Family's young kids running wild in neighborhood, trespassing in yards

[kiwik]

Put a grill over the pond. It is not that attractive but I have seen steel reinforcing (like used in concrete floors) used. You would need to fix it down well with the kids you describe.

 

When you see the kids go and knock on the parent's door. If you can't get hold of them and none of the neighbours are supervising them there is a problem. Here kids have to have reasonable supervision until they are 14, I know the US is more relaxed but I would assume 6 is too young to be left home alone. Call the emergency services and say you are worried their parents have had a stroke or whatever.

 

Bottom line if the kids are there someone else should be too (or a neighbour should be responsible for them).

 

Good luck, I have a friend with a similar problem but at least she can get hold of the kids parents.

[SKL]

Bill, can you explain why you think it would not be a police or CPS matter if children that young have nobody at home (or aren't under the care of someone in another nearby home)? I am a Free Range groupie and I don't think anyone in that movement would think it OK at that age. What if one of the kids fell and broke a bone or busted his head open? There has to be someone to go to when bad stuff happens to little kids. And as parents we all know it's not "if," it's "when."

[annandatje]

The family who lives behind us has three young children, all six and under. Their parents work during the day as realtors. The children don't seem to be supervised well, and they have been known to ring doorbells and run away, go into people's yards and pick flowers, and generally make nuisances of themselves. I have never met the parents, nor have I had any conversation with the children.

 

We have a fish pond in our backyard that seems to be irresistible to these children. I have caught them on several occasions climbing through the fence, down the brick wall, and into our yard. They take the net and scoop things in the pond, and throw their snacks to the fish. Earlier this week they pulled out some of the circuits for the lights and water filter, which my husband is going to have to replace. On the occasions -- not many, but a few times -- when I've caught them in the act, they ran away.

 

My next-door neighbor says they have had endless trouble with this family. Apparently the parents are disliked because they bought their home under shady circumstances (from an elderly, vulnerable couple at far lower than the normal market value). The parents don't respond to complaints about their children. The children run wild and, while they're not deliberately destructive, they are thoughtless and damage plants and other property.

 

What would you do? Calling the police or CPS seems a little over the top. I have not been able to catch the parents at home, but my next-door neighbor has talked to them unsuccessfully numerous times. I do plan to speak with them and let them know that I'm very serious about not wanting their children in my yard. What else can I say that won't inflame them?

 

Sigh. This is a sweet, peaceful neighborhood, and I really hate to have ill feelings with anyone in it.

 

I agree with you, op, that calling police or CPS seem over the top at this point. Are you absolutely certain about the ages of the three children? If eldest is six, how old are the two younger children? 5 and 4? I doubt they could outrun. Catch one of them and escort him/her home with stern instructions to not venture into your yard again without your permission. The police would ask if you have talked to the parents. I'd try a little harder to track down parents. You could leave a note on their door. How deep is this fish pond? Make sure you are not in violation of any municipal ordinances about enclosing it. Put up no trespassing signs.

[poppy]

I doubt they could outrun. Catch one of them and escort him/her home with stern instructions to not venture into your yard again without your permission.

 

Do not do this. Do not grab a child and hold him if he wants to get away from you. It's fine to touch other people's kids to remove them from a dangerous situation. But otherwise you are the one setting yourself to have the police called on you.

[Blessed Mommy]

My husband is a cop...he said to tell you to call the cops!

[annandatje]

I would feel compelled to take kids home safely. They could be hit by car, especially the toddler. Original poster, how did you decide to deal with the matter?

[AdventureMoms]

 

 

Do not do this. Do not grab a child and hold him if he wants to get away from you. It's fine to touch other people's kids to remove them from a dangerous situation. But otherwise you are the one setting yourself to have the police called on you.

 

No kidding! I would not restrain a child that I didn't know unless they were in immediate danger. That has the potential to seriously escalate an already difficult situation.

[JFSinIL]

I'd go knock on the parent's door - telling the kids "I am going to go get your mom" and they can follow you or not. Do this AFTER you have, if possible, taken a photo of the kids in your yard (so when they whine "She's lying, we never touched her fish" etc. you have proof). If the mom answers - great. Tell her you can't have the kids in your yard, hazard, etc. Act nice "Oh, I am so afraid little Betsy will drown or electrocute herself - I will have to call the police next time as it would be so tragic" etc. etc.). If mom doesn't answer - call the police from their front steps. Let the police come and find no one home and little kids unsupervised. Tell the police (show the photo if you got one) about the sneaking into your yard, etc.

 

Then consistently call the police every time the kids enter your yard. Let them handle it. If you get a chance to speak to the parents, act as concerned about the kids and at your wit's end in fear for their safety as possible. Maybe the parents will feel responsible enough to find childcare or a teen to watch them (or maybe there IS a teen in the house - blowing off their job and NOT watching them and the parents need to know this!)

[Momof3littles]

A few people mentioned upthread that these days you have to be afraid of the parents being "sue happy" if something happens.

 

I believe these days if you show up at the ER or doctor with an injury sustained on someone else's property, your health insurance (I believe it is the health insurance of the injured party) will go after their home owners' insurance, even if *you* (the injured party) don't want to pursue things legally. I have heard of this happening with things like trampoline injuries at someone else's home, dog bites, etc.

 

I am pointing that out because it isn't necessarily even up to the injured party! They'll ask you to disclose where the injury took place and then the insurance company will decide whether to seek a settlement.

 

I could be butchering how that works, but I know I've heard that some variation of that is quite common these days.

[nmoira]

I am pointing that out because it isn't necessarily even up to the injured party! They'll ask you to disclose where the injury took place and then the insurance company will decide whether to seek a settlement.

 

And depending on the limits of the homeowner's liability coverage, the injured party's company can decline a quick settlement, take it to court, and go after the homeowner as well.

[Alte Veste Academy]

A few people mentioned upthread that these days you have to be afraid of the parents being "sue happy" if something happens.

 

I believe these days if you show up at the ER or doctor with an injury sustained on someone else's property, your health insurance (I believe it is the health insurance of the injured party) will go after their home owners' insurance, even if *you* don't want to pursue things legally. I have heard of this happening with things like trampoline injuries at someone else's home, dog bites, etc.

 

I am pointing that out because it isn't necessarily even up to the injured party! They'll ask you to disclose where the injury took place and then the insurance company will decide whether to seek a settlement.

 

I could be butchering how that works, but I know I've heard that some variation of that is quite common these days.

 

 

Yep. Once, when DS7 injured himself and went to the ER for stitches, my insurance company sent me a paper to fill out requesting information on where it happened. I had never seen anything like it, and he had hurt himself at home. Idiotically, I didn't fill it out because I knew there was no liability and the language was clearly all about liability. None of it applied and I don't think there was even a box along the lines of "the patient's fault and no one else's." Well, shockers, LOL, they refused to pay his ER bill until I filled it out. The whole thing was full of "NA" but I turned it in. Had his accident happened anywhere else, especially a friend's house, I would have been mortified, but I wouldn't have had much choice but to tell the truth and watch the insurance company pursue action.

[LibraryLover]

I'm proud of us. Nobody can beat a dead horse as well the hive. :)

 

I am going to pretend we just solved world hunger.

[FaithManor]

Yep. Once, when DS7 injured himself and went to the ER for stitches, my insurance company sent me a paper to fill out requesting information on where it happened. I had never seen anything like it, and he had hurt himself at home. Idiotically, I didn't fill it out because I knew there was no liability and the language was clearly all about liability. None of it applied and I don't think there was even a box along the lines of "the patient's fault and no one else's." Well, shockers, LOL, they refused to pay his ER bill until I filled it out. The whole thing was full of "NA" but I turned it in. Had his accident happened anywhere else, especially a friend's house, I would have been mortified, but I wouldn't have had much choice but to tell the truth and watch the insurance company pursue action.

 

 

This is absolutely true in our area for dog bites. Our medical insurance company clearly states it will go after the homeowner's insurance for the cost of treatment. So, if you have a deductible on your homeowner's policy, prepare to shell out that amount and then watch your premium go up.

 

It's crazy....absolutely.crazy. how much control the insurance industry has over us.

 

Faith

[Truscifi]

I'm proud of us. Nobody can beat a dead horse as well the hive. :)

 

I am going to pretend we just solved world hunger.

 

 

:lol:

[JFSinIL]

Hubby is a lawyer who does insurance law - yes, insurance will pay the injured parties bills and then seek reimbursement themselves from the insurance of the place where the injury took place. DD slipped on an icy step while dog-sitting at a friend's house, and their homeowner's insurance has to cover her medical expenses. That is why we have insurance!

 

Think on it - f someone breaks a leg on YOUR property, from your negligence or having an unsafe item like an unsalted step under a leaky eave, the hospital will take their info - and their insurance co. will get reimbursed from your homeowner's insurance. It is why we all have (or are supposed to have) insurance.

[Slipper]

I finally read the whole thing.

 

Happy Early Birthday Bill!

 

OP, my grandparents had a little fish pond like you described. It wasn't very big or deep. It doesn't appear to be dangerous at all. However, my little sister was playing around it and slipped (wet decorative rocks), fell down (hitting her head against the rocks) and went straight into the water. (She was fine, just wet, bleeding and upset). She was probably 7 or 8 when that happened.

 

You're going to have to talk to the parents, whether they are 'shady' or not. Leave a note on the door, send a letter, call their realtor numbers, etc. Explain that you're worried about the kids' safety and that they have caused some damage to your yard that you have had to pay to have repaired (don't expect them to pay for it, just let them know that it IS a problem). Ask which parent is watching them in the afternoon and for the phone number so you can call them immediately when the kids are in your yard. (That will clarify if they are home or if there's a lazy babysitter).

 

If the conversation goes well, you can offer to have them over at a specific time to look at the pond.

 

If it doesn't resolve the problem or it appears that nobody is looking after them, call CPS or the police. Those kids are way too young to be alone. I don't mind free-roaming children, but there should be a responsible parent somewhere nearby at that age.

[jhschool]

These children are too little for a lot of the discussion here to talk about

roaming free and happy.

 

Under six is too little to be unsupervised.

 

Free roaming would be fine for 8 and up--especially with an older 10 or 12ish

sibling taking care of an 8 or 9 year old. Then we could talk about a decent

childhood.

 

But three littles under six are *too young* to have *any* sense. They are

not free roaming having a nice old-fashioned childhood. They are in constant

danger.

 

Call the cops now. If a little one drowns in your pond it is the end of the world.

[Catwoman]

Ok...

 

My 5 yo regularly leads pond destroying expeditions in our neighborhood. It warms my heart to see the kids all playing together. While some may see this as a problem, I find that it is a very useful field trip/science experiment activity for our homeschooling ventures. I figure if they can see it, it's fair game!

 

:tongue_smilie:

 

 

 

I'm sorry, but if they can see it on private property, it is in no way "fair game."

 

Private property is called that for a reason -- it's private. If kids want to check out the pond, they should ask the property owners for permission first.

 

It may warm your heart to see all of the neighborhood kids playing together, but a lot of people don't want those kids playing in their yards, and I think kids need to learn to respect other people's property.

[Catwoman]

Am I the only one who is wondering what Rebecca decided to do about this?

 

Update, please!!! :toetap05:

[OnTheBrink]

Would you like me to start a new thread, asking people to chip in for a lovely floral arrangement for the funeral?

 

Or would you prefer to have some of us drop by your house to help you dig the shallow grave?

 

Remember, I'm always here to help. :D

 

 

I'd suggest a deep grave. Seven seasons of Desperate Housewives has shown me that shallow graves are never the answer. Even burial in concrete can come back to bite you. Better use something like an inactive volcano.

[Catwoman]

 

I'd suggest a deep grave. Seven seasons of Desperate Housewives has shown me that shallow graves are never the answer. Even burial in concrete can come back to bite you. Better use something like an inactive volcano.

 

 

You are so right.

 

I stand corrected. :D

[Jean in Newcastle]

 

You are so right.

 

I stand corrected. :D

 

 

Of course announcing that you are going to dig or look for a grave of any depth on the world wide web might hurt your defense later. . . .

 

Anyone want to chip in on the Catwoman defense fund? :hat:

[MusicMama]

Ok...

 

My 5 yo regularly leads pond destroying expeditions in our neighborhood. It warms my heart to see the kids all playing together. While some may see this as a problem, I find that it is a very useful field trip/science experiment activity for our homeschooling ventures. I figure if they can see it, it's fair game!

 

 

:tongue_smilie:

 

Good grief guys! I was kidding...hence the smiley face. I thought that the convo was getting a bit ridiculous...

[Truscifi]

I'd suggest a deep grave. Seven seasons of Desperate Housewives has shown me that shallow graves are never the answer. Even burial in concrete can come back to bite you. Better use something like an inactive volcano.

 

 

Or live in gator country. No, wait, I think I saw that on Bones! Dang it....

 

 

 

:tongue_smilie:

[Catwoman]

Good grief guys! I was kidding...hence the smiley face. I thought that the convo was getting a bit ridiculous...

 

 

Oops -- sorry! I didn't realize you were kidding! :blush:

 

I have read many posts over the years that said the same basic thing, and those people weren't joking, so that's why I assumed that you weren't, either. I'm always amazed at how many people seem to believe that the neighbors' yards belong to the entire neighborhood, and that their kids should be able to play anywhere they'd like.

[OnTheBrink]

 

Of course announcing that you are going to dig or look for a grave of any depth on the world wide web might hurt your defense later. . . .

 

Anyone want to chip in on the Catwoman defense fund? :hat:

 

Just let me know where to send the check. Can we put this off, though, for 2 weeks? This paycheck went to non-essentials like trash pick up, electricity, cell phone service, gasoline and groceries.

[MusicMama]

No worries, Catwoman. And I'll be more than happy to contribute to your defense fund. Have you thought of building a pond in your backyard, over said grave?

[Catwoman]

No worries, Catwoman. And I'll be more than happy to contribute to your defense fund. Have you thought of building a pond in your backyard, over said grave?

 

 

:lol: :lol: :lol:

 

If not for those rotten neighbor kids, that's exactly what I would do! ;)

[Alte Veste Academy]

Hubby is a lawyer who does insurance law - yes, insurance will pay the injured parties bills and then seek reimbursement themselves from the insurance of the place where the injury took place. DD slipped on an icy step while dog-sitting at a friend's house, and their homeowner's insurance has to cover her medical expenses. That is why we have insurance!

Think on it - f someone breaks a leg on YOUR property, from your negligence or having an unsafe item like an unsalted step under a leaky eave, the hospital will take their info - and their insurance co. will get reimbursed from your homeowner's insurance. It is why we all have (or are supposed to have) insurance.

 

I can understand this. It is reasonable, of course, for the responsible party to pay for damages. I just know that is not the way it works all the time. When DS hurt himself, he did it jumping 4 feet from an upholstered chair into DH's recliner, forcing the recliner open quickly, landing badly, and cutting his knee on the metalworks. If we were at a friend's house instead of our own, I would still see that as his/my fault, certainly not the fault of the homeowner. So, how much time and money would be wasted going after that homeowner and how many times is money paid when it shouldn't be, just to avoid an investigation or lawsuit?

 

Another time, when he was younger, this same (exceptionally monkey-like!) son attempted to climb the shelving at Target. Had he fallen and cracked his skull, that would have been my fault, not Target's (not even his because he was 3 or so...and himself, LOL).

 

I just wish we could all use reason, all the time.

[MBM]

I haven't read all of the replies but legally, a fish pond would be considered an attractive nuisance. You might want to put some type of secured cover over it while it is unattended. You could be liable if a child hurts himself even if he trespasses. It's a pain but in the long run, you'll have protected yourself -- and hopefully any curious kids.

 

http://www.howstuffworks.com/10-common-attractive-nuisances.htm

 

Also, put up "No Trespassing" signs and call police if the parents don't respond. Keep a written log of the calls. It might seem like too much, but you have to let authorities know you've tried to correct the problem.

 

This is especially a matter of keeping the kids safe.

 

Good luck! I'm all for kids having fun but gotta keep 'em safe, too. :)

[Miss Peregrine]

The neighbor/dog/fence thread reminded me of this one. Any update?

[Trish]

If the parents don't respond to complaints, maybe they'd respond to a bill for damages to the pond! I was wondering, though, since this isn't OP's fence, how is the goldfish pond otherwise protected? If there's the neighbor's fence to the back, what about the other areas leading to it from the sides and front? (leaving these kids aside for the moment) If it is not protected from the "general public" by other fencing, that means any wayward toddler could end up in that pond. So just something else to consider.

 

Also with 3 kids being under six, I wonder how many are in school? It sounds illegal for at least the youngest to not have some sort of daycare. Where is this child before they are "loosed" at whatever time to wreak havoc on the neighborhood? Is one of the parents home and hiding?

[Jean in Newcastle]

It sounds illegal for at least the youngest to not have some sort of daycare.

 

 

Where do you live that you are legally required to have daycare for your child? Supervision of young children, yes. Daycare? No.

[Trish]

Just wondering the impact of a "No Trespassing Sign" on kids who may be too young to read! Heh.

[Trish]

 

 

Where do you live that you are legally required to have daycare for your child? Supervision of young children, yes. Daycare? No.

 

 

It seems plain from the OP that there IS no supervision. With the kids being "under six" (unless we've got some twins or triplets going), I'm thinking AT LEAST one of the kids is not even of school age. So yeah, with no parent home, I would think daycare would be absolutely mandatory for this kid on a daily basis.

 

Unless they hire a sitter or nanny or something. But again, not a whiff of that has been mentioned.

[Slartibartfast]

I would call the police, I have been to a funeral for a toddler who drowned.

[Mrs Mungo]

 

 

Where do you live that you are legally required to have daycare for your child? Supervision of young children, yes. Daycare? No.

 

 

I think she meant child care when you are working, not day care specifically.

[Jean in Newcastle]

It seems plain from the OP that there IS no supervision. With the kids being "under six" (unless we've got some twins or triplets going), I'm thinking AT LEAST one of the kids is not even of school age. So yeah, with no parent home, I would think daycare would be absolutely mandatory for this kid on a daily basis.

 

Unless they hire a sitter or nanny or something. But again, not a whiff of that has been mentioned.

 

 

A lot of us agree with you on kids that young needing supervision for safety's sake.

[Slartibartfast]

Which is an unfounded generalization on your part , and one I resent.

 

 

 

Wrong again. I said the LAPD has historically not had a community-policing model that has build good police-community relations. The Chief of Police in Los Angeles would not dispute that, nor would his two predecessors.

 

 

 

You are a relentless twister of truth. Knock it off!

 

The vast majority of Angelenos, including the current leadership of the LAPD, have a problem the model of policing historically practiced here. You said you knew someting of the LAPD clearly you don't. Either educate yourself, or keep your insinuations to yourself (or both). It is beyond rude!

 

Bill

 

 

What exactly do you think "dim" means? It means you don't have a high opinion of them. How did you not say that?

 

I am bewildered by your hostility.

[Spy Car]

 

 

What exactly do you think "dim" means? It means you don't have a high opinion of them. How did you not say that?

 

I am bewildered by your hostility.

 

I'm sorry, but I'm grieving and don't wish to be drawn into old agreements. Suffice it to say there is a world of difference between having issues with police policies and models of policing and having a dim view of police officers.

 

The LAPD has had major problems with its policing model during the course of my lifetime. This is something nearly everyone in this city would agree with, including all our recent Chiefs of Police. They are striving to reform the department and I applaud those efforts.

 

I have friends on the force. They are people whose work I appreciate. It is a tough and often dangerous job, and I respect that. I think that developing a more community based model of policing will be better for all concerned.

 

Bill

[Rebecca VA]

Hi, everyone, OP here! There's no news. I did have to shoo the kids away (using my mean-lady voice) about a week ago ("Go away! I told you to stay out of my yard! Don't come back -- EVER!"). I've just been too busy and distracted to visit the parents, but I intend to do so once summer gets going.

 

Thanks for all the advice and concern. I liked reading all the suggestions. I read the thread about the little kid and the dog, and it gave me the idea of turning the hose on these kids. I probably won't -- they don't seem like bad kids who are just dying to flout the rules. I think they're just bored.

 

The parents don't seem negligent as much as they seem free-range. The children's yard is really nice, with little bikes and toys carefully placed in the driveway. I think the parents probably send them outdoors to play and don't check on them as much as they should.

[butterflymommy]

I don't disagree with the sentiments here, but, I "ran wild" as a kid but we lived in a very rural area so I wasn't troubling neighbors (there were no neighbors). I was wandering the deep woods, sometimes barefoot, for whole days at age 6. Obviously this was before cell phones... there were ponds and swamps in the woods not to mention wildlife. I always came home in one piece.

 

The weird thing is my parents were quite controlling but for some reason the did let us out alone all day.

 

Times have sure changed.

[Rebecca VA]

I completely understand, Butterflymommy. When I was little we lived in Rhode Island, and there was a small pond (a real pond, not a tiny man-made one) behind our house. We spent lots of time there catching tadpoles and ice-skating. When I wasn't playing in the pond I was riding my bike all over town, from the age of seven on up. Those were great days.

 

I don't remember trespassing in anyone's yard though -- or if I did, at least I didn't mess with their stuff.

[phathui5]

Maybe I could say: "I will have to call the police on your children, EVERY SINGLE TIME I see them in my yard. I can't have the liability for them if they get injured on the brick wall or fall into the fish pond." I'm sure the parents won't like it, but at least they will have been warned.

 

 

Yikes. I would just tell the kids they can't play in the yard when I'm not out there.

[Guest]

How about—and here's a really wild idea—you invite the neighbor kids over to see the pond (to satisfy their curiosity, and while they're there you let them feed the fish with proper fish food?

 

While they are visiting you explain you don't want them jumping the fence and going into your yard (and why) and that while it isn't good to throw people food in the pond if they want to come back in a few weeks and feed the fish again when the family is home they can knock on the door. Explain they can't come everyday, because your children have school at home, but of they want to come over every one-in-a-while while you're home, they can knock.

 

How's that?

 

Bill

 

That's actually a great idea.

 

The kids next door were climbing our tree and messing with our solar powered lights. The wound up breaking one and playing soccer with the light part (it was round) and then they took it - haven't seen it since. I was very angry because I had already told them to leave them alone and to not climb the tree. They were not listening. One day, I saw them pulling leaves off of our tree. This was right after I replaced the light they broke. I stormed out of the house ready to go tell their parents off. The little girls were out there and sweetly asked if my kids could play. They looked so tiny and innocent, all my anger just went away. I told them that yes, my kids could play, but that I also wanted to ask them a favor. I explained that the light were expensive, and I already had to replace one. I asked if they would keep an eye out and let me know if they see anyone playing with them so they won't get broken (they had previously blamed other kids, but we knew it was really them). They asked how much they were to replace and I told them and they said they would help "keep watch." I talked to them about many things, that day, and realized they are sweet kids, just young and bored. I haven't had an issue since. Hoping it stays that way, but if it doesn't I will take the same approach.

[unsinkable]

I completely understand, Butterflymommy. When I was little we lived in Rhode Island, and there was a small pond (a real pond, not a tiny man-made one) behind our house. We spent lots of time there catching tadpoles and ice-skating. When I wasn't playing in the pond I was riding my bike all over town, from the age of seven on up. Those were great days.

 

I don't remember trespassing in anyone's yard though -- or if I did, at least I didn't mess with their stuff.

 

My DH had a pond in his yard. He's lucky he's not a drowning statistic.

 

In the winter, they played ice hockey and he used to cut a hole in one end of the pond to get water to flood the other end to resurface the ice.

 

He'd do it ALONE, usually while he was waiting for other guys to come skate.

 

Honestly, between that story and the one when his brother was chasing him thru their house with a pitchfork I wonder how those kids made out of childhood intact.

[*Lulu*]

 

 

My DH had a pond in his yard. He's lucky he's not a drowning statistic.

 

In the winter, they played ice hockey and he used to cut a hole in one end of the pond to get water to flood the other end to resurface the ice.

 

He'd do it ALONE, usually while he was waiting for other guys to come skate.

 

Honestly, between that story and the one when his brother was chasing him thru their house with a pitchfork I wonder how those kids made out of childhood intact.

 

My BIL tells stories of what he and his brothers did and I know why his mom seems a little off; she survived them.

 

My favorite is when thier youngest brother hid in the dryer during hide and seek, and his brothers TURNED ON THE DRYER!

 

Sometimes I get irritated at my sister but when I think about DBIL and his brothers I thank God that I had her.

[Jennifer3141]

I free ranged like crazy as a kid. I was laughing the other day because my brother and I used to spend the entire summer hiking a mile and a half through the woods to spend the day swimming unattended in Lake Michigan from about 3rd grade on. I think I was nine when my parents started leaving my 5 year old brother with me for the day. Neither of us ever came close to drowning or getting lost and we sure as heck didn't destroy anyone's property.

 

But my parents spent hours teaching us to swim and how to find our bearings if we got lost.

 

Parents don't do that stuff anymore. Up here, we had a record breaking year for child deaths due to drowning in the Great Lakes. For various idiotic reasons, our kids are on electronics and not outside as much as they need to be and thus they are dumber when it comes to stuff like swimming.

 

Personally, I wouldn't take the risk with kids and a pond. I'd snap a pic of the kids at the pond and write a letter informing the parents that their children were not allowed in my yard without my permission and that the next time I saw them there, I'd call the cops.

 

I'm an introvert too and my home is my sanctuary. I don't expect to have to deal with stuff like this and my tolerance for shenanigans is obviously lower than Bill's. But the idea of a kid drowning in my pond is just chilling. :(

[QueenCat]

Do not do this. Do not grab a child and hold him if he wants to get away from you. It's fine to touch other people's kids to remove them from a dangerous situation. But otherwise you are the one setting yourself to have the police called on you.

 

:iagree: A neighbor, about 15 years ago, was arrested for physically escorting a child home who was trying to get out of his grip. This child had been CHOKING his child. He spent about $10,000 on legal fees. Eventually was convicted of a misdemeanor but it started as a felony charge. And no, the child was not physically harmed by the man holding onto his arm as he walked him to his front door, to confront the parents. The child and his family moved when they realized we all support the man who walked their child home.

[QueenCat]