I live on a quiet cul-de-sac. The neighbor across the cul-de-sac from me is a single dad to two daughters (17 and 13 yos). His wife (and their mom) passed away about 5 years ago.
The entire neighborhood seems to know this guy has anger issues. He's gone into these massive tirade/obscenity-filled rages at different people over the years because of various things. He cussed out my DH in front of our 3 yo because our cat wandered through his yard (and then threatened to kill our cat if she ever did it again). Another neighbor is pretty certain he killed their cat for a similar reason. According to other neighbors, he's also gone into these rages at the golf club.
We moved in after his wife died, but most of the neighbors have been here for decades and said he used to be a normal, nice guy. Although his daughter told another neighbor girl that her dad has mental health problems and doesn't take his meds.
He screams at his 13yo this way, too. Today he pulled up in his car, she was with him (I was sitting in the front yard with my kids), as he opened his door he was screaming "SHUT THE F*** UP YOU STUPID PIECE OF S***" He must have yelled it three or four times at her. She was crying in the passenger seat. I was on the verge of going over there to say something, but I'm honestly scared of the guy. He's got a large stash of guns in his house, too (he's a hunter) and regularly talks about his collection. I feel really bad that I didn't do something...I mean, who talks to anyone, let along their own kid that way?? This is not the first time I've heard him talk to her like this. His screaming and obscenities can be heard when his doors and windows are shut.
Anyway, I'm not sure what I can do. I talked to another neighbor (one of the many grandmotherly types on the street who's known the 13 yo since she was a baby). She said she's been concerned for the 13yo because the dad obviously favors the older daughter and seems to take out his anger on the younger one. She said she's been watching and has told he 13yo to come to their house if she ever needs someone. The older daughter is going away to college in the fall.
We are in the process of selling our house (and being away from this guy is going to be a HUGE relief), and the 13yo is devastated. She loves playing with my kids (kind of like a big sister) and I'm really worried about how she'll do when she doesn't have her older sister there and the little neighbor boys have moved away. She goes to Catholic school in another town and doesn't appear to have friends in the neighborhood. She spends hours outside with my boys every afternoon.
Is there anything I can do? Besides be supportive of her while we live here?
The entire neighborhood seems to know this guy has anger issues. He's gone into these massive tirade/obscenity-filled rages at different people over the years because of various things. He cussed out my DH in front of our 3 yo because our cat wandered through his yard (and then threatened to kill our cat if she ever did it again). Another neighbor is pretty certain he killed their cat for a similar reason. According to other neighbors, he's also gone into these rages at the golf club.
We moved in after his wife died, but most of the neighbors have been here for decades and said he used to be a normal, nice guy. Although his daughter told another neighbor girl that her dad has mental health problems and doesn't take his meds.
He screams at his 13yo this way, too. Today he pulled up in his car, she was with him (I was sitting in the front yard with my kids), as he opened his door he was screaming "SHUT THE F*** UP YOU STUPID PIECE OF S***" He must have yelled it three or four times at her. She was crying in the passenger seat. I was on the verge of going over there to say something, but I'm honestly scared of the guy. He's got a large stash of guns in his house, too (he's a hunter) and regularly talks about his collection. I feel really bad that I didn't do something...I mean, who talks to anyone, let along their own kid that way?? This is not the first time I've heard him talk to her like this. His screaming and obscenities can be heard when his doors and windows are shut.
Anyway, I'm not sure what I can do. I talked to another neighbor (one of the many grandmotherly types on the street who's known the 13 yo since she was a baby). She said she's been concerned for the 13yo because the dad obviously favors the older daughter and seems to take out his anger on the younger one. She said she's been watching and has told he 13yo to come to their house if she ever needs someone. The older daughter is going away to college in the fall.
We are in the process of selling our house (and being away from this guy is going to be a HUGE relief), and the 13yo is devastated. She loves playing with my kids (kind of like a big sister) and I'm really worried about how she'll do when she doesn't have her older sister there and the little neighbor boys have moved away. She goes to Catholic school in another town and doesn't appear to have friends in the neighborhood. She spends hours outside with my boys every afternoon.
Is there anything I can do? Besides be supportive of her while we live here?
