Bullies - Traverse City,MI

Updated on March 30, 2011
M.L. asks from Traverse City, MI
5 answers

I live in a nice sub with my husband and kids. We, unfortunately happen to live next door to the neighborhood bullies. Thet are 9, and 11. My son is 5, an all of there friends that live here are between 4-7. With thta being said, the younger kids, play well together, and mesh well. The bullies, ave been banned from a lot of peoples yards bec of their behavior, including mine, but they still come over, and cause problems. YYesterday, I told one to leave, and go home, and he responded with 'My dad says I don't have to listen to you" So I went next door, to the father and told him that I would like it if their childeren do not play in my yard, it is not age appropriate. He proceeded to cuss me out and call me every sort of bi*** and wh*** there is. My husband travels for his job, and is never home when any of these instances happen. I try to tell him about it, but he doesn't get it, he thinks that I am dramatizing everything. The man, the one who cussed me out is perfectly respectful to my husbadn, and so is his wife when he is home. But when he leaves, I feel like they think that they can bullie us around. I am not theonly family to have issues with them, but it seems taht everyone is afraid of them. I had a horrible summer last year with them, and their kids, they destroyed my son's wagon in he middl;e pf our streat, spit on him and all the other little kids, push them down, hit t em, ect, I feel like I have to be out there constantly watching. When you tell their parents, they just say nothing, or blame the littl;e kids. I seriously do not hink that I can do another summer here, it is that bad. I get a sick feeling when I think about it. Lately, have been pulling my kids in the second that they go outside, but I knoe that I can't keep dong that bec it is not fair to my kids, but I honestly don't think that it is safe for them. Please help.

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J.B.

answers from Atlanta on

Take your camera or phone outside with you and the kids. Tell the neighbors that they can be as ugly as they want, but if any of them set foot on your property again, speak to your children, say anything to you or touch anything you own, you are calling the police because they are trespassing, harrassing and destroying property. Make sure you do it -and press charges if need be.

2 moms found this helpful
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L.R.

answers from Washington DC on

I agree with the person who said to call the police non-emergency number. You can ask that the police put on extra patrols in the area to make them more visible. Even better, if your local police are really responsive and proactive, they might be willing to make a "friendly call" on this family to let them know they've had calls about their children trespassing (do call it trespassing, give it its legal name!) and being rough wtih other kids. Get your other neighbors to call the police as well so there is a record of more than one household reporting these issues.

And do talk with your husband about why he does not trust you and respect you enough to believe you when you describe this family's behavior to you in his absence. Effectively he's saying you're lying to him; that's got to stop.

1 mom found this helpful
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K.S.

answers from Chicago on

Your yard is YOUR yard. If you have directed them to leave and they don't it now becomes a criminal matter. You took the adult route and spoke to their parent and the result was horrible. Maybe your husband can try when he is home but you last resort is to call the police. You are queen of your yard and I can't think of what other option you have after the father's response. I guess at least you know where they get it from. Or you could get a BIG dog that appears fierce to strangers....

1 mom found this helpful
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C.W.

answers from Indianapolis on

Call your local police dept and find out what to do.

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D.G.

answers from Houston on

You've tried talking to the dad, obviously that doesn't work.

If the children are in your yard without your permission or adult supervision, I would tell them to leave as you did before. If that doesn't work call your local police department. At the very least the 9 year old isn't old enough to be responsible for himself, and at worst they are trespassing.

We actually called the police once because of how loud the neighbor kids were. Normally we didn't mind their garage band playing, drums, amplifier and all but we were trying to get our baby down for a nap. First we politely asked the kids if they could keep it down for an hour. They turned the amplifier down for a while then said we had to talk to their mom.

The mom basically said she had to deal with everyone being loud when her kids were babies so suck it up. So we called police, and the nice man in uniform came out to measure the noise level and they were breaking the law based on the decibel level. We never had a problem after that (other than a few dirty looks aimed our way by the mom).

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