FamilyLife Forums

Tubalcain:

The problem is not those kids.  It's your firiend.  You've got to decide if her company is worth putting up with that.  An assertive person would tell the friend "this is not acceptable" and end the visit.  Until there's a commitment to change if it was me I wouldn't let those kids in my house or go to theirs while they're there.

Gosh, at last.  I read through this thread and was thinking "what about the 'friend''?  This lady is no friend if she allows her children to behave this way towards you.  She may not mind that they have no manners around her - evidently she does not, as she allows them to act in this way - but she should not subject others to their bad behavior, particularly someone that she supposedly values. 

It's a no brainer.  If her kids are hitting you, they are no longer welcome in your home.  If she's not willing to get them to shape up in order to keep your friendship, then she's not worth your friendship. 

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For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself (Gal 5:14)

Oops, I had forgotten that you were visiting her, not the other way around. 

I understand that you want to be her friend, but I do think that you need to say to her that while you are willing to help her out, you cannot put up with the childrens behavior.  Having a husband out of town for half of the week is not that bad.  When I was a military wife, I didn't see my husband for months at a time.  But my children were not wild and rude, and they did not hit me OR strangers. 

You can be kind and loving but firm at the same time.  You are not there to be hit. 

Maybe you could help her out by taking her kids to the park while she attends a parenting class??

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For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself (Gal 5:14)

You could take some Tylenol PM with you and put it or Benadryl in their drink and call it even.... LOL

Just trying to make ya laugh.......  My good friend has one child that drives me NUTZO .....Really.....One good thing is that my friend allows me to discipline her when she acts out at my hosue.....Not physical discipline, but she allows me to teach her right from wrong.....I don't allow her to misbhave at my house or in public.....Sammi, my friend, allows me to help her with that....I would expect the same from her to my kiddos too......