Neighbours child takes my stuff

Mal-Adjusted

funny little problem.
my neighbors have 2 small kids who we sometimes babysit. they've gotten used to coming up to the house and often do it without their parents consent (or knowledge!)
anyway, when one of their parents comes up to collect them the older one, about 6-7, usually goes straight for my room, grabs a DVD and starts screaming & crying if he isn't allowed bring it home (he'll cry if the room is locked as well). the parents will always give in because they don't want to deal with a crying child.
If i'm lucky enough to ever get it back, it's usually smashed anyway.

what can I do to stop this without ostracizing the kids parents (who are family friends)?

Dudess

Parenting lectures from non parents/curmudgeonly rants re "youngsters nowadays" from 20-year-olds any second now...

Chuchoter

Stop bringing them over. If they can't control their kids you shouldn't have to pay for it.

sdanseo

Sounds like you're still living at home with your own folks or am I getting the wrong end of the stick there?

I've had the key to my bedroom door at home on my keyring for years (I'm 21 now) - mainly because I have a few littler cousins who tend to wreck the place when they're here so they cant get in and that solves that Bit mean but hey it works.

take the kids stuff

Ghost Train

Start sending invoices to the parents for any stuff taken

W.Shakes-Beer

Switch some Fireman Sam disk with a "Massive Church Orgy 3" DVD, then see if his parents want your dvd's.

AnonoBoy

Mal-Adjusted wrote: »

funny little problem.
my neighbors have 2 small kids who we sometimes babysit. they've gotten used to coming up to the house and often do it without their parents consent (or knowledge!)
anyway, when one of their parents comes up to collect them the older one, about 6-7, usually goes straight for my room, grabs a DVD and starts screaming & crying if he isn't allowed bring it home (he'll cry if the room is locked as well). the parents will always give in because they don't want to deal with a crying child.
If i'm lucky enough to ever get it back, it's usually smashed anyway.

what can I do to stop this without ostracizing the kids parents (who are family friends)?

So the parents give in to the kid?

But it's not their DVD.

Surely all you need to do is say, "That's mine, no you can't have it." and then let the parents take their crying child home?

Easy.


Or else next time they're over, just stock your DVD shelf with explicit horror movies and really dodgy softcore porn films. Somehow I think the erstwhile sh*tty parents will find the strength of character to deny their offspring in that case.

oppenheimer1

Mal-Adjusted wrote: »

funny little problem.
my neighbors have 2 small kids who we sometimes babysit. they've gotten used to coming up to the house and often do it without their parents consent (or knowledge!)
anyway, when one of their parents comes up to collect them the older one, about 6-7, usually goes straight for my room, grabs a DVD and starts screaming & crying if he isn't allowed bring it home (he'll cry if the room is locked as well). the parents will always give in because they don't want to deal with a crying child.
If i'm lucky enough to ever get it back, it's usually smashed anyway.

what can I do to stop this without ostracizing the kids parents (who are family friends)?

Just keep the door locked. The child will have to learn that he cannot take what s/he wants when ever s/he wants. Don't give into the crying/tantrums.

Daisy Steiner

Dudess wrote: »

Parenting lectures from non parents/curmudgeonly rants re "youngsters nowadays" from 20-year-olds any second now...

Em . . . what?



OP **** that, lock the door of your room and subtly leave the room when they are getting ready to leave.

It's ****e to have to deal with a screaming child who hasn't been taught properly but at the end of the day, it's the parent's bad and you shouldn't have to sacrifice your stuff.

astra2000

Keep the door locked and if they start crying tell them you will bring them home. Parents shouldnt allow this. If they manage to get their hands on something just say no and explain last item came back broken or if you cant face doing this tell them its not yours so you cant lend it or that someone else has asked to borrow it, use the same excuse parents will soon get the hint!!

xi

Speak to the kid like your his teacher, I find kids respect teachers more than their parents these days.

You could say no you can not have this DVD today I want to see it, however (speaking to Mam or Dad) he may borrow it next time. (in the mean time rip and burn to DVDR.)

Adam

cry harder.

alwaysadub

Keep the door locked and tell them no. It's not your job however to teach them that they can't have everything, but if you stick to your guns,pretty soon they'll cop it that you won't give in.

If they throw a tantrum, kick them out the door.

Neyite

ring supernanny.

yermanoffthetv

Substitute the word "dog" for "child" and your good to go.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IL9bLsuVFn4

shinikins

Tell the child that he can't have the dvd becuase the last time he took one it wasn't returned in the same state it left the house, and do this in front of the parents. That way, the child knows why he's not allowed your stuff, and the parents know your unhappy with the situation. If they try to wheedle you around, tell them no again, that you can't afford to replace every item the child borrows. They'll get the idea quick enough.

ejmaztec

It must be time to electrify the door-knobs, or buy a Rottweiler.

Doc

Go around to their house and ask to borrow any stuff that you like that they have like their plasma screen TV or stereo system or whatever. If the say no lie down on their floor screaming and crying and stamping your feet and arms saying "But I WANT IT I WANT IT I WANT IIIIIIIITTTTT!!!!!" If they give in trash them and then give them back to them with a note saying "How do you like it?"


Alternatively you could act like a grown up and talk to the parents and say that you don’t want to have the child borrow your stuff anymore as it is often not returned or returned damaged.

ElaElaElano

Dudess wrote: »

Parenting lectures from non parents/curmudgeonly rants re "youngsters nowadays" from 20-year-olds any second now...

Daisy Steiner wrote: »

Em . . . what?

She's talking about the kind of people who refer to three years ago as 'back in the day', or who say they 'feel so old now' on their 24th birthday. aka cúnts.

zuroph

Seriously though, just have a chat with the kid saying they can have something when they return something, in front of the kids parents. It'll embarrass them into monitoring the situation better.

Einhard

Steal the kids.

Sharpshooter

Mal-Adjusted wrote: »

anyway, when one of their parents comes up to collect them the older one, about 6-7, usually goes straight for my room, grabs a DVD and starts screaming & crying if he isn't allowed bring it home (he'll cry if the room is locked as well). the parents will always give in because they don't want to deal with a crying child.

I'm sorry if I'm getting you wrong OP, but when you say the parents will always give in, what exactly do you mean?

They have come to your home to collect their child who is throwing a tantrum because he wants your DVD?

How exactly do they give in, isn't it up to you to say NO.

I really fail to see how anyone apart from the parents could take offence tbh and if they do are you not better off, family friends or not.

ejmaztec

Sharpshooter wrote: »

I'm sorry if I'm getting you wrong OP, but when you say the parents will always give in, what exactly do you mean?

They have come to your home to collect their child who is throwing a tantrum because he wants your DVD?

How exactly do they give in, isn't it up to you to say NO.

I really fail to see how anyone apart from the parents could take offence tbh and if they do are you not better off, family friends or not.

Some parents are so traumatised when they have kids, they think the world owes them a living, and that everyone should share in the pain of keeping their shit-bag kids happy.:(

OutlawPete

Just out of curiosity, what are the DVDs?

Maybe the parents want the kids to nick them so they can watch them.

Oh .. next time he comes around, have The Exorcist on resume, just at the head rotation scene.

Mara.

oh i know exactly how you feel.

I was once sitting on my OWN couch, when this spoilt brat comes along playing with his toy cars, crashing them into my leg.. then he starts to whinge about how he wants the whole couch to speed along.. I ignore him and carry on chatting to which his ma asks me would i mind moving so he can carry on playing.. THERE WAS NO OTHER SEAT IN THE ROOM. i took my place on the floor.

the kid was 7.

just let them know, i think a heavily hinted No is in order.

tony 2 tone

OP, would I be right in guessing that they would be friends of your parents? Doesn't matter about causing trouble between the families, lock your door, and if the kid tries to take any thing, take it back off him, while saying in a scolding way "No, you can't have that, that's bold" while giving the parents the stink eye.
Failing that, lump hammer, break his thumbs.

K-9

Sharpshooter wrote: »

I'm sorry if I'm getting you wrong OP, but when you say the parents will always give in, what exactly do you mean?

They have come to your home to collect their child who is throwing a tantrum because he wants your DVD?

How exactly do they give in, isn't it up to you to say NO.

I really fail to see how anyone apart from the parents could take offence tbh and if they do are you not better off, family friends or not.

Can't see the problem myself either.

Cypher_sounds

Grow a pair and have a stern word with the parents that these things actually cost money so it would be nice not to have the stuff taken and damaged on you, otherwise just keep bitching like a pussy that a kid is robbing you in broad daylight lol

SoulTrader

Mara. wrote: »

I was once sitting on my OWN couch, when this spoilt brat comes along playing with his toy cars, crashing them into my leg.. then he starts to whinge about how he wants the whole couch to speed along.. I ignore him and carry on chatting to which his ma asks me would i mind moving so he can carry on playing.. THERE WAS NO OTHER SEAT IN THE ROOM. i took my place on the floor.

That's ridiculous! Putting an adult on the floor so a kid can use the couch for playing? If that is representative of the parent's usual attitude to the kid, that kid will grow up thinking the world owes him a living.

jimmycrackcorm

Learn too say no. it's actually easy

Dave147

Move out.

Run_to_da_hills

Put a couple of books balanced very carefully on top of the door, When the kid walks into your room the books will fall on top of him, he won't do it again.

Minstrel27

Harden the **** up

monkeypants

Mal-Adjusted wrote: »

the parents will always give in because they don't want to deal with a crying child.

Have a word with the parents. They can "give in" all they want, it's still your stuff. Another option would be not to let the kids into your house in the first place. A crying child is not your problem.

the_syco

W.Shakes-Beer wrote: »

Switch some Fireman Sam disk with a "Massive Church Orgy 3" DVD, then see if his parents want your dvd's.

I disagree. Try to get a DVD of "Bad Taste". You want to trumatise the little bastad, not fill their future porn collection.

Motley Crue

Mal-Adjusted wrote: »

anyway, when one of their parents comes up to collect them the older one, about 6-7, usually goes straight for my room, grabs a DVD and starts screaming & crying if he isn't allowed bring it home (he'll cry if the room is locked as well).

Just explain to them that it is unacceptable for the child to behave in this manner, tell his parents if he continues to do it you will not babysit any-more, and they'll get the message. Also lock your room, and if the child cries, then he cries...but he has to accept he cannot go everywhere he wants and do anything he likes.

Lockstep

I'm guessing he means his parents relent and let the kid keep the DVD or something.

Otherwise, that kids parents are terrible.

LoanShark

Put a trip wire inside of your door with a big basin of custard on the floor in front of it.... That'll sort the little prick..

Anyways, What kind of DVDs do you have that is of interest to a seven year old child????


At seven years old, a child throwing a tantrum is not on...A good swift kick up the arse is whats required, you know a bit like the Tango ads something that happened, but the person is unsure if it did or not....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YV8zGNe7Ebg&feature=related

Blazer

Give him Freddy Got Fingered...that'll put him off watching DVDs for a long long time...

Feeona

It sounds like the parents aren't au fait with social rules regarding your belongings and letting the child be babysat by you without even asking :rolleyes:. Tell the frigging child to go home because 'your parents don't know where you are' in case you're hauled up in court for inviting children around to your home without the parent's consent!!!!

Your belongings being broken are the least of your worries!

prinz

Dudess wrote: »

Parenting lectures from non parents/curmudgeonly rants re "youngsters nowadays" from 20-year-olds any second now...

Ridiculous comment.:rolleyes:

Doesn't take being a parent to have some basic cop on and manners tbh.

stovelid

Have a tactfully-expressed word with the parents, OP.

No reasonable parent should mind being told that their children are misbehaving like that.

January

Seriously? The parents tell the crying child they can have YOUR dvd?? Wtf...

Next time it happens, tell the parents, no, he can't have the DVD because it's mine. End of. Keep your door locked in future.

Willie Stroker

OP what did you do ?

Sykk

OP I have solved your problem. Follow these simple steps to have peace and quiet along with your stuff!

Leave a Thomas the tank engine sticker over the most filthy porn DVD you've got. Lets say... Animal porn or something.

Leave it in plain sight, when the parents come over to their crying child with the DVD in hand, they'll say "Ah sher we'll drop it back when he's done with it."

You'll never see that child in your house again. It will be burned into his dreams, forever.

Ostrom

What do you mean by 'they give in' even if your door is locked? Do they order you to open your door and let him in? Arseholes

inforfun

Kid breaks your dvd, you break the parent(s).
It is only fair.

orourkeda

Little Johnny sounds like he could do with a thundering crack on the arse.

vibe666

the problem is, you've now set the precedence so they know what they can get away with and they'll keep pushing it as long as they keep getting away with it.

they aren't crying and screaming because they are in pain or suffering, they're doing it because they know what works.

start locking doors to set the boundaries and don't give in to them no matter how much they scream and cry, because they are doing that specifically because they know what works when it comes to getting what they want.

if it stops working and you hold your ground then sooner or later they'll stop doing it, but until you stop acting like a doormat for your neighbours kids, they're just going to treat you like one and walk all over you and your DVD's.

there's no other way around it if their own parents aren't going to respect your property or boundaries.

we have our neices over from time to time and if they're not staying over they aren't even allowed upstairs because they have no reason to be there. you have to make a stand if you want it to stop. keep giving in to them and you'll never have any peace.

smash

Put a bear trap at your bedroom door.

Or tell the parents to put some f'ing manners on their kids!