12December2025
Im feeling utterly exasperated, so Ive decided to write it all down. My little boy, Tommy, has become friends with Jack, the lad next door. Jack is a few years older, which makes the friendship a bit uneven, but they get along famously. I see his mother, MrsHarper, from time to time, yet I would never call her a friend.
We initially started meeting MrsHarper because of the children. Wed take walks together, and she would hand me childrens clothes that were too small for Jack. I always returned them and, as a small thankyou, Id bring over a bottle of orange juice or a packet of biscuits for her son. After a while I decided to stop accepting any more of her gifts; it seemed wiser to buy everything myself rather than feel indebted.
Gradually those pleasant strolls turned into something rather odd. MrsHarper began to ask me for things on a regular basis. A casual request became, Can I have a cup of tea? as if I were a barista on call. If someone enjoys tea, they should brew it themselves rather than beg for a cup every day. She drops by uninvited, even though Ive never asked her over. Whenever she sees Tommys toys she swoops in, grabs a few, and carries them home as if she were collecting souvenirs. She wants everything. She has already taken more than a handful of items from us.
She never invites herself in for a proper sitdown, always saying her mother is ill, even though that mother lives in a separate bedroom. Yet she does not shy away from asking for medication when Jack has a cold, requesting items that any household firstaid kit would contain. Sometimes she even asks for things for herself. I cant fathom how anyone can live like that. A simple paracetamol should be on hand for any mother. She gives away almost empty packets and bottles, and that was what she bought for my baby, which I cant even use now.
And it doesnt stop there. She regularly asks whether we have any food left for Jack. I never ask her or any of the other neighbours for anything. I cook for my child and thats the end of it. She constantly uses our shopping trolley without ever asking permission. She always wants what she doesnt have, and theres always something missing from her cupboard.
One day her audacity shocked me. My whole family was ill, and I got a call from MrsHarper saying shed pop over for a cuppa, but shed be with Jack. I love children, but Im fed up with other peoples kids roaming through our house like theyre at a market, rummaging through Tommys toys and picking what they fancy. I told her we were all sick and that we could easily pass the germs on. I should have said we werent inviting her at all.
Her visits never come with a polite, May I come in? She just walks in without invitation and demands, Give me that. It doesnt matter if Im busy or not in the mood to see her; its as if shes claimed my personal space as her own.
I havent called her in weeks, nor have I asked her for a walk. Nevertheless she keeps dialing my number, sending texts. One of my friends told me I have only two options: keep tolerating her rudeness or cut off contact completely. I dont want a fight; the children are friends, we live right next to each other, and soon well be taking them to school together. I just dont know how to deal with someone who constantly oversteps every boundary.
Claire.
