“You’re a neighbor, not a free summer camp”: Entitled couple sends their kids to teacher neighbor's home without permission, neighbors put their foot down

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Briana Viser • Writer and Editor
Jun 9, 2025 12:00 PM EDT

Welcome back ladies and gentlemen of the internet. There's a lot of debate about the job of a teacher. I for one would never want to work in academia. It's not really a 9-5 type of job, and I definitely appreciate my time off. As a teacher, the stereotype is that you're underpaid, and too often a glorified babysitter. Depending on which grade you teach, and the group of kids you're dealt with, you can end up spending more time telling someone to get off their phone than actually lecturing about WWI. From making a syllabus, to lesson planning, and grading papers and homework, it's a seemingly full-time job. The only saving grace is the fact that teachers get summer breaks off. 

Having the whole summer off must feel like a breath of fresh air from the stress of teaching, students, student's parents, and grading illiterate essays. But if you have the entitled neighbors like the protagonist's do in the story below, then summer may not feel like that well-deserved rest. 

In the story below, in centers around children, and the assumption of free child care. Read the full story below for all the juicy details. 

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  • 01

    AITAH for telling neighbors kids can't come over anymore

    "The parents haven't even asked if it's okay"
    via studioroman / Canva

    This image is for illustration only, and the subjects are models; the image does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • 02
    With summer approaching here, this has been weighing on me. We (42f and 49m) have next door neighbors who for the last few summers (and times during the school year) have been basically
    via u/Sure_Pineapple1935

  • The narrator is obviously in the right, and they shouldn't feel like they're being taken advantage of. But at the same time, it's a little silly to have never put boundaries in the first place. And apparently years later they think they're going to start a rule about children coming over. 

  • 03
    using me (teacher, summers off) as free childcare. Their two kids show up at our house to play with my kids in the morning and most days stay all day until dinner. The parents have never even asked if
    via u/Sure_Pineapple1935
  • 04
    this is OK. The kids just see us outside and come over or they come knock at my door. The kids always play in my yard, so I feel responsible for supervising everyone. These kids have joined
    via u/Sure_Pineapple1935
  • 05
    in on family birthday parties, playdates with my kids' friends and cousins, and even holidays. They just show up in our yard. I have long thought their mom was not aware of how often the kids are at my house. She works long
    via u/Sure_Pineapple1935
  • 06
    1. 교신 4237
    via Michael Kim from Studio South Korea / Canva

    This image is for illustration only, and the subjects are models; the image does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • 07
    hours outside the house and dad WFH. SO, getting to me question: I cannot take these kids showing up at my house uninvited to play everyday again this summer. AITAH for texting the parents and
    via u/Sure_Pineapple1935
  • 08
    telling them they need to ASK through a certain text message chain BEFORE sending their kids over to my house? OR to say please stop sending them uninvited to my house??
    via u/Sure_Pineapple1935
  • 09
    I am questioning this because my kids really do like playing with theirs. But, I feel that I never have any downtime or peace the last
    via u/Sure_Pineapple1935
  • 10
    few summers and want to avoid that going forward. What do you think?
    via u/Sure_Pineapple1935
  • 11
    jamoe1 17h ago NTA- Create that boundary. The Dad working from home 100% knows what his kids are doing and probably encourages it. I had
    via u/jamoe1
  • 12
    Cheezburger Image 10514828544
    via Scukrov / Canva

    This image is for illustration only, and the subjects are models; the image does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • 13
    neighbor kids that would just show up to a couple years back. I would just tell them no. I'm not a babysitter, I am a parent.
    via u/jamoe1
  • 14
    burndmymouth ⚫ 16h ago Send your kids to their house 7 days in a row.
    via u/burndmymouth
  • 15
    xuxujayv • 16h ago NTA! You're a neighbor, not free summer camp.
    via u/xuxujayv
  • 16
    While the kids may be sweet and your children enjoy their company, that doesn't erase the mental load you've carried: constant
    via u/xuxujayv
  • 17
    supervision, no breaks, and the awkward pressure of being the default adult just because you're present. You're not being petty;
    via u/xuxujayv
  • 18
    you're advocating for your own time, peace, and autonomy in your own home.
    via u/xuxujayv
  • 19
    You're even saying "never again"-you're saying "not without asking.” That's completely reasonable. In fact, it's the bare minimum of respect anyone should expect before hosting someone else's children.
    via u/xuxujayv
  • 20
    Just because you've been kind doesn't mean you owe unlimited access to your time and yard. And if you don't establish this now, it'll only get harder to do later.
    via u/xuxujayv
  • 21
    Isp2005 16h ago The parents 100% know what is happening. You need to tell the kids to go home. You need to not let them in your front door. Right now
    via u/Isp2005
  • 22
    you are being a doormat to yourself. You answer the door and say we are unavailable to play at all today.
    via u/Isp2005

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neighbors drama toxic relationships babysitting lol love entitled reddit thread Reddit funny dating entitled people
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