K
Kjs
Guest
difficult child has been doing very well since school got out. Although he rarely goes anywhere, has very few, if any friends, spends most of his time at home playing games on the computer. He loves baseball and has kept busy with that so far. difficult child and husband play catch almost every day, go to the batting cages, practice and games. He also plays catch and ball with the neighbor boy who is 10.
We have known the neighbors since difficult child and their daughter(same age as difficult child) have been babies. They have seen difficult child in his "special moments". They have also commented on how much he has changed, his choice of friends, his whole attitude. For the better. In the past whenever anything would happen, an arguement, with the kids in the neighborhood, or their kids, difficult child was always blamed. Regardless.
Ok..last night. Neighbors left their two kids home alone for a few hours (ages 12 and 10). Good easy child kids. They have done this once before and had me check on them periodically. Things went really well that time. difficult child and their 10 year old son have been doing a lot together recently. Playing ball, going to each other's BB games, playing games, sleepovers. They allow my difficult child over when they leave. Last night...difficult child and their son were playing with one of their toys. It was smashed today. (their dad spoke to husband...also spoke to difficult child earlier) difficult child didn't mention anything to us. Anyway, turns out this electronic toy wouldn't stop making noise, so 10 yr. old threw it on the ground. Then the two of them took turns smashing it on the ground. difficult child KNOWS how upset I get about anyone destroying property. (he has had some friends over who smashed many of our toys) He KNOWS that is wrong. why??? he doesn't know.?? If that is not bad enough, they were playing BB in their yard and the 10 yr. old hit the whipple ball over the fence into a neighbors pool. He then said, well..I have to get the ball so may as well get the bat. the boy threw the bat over. He proceeded to go to this neighbors yard, unlock the latch on their fence, (they were not home) go into their yard, and jumped in their POOL. He retrieved his toys and went home. difficult child said he told him not to, but he did anyway. I believe the daughter told. difficult child came home for a little bit last night and said those two were fighting, hitting each other. He said he told them to stop because he would get blamed if anything happened. Well, difficult child IS right. If he was NOT there, those things wouldn't of happened. I heard difficult child's side of the story, quizzed him several times, same story. But he has been known to leave out parts that are important.
He told neighbor dad that he was sorry, and he knows it was wrong. He called neighbor dad and told him he would pay for half the toy. Neighbor dad said that was not necessary, just wanted him to know how disappointed he was in the two boys.
So..now difficult child is on the "they hate me" trip. He was online playing a game, neighbor boy was logged on. difficult child asked if his parents hate him. Phone soon rang. It was neighbor dad online and asked why he would think that. I am just very disappointed. I know the 10 yr. old would of never done this if difficult child wasn't there. difficult child knows better.
I had a long talk with difficult child again. Toy bad enough, but entering a latched fenced yard and going into a pool, with no supervision around. This could of ended a different way. difficult child says he didn't go into the yard. Regardless, that little boy is not a very strong swimmer. The fence is latched shut for a reason. Do not think he will be allowed over when parents are not home anylonger. I have not spoken to neighbors yet. Worked, tried to sleep, and back at work. I just have this feeling they totally blame difficult child. Just from past history.
We have known the neighbors since difficult child and their daughter(same age as difficult child) have been babies. They have seen difficult child in his "special moments". They have also commented on how much he has changed, his choice of friends, his whole attitude. For the better. In the past whenever anything would happen, an arguement, with the kids in the neighborhood, or their kids, difficult child was always blamed. Regardless.
Ok..last night. Neighbors left their two kids home alone for a few hours (ages 12 and 10). Good easy child kids. They have done this once before and had me check on them periodically. Things went really well that time. difficult child and their 10 year old son have been doing a lot together recently. Playing ball, going to each other's BB games, playing games, sleepovers. They allow my difficult child over when they leave. Last night...difficult child and their son were playing with one of their toys. It was smashed today. (their dad spoke to husband...also spoke to difficult child earlier) difficult child didn't mention anything to us. Anyway, turns out this electronic toy wouldn't stop making noise, so 10 yr. old threw it on the ground. Then the two of them took turns smashing it on the ground. difficult child KNOWS how upset I get about anyone destroying property. (he has had some friends over who smashed many of our toys) He KNOWS that is wrong. why??? he doesn't know.?? If that is not bad enough, they were playing BB in their yard and the 10 yr. old hit the whipple ball over the fence into a neighbors pool. He then said, well..I have to get the ball so may as well get the bat. the boy threw the bat over. He proceeded to go to this neighbors yard, unlock the latch on their fence, (they were not home) go into their yard, and jumped in their POOL. He retrieved his toys and went home. difficult child said he told him not to, but he did anyway. I believe the daughter told. difficult child came home for a little bit last night and said those two were fighting, hitting each other. He said he told them to stop because he would get blamed if anything happened. Well, difficult child IS right. If he was NOT there, those things wouldn't of happened. I heard difficult child's side of the story, quizzed him several times, same story. But he has been known to leave out parts that are important.
He told neighbor dad that he was sorry, and he knows it was wrong. He called neighbor dad and told him he would pay for half the toy. Neighbor dad said that was not necessary, just wanted him to know how disappointed he was in the two boys.
So..now difficult child is on the "they hate me" trip. He was online playing a game, neighbor boy was logged on. difficult child asked if his parents hate him. Phone soon rang. It was neighbor dad online and asked why he would think that. I am just very disappointed. I know the 10 yr. old would of never done this if difficult child wasn't there. difficult child knows better.
I had a long talk with difficult child again. Toy bad enough, but entering a latched fenced yard and going into a pool, with no supervision around. This could of ended a different way. difficult child says he didn't go into the yard. Regardless, that little boy is not a very strong swimmer. The fence is latched shut for a reason. Do not think he will be allowed over when parents are not home anylonger. I have not spoken to neighbors yet. Worked, tried to sleep, and back at work. I just have this feeling they totally blame difficult child. Just from past history.