Dad’s rocky relationship makes life a bumpy ride

boundary issues with my neighbours and their children. We have different parenting styles. They are hands-off, freerange parents. I keep an eye on my daughter. They’re all around the age of five.

Problem is, every time I take my daughter outside their two children immediately run over to play with her. I’m seven months pregnant, and I do not want to be the neighbourhood baby sitter! If any of those kids runs toward the road, I can’t chase them down. I don’t want to send my daughter to their yard to play because they have a pool, my daughter doesn’t know how to swim and no one watches these kids.

I feel like a prisoner in my own home. I’d like to enjoy the nice weather alone with my daughter once in a while. She loves playing with them, but they just want to play with her toys – not her – and it almost always ends up with her in tears. What can I do? — TEARS IN CONNECTICUT

DEAR TEARS: Talk to the parents! Explain that you would like to spend time outdoors with your little girl, and you are not prepared to watch their children. You should also mention that when their children run over to play, it’s not with your daughter but with her toys, which hurts her feelings.

P.S. If your neighbours’ pool is not fenced and any of the neighbourhood children should fall in, the legal liability would be theirs. There is something known as an “attractive nuisance.” An unsecured swimming pool would be an example.