This is more than creepy, it's scary. This mother should file an incident report with her local PD, just to have a record in case this situation escalates.

I’m thinking some recon would be in order. Those kids are up to something. I’m even suspicious of their mother.

AIBU, YANBU, DP, what?

Even if they were genuine, which they weren't, the answer is no. I almost killed my little step brother by accidently leaving him alone on the beach because I was playing with a friend. Found him safe and I got punished. Those kids don't sound like kids. They sound like predators. And bullys. Take security measures. They will retaliate.

even if the boys had no bad thoughts and would want to play with him. a toddler can't walk very long by themselves, gets irritated fast and can't concentrate that long. so even when the boys were good meaning, when they get bored or annoyed by the toddler, how big are the chances they leave the child at the spot? the other mum is just weird and stupid

I can’t think of any legitimate reason they’d want to hang out with a two year old. That they then object to the mother coming is possibly the largest red flag on the planet. That the teens have behavioral issues only makes it seem more dubious. Like, best case scenario they want to film something for Tiktok involving vaping or other crimes or maybe demand money from the mom for babysitting. And that’s the best case

This is gross. You'd be an idiot to let them "take him" as they put it

I'm a licensed therapist with 25 years of experience and all the alarms went off in my head. Good for mom for standing her ground!

Those two were up to no good. Honestly, if at all possible, I would try to move. Those boys will only get older and more devious. At some point her little boy will be able to play outside without constant supervision and if those two are still around (which is reasonable, considering they aren't close to 18), I wouldn't put it past them to ramp up their efforts the minute they get an opportunity. As long as they are around, this little boy (and other children) will be a target and that would scare the living helll out of me. The little one will never be able to play outside without worry and that's not fair to him. I definitely would consider breaking that lease and who knows - if the op involves the police, maybe the land lord will allow the lease to be broken or maybe he or she will have grounds to evict the demons and their parents.

I don't get how on earth that neighbor woman had her believing that she might be the unreasonable one. If someone shows up on my doorstep yelling and screaming, I don't take that as a sign I should substitute their judgment for my own.

It's surely no good on their minds if older boys, the boys you don't even know, who really really want to play with a toddler. I'd be terrified they'd do something to the kid. I had a neighbor who at age 12 used to do malicious things to little kids, including burning their fingers with matches. Hell f*ck no, don't let them ever play alone with your 2-year-old.

I definitely thought about James Bulgar, and think it's pretty unnatural that two teenager bots want to play with a two year old! Keep your child safe, don't ever ignore that instinct even if it upsets others!

I don’t trust anyone anymore, especially other people’s kids. I don’t get a good feeling about this especially since they want him alone. Trust your gut. I have a feeling they’re up to no good. There’s been a few cases over toddlers being killed by boys around that age range so you have to question their motive.

Those kids were definitely going to murder that baby. What I don't understand though is why would the mother be upset? And upset enough to confront op? That's what doesn't make sense. Maybe the boys told her a lie or something? But still it just doesn't explain the mom's behavior like that. But that she was so persuasive she convinced op that she was wrong for protecting her child tells me she's probably as dangerous as her son's.

I wonder if this woman has ever read the story about the 2 10 year old boys who took a young boy like this and killed him. Those people should be investigated.

Even some adults are unfit to care for such young baby. Lately i was at the zoo with 4yo and her mom, and it was so exhausting, i was told I'm great with kids, but i knew i wouldn't be able to care for that kid if left alone for too long, as i haven't had any occasion to learn how to! And I'm 25yo! Those boys are children themselves and as they don't have such young siblings, I really doubt they would know how to care for a little baby! Ofc it doesn't even sound like they really wanted to play with him, it sounds like they thought he was the TOY....

For God's sake, do not leave your child unsupervised for one minute! This story gives me the creeps!

This is so damn disturbing. Boys that age wanting to be alone with a 2 year old that they don't know? That mother needs a serious adjustment. People harassing you in your home? That i will never tolerate. I'd call the cops, that's harassment.

I just read bout the Jamie Bulger case. Pure horror. But I tell you were my mind went with these two boys and their mom. Would they abuse the toddler? Would they kidnap him. Are the older boys 'stolen?'

Of course you don't turn your two year old out to play with boys in double digits. Or, really, why would you take your eyes off of a 2 year old anyway? Those boys are too old for your kid to play with and that's that. Their Mom should have been able to easily explain that to her sons. So I'd keep that whole family at arms length until you slowly get to know them better. Still, the MOM's behavior is so crazy it's just bizarre that she decided to ATTACK because you didn't let your 2 year old go out to play. She sounds quite the scary neighbor!

if she doesnt know about Jamie Bulger, i really hope she see's these comments on bp talking about this so she googles who he is, lady if you see this NEVER LEAVE YOUR CHILD ALONE ANYWHERE NEAR THEM EVEN FOR A SECOND!! THEIR MUM IS SUS TOO OTHERWISE SHE WOULDNT REACT LIKE THIS,

She should contact the police now so they can dissuade those kids from kidnapping, torturing and murdering someone else’s toddler. She sounds British, where kids that age have done exactly that and are now free and walking around with government-provided new identities. I suspect this is not real, however.

Last year my 6 y.o. at the time made friends with a neighbour's 12 y.o. kid, just because it is very small village and there are no other kids to play with. They both insisted to go play in his house but I siad no, multiple times. They even sneaked out, but I stood outside his house, calling the parents, demanding they kick my kid out. I firmly stood my ground and said- you can play with him but only in the reach of my eyes. Who knows what kind od behaviour or words will the 12 y.o. be using. The kid also has behavioral problems. So I insist to be present, or no socializing will be done whatsoever. I also offered his parents be present too, but they have their own business to take care too and our yards are next to eachother so they can observe while gardening. Witch such huge age gap I'm very uncomfortable to leave them alone.

I would have called the police. That whole family is trouble if she was getting in your face about not letting a 2-year-old be alone with her sons you estimated to be about 11 and 12. Vaping at that age! Either they are older than you think, or that mom needs to be reported to CPS for allowing that. No good will come from those boys being anywhere near your son.

I had older neighbor children want to play with my babies when they were 2 but they played in my house or yard with me having a cup of tea and watching them. Explaing the rules to the boys and their mother could have prevented this problem. The older boys may just be bored and therefore mischevious. Any sane mother should understand that you don't leave a baby/toddler alone with strangers even if they are only pre-teens.

Absolutely inappropriate behavior by both the boys and their mother. But what on earth is a DP???

My siblings are 12, 13, and 14 years older than me. Hanging out with kids much older than me was normal. I get that people think of the murder of Jaime Bulger right away, but sometimes there are more ordinary explanations. But yeah, something was not right with these boys.

Definitely NOT THE A*S!! any 10-12 year olds wanting to play with a two year old, is up to no good. There is something psychologically wrong about this. Even a two go’s relative would be bored to tears in about 15 minutes! Two year olds don’t have long attention spans and dash off at a seconds notice.! So why on earth with these two boys want to “play” with your young son? Because they have something else in mind, than what we consider playing with him. It isn’t socially appropriate either. No matter how you cut this cake, it is spoiled in the center. Now, as a young girl, my sisters and I had a next door neighbors with a toddler, and we’d go over and visit IN the house, with mom and baby and us! My mom was usually there also. We wanted to learn how to babysit, and that meant paying attention to the baby, and learning how to 8 Tera t with the child. Not, “ can I play with your kid outside, and you don’t have to come”. That is pure poppycock and a dangerous situation on the edge.