[sweet pea]

its the summer holidays in the uk, we have one 8 year old son and were the only family with a garden large enough for all his friends and him to play in,
the problem is we fly in 3 weeks ive got so much to organiise i work from 9 till 2pm and by the time ive picked him up and got home its 2.30pm,
by 2.35pm my garden and house is swimming with around 10 kids all wanting drinks etc, they only go home to have there tea and have even started waiting and playing in the garden while cam has his tea, OH is stresed when he comes home from work, so the army of kids dont help! the parents of these kids know were moving soon and they dont even tell them to not bother us:wah:wah
i dont want to look like the evil mum by banning them from the house, but i am starting to fear for my sanity:p
i did the weekly shop yesterday morning and half of its gone:(



that feels better, rant over.

so anyone any tips for kid removal!!

[Mrs Pony]

Now bear in mind that I don't have kids... so I basically have no idea what I'm talking about here... :)

Can you tell your son that "play time" needs to end/cut back since you are moving soon? Or just kick the other kids out?

[catt]

Ring round the parents and tell them that unfortunately due to you moving you cant have them around so much these days as you have lots to do. Also tell Cam the same thing and ask him not to invite his friends around so often maybe reduce it to a couple of times a week. Just my thoughts.:exit

[Rusty]

I'm the fun but loud nasty dad that plays and then shouts at them - this comes from coaching them at football, so they all listen.
I can't recommend enough having a part-time grumpy reputation.:D

[sasvanb]

Ring round the parents and tell them that unfortunately due to you moving you cant have them around so much these days as you have lots to do. Also tell Cam the same thing and ask him not to invite his friends around so often maybe reduce it to a couple of times a week. Just my thoughts.:exit

Good lord!!! There's no way I'd put up with that nonsense Sweet Pea...

Take Catt's advice above... :yes

Put the 'grumpy' foot down! (part time grumpy rep - that's brilliant Rusty :D)

Good luck...

[Andy-Dee]

Just give them an hour to play and a glass of water!! and then announce its time to go home as your lad has to have a bath / do extra homework / ring his nan, wash his hair etc etc

'Thanks for coming' 'Byeeeeee'

Your making it too nice at your house - heavens, I fancy popping over - what biscuits have you got?

[jubjub]

there is probably an element of the kids wanting to spend as much time with yours as poss before he goes, but there needs to be a balance, and I would say they certainly need to be gone by tea time, or be told to come over after tea, so playtime is limited to an hour or so and isnt taking over your lives.... or maybe set a day limit, say three days a week or something....

If you could have a chat to either the parents or the kids (prob both would be good) and explain that much as you love to see them all, it cant be every day (or for hours at a time) as you just have far too much to organise for your big move.

[JandM]

I agree with all the above about setting limits. This is NOT being 'evil mum'. It's being perfectly reasonable. These people have no reason at all to think that your house is the local play-park/free cafeteria. Children hanging out in your garden when nobody of yours is out there? - I don't think so! I'd say the first thing to tackle is telling Cam what is fair, e.g. the time limits on having people round, and that you aren't going to be buying enough for him to tell all the neighbour children that they can have drinks and snacks.

[thewoodies]

Couldnt you chat to the other mums and say they would be doing you a huge favour if they had your kid for a while - to give you time to pack?

Im like you always seem to be the one with all the kids!!

[sweet pea]

thanks for all you help guys, ive had a word with cam and explained that they cant always come over and stay when they feel like it, but he said all his friends loved being at our house cos they dont get to do stuff at their houses like they do here ( eg, i do bake with them and get them making craft things and we normally have sleep overs and pizza nights with movies etc) i think its my fault as i try and make up for what i missed out on when i was younger. but he now understands that weve not got long to go and we need to get organised.
im sure i do make a rod for my own back and no doubt when weve been in nz for a couple of months and cams made all his new friends i shall posting a similar aarrrggghhh question again. he he he

[thewoodies]

thanks for all you help guys, ive had a word with cam and explained that they cant always come over and stay when they feel like it, but he said all his friends loved being at our house cos they dont get to do stuff at their houses like they do here ( eg, i do bake with them and get them making craft things and we normally have sleep overs and pizza nights with movies etc) i think its my fault as i try and make up for what i missed out on when i was younger. but he now understands that weve not got long to go and we need to get organised.
im sure i do make a rod for my own back and no doubt when weve been in nz for a couple of months and cams made all his new friends i shall posting a similar aarrrggghhh question again. he he he

I hope I end up living near you. Good luck:laugh