How to help home run down with kids

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 17/10/2019 (2482 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Helen Help Us by Helen Bottel, Winnipeg Free Press, Jan. 2, 1960

Dear Helen: I try to teach our five-year-old son to not go into other people’s houses unless he is invited by a parent. However, some days, I feel our house is Grand Central Station with the neighbour kids running in and out and remaining to play. I grew up by myself, no brothers or sisters and no near neighbours, so I don’t really know how to cope with this problem of having our house taken for granted as a playhouse.

P.S. Another problem: Recently a five-year-old boy moved into our neighbourhood. He and our son are pretty evenly matched and should get along, but they are continually wanting to do things their own way. They don’t actually fight, just get mad and stop playing together for a while. It makes it trying for us mothers who have become very good friends. How can we ease the situation?

— Just Another Puzzled Mom

Dear Puzzled: I’m sure you wouldn’t want to close down Grand Central Station entirely, but as general manager, it’s your right to regulate traffic, figure out detours and route the kids to outside tracks.

One thing, however, don’t blame your neighbours for not fetching their kids up right. When my five-year-old host says “C’mon gang, let’s go in and ask Mom for sumpthin to eat,” very few of the gang will stop to consider the invitation didn’t come from mom. — H

P.S. Next problem: Leave them alone. If you mothers will minimize, laugh and, above all, remain neutral, these pouter pigeons will soon discover two kings can live on the mountain.

Read other letters from our archives at wfp.to/ageoldadvice