Advice On A Neighbor

[jacquie4000]

It seeem I have upset a neighbor of mine. My son is a big dirtbike rider. He rides with a couple boys at a Nearby farm. Yesterday they had got into trouble for riding in a place the farmer had wanted to plant grass. Two of the boys sometime ride on the road instead of pushing their bikes home. Of course this is not legal. We were at the house of the boys yesterday and the one boy was saying how he rides on the road in the snow sometimes. Their mom was present at the time. I told my son this is something I do not expect you to do it is not legal and you can get into trouble. I also told him before he rides he needs to let the farmer know he is there and ask if their is anywhere he does not wish them to ride. I had told them this is showing respect after all he is being nice enough to let you ride their. The mother of the boys was offended.
She stated that I sounded like I thought her boys could do anything and ride on the road whenever they wanted. ( Her sons have been warned by the police for this many times) I called and said I am sorry, I never ment to sound like you were a bad mother.
But I do not want my son on the road and I also want him to show respect for other peoples property. If I don't tell him this ever how will he know? I told her we may have different views but I did not say yours sons were bad, they are just boys. And I do respect you as a person.
Was I wrong....Sometimes I come off wrong in the way that I say things......

 

[yippityyak]

I dont think you were wrong at all!
I think she might have been a bit over sensitive!
But I agree with you on the whole "ask first issue". There is nothing that irkes me more than kids with bad manners, and teaching good manners is the only way they are going to learn! So well done to you as a mother for showing them the right way!

Keep going, well done on the apology (always be the better person, my mother tells me!), and know that you are doing the best you can as a mother, and stay confident in your parenting!

Well done! x

 

[Booko]

Yes, it does sound more like she was reacting at feeling like you were criticizing her parenting, more than you were just trying to give the boys some good advice.

Remember, you were in her house, so she might have felt like you were usurping her authority or something of that sort.

Don't apologize for what you said, but in the interests of understanding and having harmony with your neighbor, it would definitely be worth your while to explain to her that you in no way meant to criticize her, and you're sorry if she felt offended by what you said.


Good luck! :hug: