Our neighbors has two girls (5) and (3) . Whenever I visit them I always feel like I'm an audience in their household I just sit there and just watch everybody go crazy. The problem is ever since the kids were born the granparents has been living with them. The grandma takes care of the kids more than the mom. So the kids now feel closer to their granma than the mom which I think its wrong because the grandma is not going to be there all the time.They also sleep beside grandma. The kids are out of control they starting to get overweight and they hardly spent time going outside and playing with other kids. I guess you could say that they are spoiled because none of the adults in the house are consistent about desciplining them. I feel bad because I always get invited by them to visit but at the same I also have a 15 months old son and the kids normally likes to walk all over him . The kids doesn't know how to share so whenever my son plays with their toys the 3 yrs old would always take it away from him or just hit him. The grandma doesn't discipline the kids I guess she doesn't feel like its her job so the mom spanks the kids when they misbehave but the kids would always talk back to her or just ignore her. I feel really bad because the 5 yrs old is almost about to go to school and you can barely understand what she is saying. I think she was a late talker but her mom is proudly saying that she learn her language skill by watching cartoons and playing in the computer. I always see that she is always depending on her mom to do almost everything with the kids (giving them a bath, changing them, doing laundry, cooking etcc.) eventhough she is a stay home mom. Now her mother (grandma) works sometimes in the morning and sometimes in the afternoon. The problem with that is the kids doesn't have a "bedtime routine" they take late naps and sleep late meaning around 1 in the morning. Mom goes to bed leaving grandma staying up until the kids are asleep. I feel really sorry for the grandma and the kids but since they are good neighbors and its none of my business I try not to say anything but at the same time its tearing my inside apart seeing the kids climbing on the dining room table and going to the fridge and getting ice cream and chocolates because they starting to get REALLY BIG. I can't blame the kids but right now whenenever they invite me in the their home I would always come up with excuses not to go to their house

That's a difficult situation. I think if it were me i would not be going over there anymore. If they ask just tell them your busy. After awhile they should get the hint that your not interested in socializing with them.

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Jodie....Wife to Andrew (1995)
Mommy to Riley (2000) and Wyatt (2003)