So, we've got new neighbors. They've been there for about 2 months. They're a young couple, with no kids. They park their truck on the street.
Today, my 11-year-old and his friends were riding our motorized scooter (very low speed) around. My 11-year-old lost control and hit the truck. :-( He apologized to the guy, who was home at the time. The guy said that it was alright and was very nice about it. Fast forward a few hours and the woman is home. They come over together and say they filed a police report! And, they got an estimate for $900! Not only that, but the woman tore into me about what the pack of neighborhood kids have been doing. She said "I like kids, but..." and followed it with a few things that have been ticking her off.
It seems someone was teasing their dog. My kids never go near their dog. My youngest son was bit by someone else's dog over a year ago and we have a strict policy to not go near dogs we don't know. The guy even said he knew it wasn't my kids. But, she felt she had to put it on my shoulders anyway. And, someone left a bocci ball in their yard that they hit with their mower. We don't own any bocci balls. But, she laid it on my kids, anyway.
We try very hard to not leave our stuff scattered on neighbors yards and always have tried not to. Our basketball wanders over sometimes, but we try to avoid it. Most of the neighbor kids that run around in a pack are my other neighbor's kids and the kids she babysits. My two younger kids (only 2 & 6) are not ever a part of this. They aren't allowed to. My 11-year-old is with them some, but he is one of the quietest, most polite kids. He knows he has to take responsibility for the truck and is giving up the money that he's been saving for a playstation 3, most of it was birthday money. He's very upsett and has apologized. So, basically, for his birthday, he gets to fix the neighbors truck.
Anyway, I'm not sure where to go from here. I told them we cannot afford $900 and they said they would get other estimates. How should we handle this? Should I wait until they get it fixed and can give me a receipt. I'm uncomfortable paying upfront based on an estimate. Should we get a lawyer, which we also can't afford. :-(
We will take repsonsibility, but I just want to make sure that they aren't taking advantage of us. What really ticks me off is that they didn't even ask if my son was OK! This has been such a great neighborhood with really friendly neighbors up to this point. I hope this isn't a sign of things to come. I feel like she used me and this unfortunate situation to vent all of her frustrations on.
eta: Wanted to add that the scooter is now no longer going to be an option for my kids or the neighbor kids. We've only had it running for two days. My husband found it at the dump and thought the kids would have fun with it, so he fixed it up.
Today, my 11-year-old and his friends were riding our motorized scooter (very low speed) around. My 11-year-old lost control and hit the truck. :-( He apologized to the guy, who was home at the time. The guy said that it was alright and was very nice about it. Fast forward a few hours and the woman is home. They come over together and say they filed a police report! And, they got an estimate for $900! Not only that, but the woman tore into me about what the pack of neighborhood kids have been doing. She said "I like kids, but..." and followed it with a few things that have been ticking her off.
It seems someone was teasing their dog. My kids never go near their dog. My youngest son was bit by someone else's dog over a year ago and we have a strict policy to not go near dogs we don't know. The guy even said he knew it wasn't my kids. But, she felt she had to put it on my shoulders anyway. And, someone left a bocci ball in their yard that they hit with their mower. We don't own any bocci balls. But, she laid it on my kids, anyway.
We try very hard to not leave our stuff scattered on neighbors yards and always have tried not to. Our basketball wanders over sometimes, but we try to avoid it. Most of the neighbor kids that run around in a pack are my other neighbor's kids and the kids she babysits. My two younger kids (only 2 & 6) are not ever a part of this. They aren't allowed to. My 11-year-old is with them some, but he is one of the quietest, most polite kids. He knows he has to take responsibility for the truck and is giving up the money that he's been saving for a playstation 3, most of it was birthday money. He's very upsett and has apologized. So, basically, for his birthday, he gets to fix the neighbors truck.
Anyway, I'm not sure where to go from here. I told them we cannot afford $900 and they said they would get other estimates. How should we handle this? Should I wait until they get it fixed and can give me a receipt. I'm uncomfortable paying upfront based on an estimate. Should we get a lawyer, which we also can't afford. :-(
We will take repsonsibility, but I just want to make sure that they aren't taking advantage of us. What really ticks me off is that they didn't even ask if my son was OK! This has been such a great neighborhood with really friendly neighbors up to this point. I hope this isn't a sign of things to come. I feel like she used me and this unfortunate situation to vent all of her frustrations on.
eta: Wanted to add that the scooter is now no longer going to be an option for my kids or the neighbor kids. We've only had it running for two days. My husband found it at the dump and thought the kids would have fun with it, so he fixed it up.
my child removed someones mirror by accident -- luckily the people were really cool and needed some help around the house and garden. I have a 15 and 12 year old, at 11 they completely understood. I would praise him for honesty and give him some slack at the same time, but still hold him accountable for his mistake.
