearly frustrated.
While Abby concedes that she may be being taken advantage of, and urges her to talk to the parents; the comments section proves that this is an all-too-common issue.
Have you experienced this? What are your thoughts?
