Tuesday, July 7, 2009

The neighbors child raising technique

Hard to get a photo of that for some reason..that variety is called Pink Lemonade Honeysuckle.
*
I was thinking about my neighbors children. They have a different family arrangement. She has a sister that lives up the street and they trade off the kids. For one week there will be no kids next door (nice) then the next week there will be kids plus extra kids. The neighbor's children live half time with them and half time with her sister and vice versa. Even during the school year since it's the same school. Both sets of parents get a whole week break from their kids every other week. It seems to work for them, those kids are all pretty wild, but, no one really gets mean with them..I guess because they know in a week, they'll be free. I don't think it's a bad thing, really. I come from an odd family that had odd arrangements too, so it seems almost normal to me. What do you think?

16 comments:

Anonymous said...

OHHHH to have a week off from kids how exciting...I just moved maybe I could talk to my neighbors to make arrangements maybe a neighbor that they can take the kids and I will take there quiet pet..hmmm a thinker

Connie

Anonymous said...

the neighbor across the street has a 7 yr old with the same issues as my Kodes..they became quick friends and the neighborhood tornados luckly so far all the neighbors love them together or are able to tolerate them.

Connie

Anonymous said...

will they take mine?

kim:)

Nina said...

As long as the kids seem to be doing well and thriving I think it's fine. There are a lot of different recipes out there for original family stews...Some sound odd but turn out fine.

Anonymous said...

Sounds like a much needed vacation!

Anonymous said...

I think kids really want a secure home with two loving parents - all the time. But who gets that?


The novelty of it probably wore off long ago for the kids and the parents know they'll get regular me-time. I wonder if they call their aunt 'mom' or auntie.

Pat said...

Aunt. Thy all know who their real parents are and who's house their in. There's some running back and fourth on holidays and each real parental set attends their birth kids school functions.

Pat said...

It's odd too, that they aren't party people. When the kids are at the other house, they just come home from work and relax. They don't argue much either, it's pretty quiet over there.

Anonymous said...

maybe they are polygamists??? Happens all the time round here, tho they always live next door....sb

Pat said...

Nope. They're just family. We had a similar arrangement when I was a kid. The kids are all girls too, so they're close and play and fight together. The older girl is a real nice kid, the younger one's are monsters and they're all named after pop and country stars. LeeAnn, Britney, Mariah...eek.

Anonymous said...

Growing up in Utah, I always remember the kids who were cousins, but everyone knew they were sisters. Its a weird deal, but if it works for them, its none of my business. They always had the best homemade crap...cookies and candy....sb

Anonymous said...

Growing up in Utah, I always remember the kids who were cousins, but everyone knew they were sisters. Its a weird deal, but if it works for them, its none of my business. They always had the best homemade crap...cookies and candy....sb

Pat said...

My first cousins and I were like that. I don't think of them as different than my brother, we all grew up together.

Anonymous said...

Pat, I've been meaning to ask about your brother for awhile now. The last I recall he had been discharged from the hospital to a "halfway house" (?) but was working towards transitioning home.

I'm sending him positive vibes and sincerely wish him well.

with3love said...

I think its the best idea I've heard of yet!!!! Woooooow, Id be such a pleasant person if I could keep my house spotless for more than 1 day, to take a bath uninterrupted, to eat one meal without someone grabbing at me....I'll have sweet dreams about that tonight.

Pat said...

LOL with 3..you betcha!

3:37:00, my brother is doing well. He likes the group home, he wants to stay there. He has friends there now.