How do you politely ask a friend to watch out for their kid around your house?

You wont be able to do it nicely because your friend doesnt pick up clues or hints. She is using you and unless you put your foot down nothing will change. Being nice to people never pays off, all it does is cause problems. She obviously doesnt even appreciate you helping her or shed make things easier for you by watching her own child. You will have to sit her down and explain in explicit terms what you expect of her and that if she cannot comply she will have to find another place to live. She needs to do her part to make it pleasant and liveable too. If she cant deal with that or understand then shes not really a friend.

Your friendship and good nature are being abused by this woman. It is HER responsibility to watch her child, not yours! It is YOUR home, not hers. If she cannot properly attend to her child and respect your home, then perhaps she should find another place to live, the sooner the better.

I had the same problem. I don't think there is a solution because your friend doesn't seem to have your values. Good luck

I would kindly tell her to please take care of her child, or you'll take over and spank their lil butt! lol. if I dont let my own children do so, then why would I let someone elses? people needs to respect you and your property!

The conversation will cause stress on both sides but place YOUR priorities first. Respect for your home, your things, your feelings and your husband are not unreasonable requests of a "friend". It may be possible to save this friendship but please,please recognize that it may not. You deserve better! If she can provide it, GREAT! If not, move on for your own mental health and well-being. Good Luck!

There is no nice way to tell your friend she is uncouth, tell her to get off her butt and watch her child ( which by the way is not the child's fault ) or pack her bags.

i have same problems with my wifes freinds kid. he comes to our house and runs riot (well not anymore). In the end she had to say to her freind nicely that if she didnt control him more she would have to stop coming with him. I know this sounds drastic but your home is Your home and he has to learn to respect other peoples homes. As to say he now behaves ok and thinks twice before being naughty

When we were kids my Mother used to warn us not to touch anything in peoples houses. Sadly it seems that has died out. Perfect the art of giving the brat looks that could melt a brick wall. But what an incompetent, irresponsible Mother the poor sod has. Do you really want friends that show you no respect.

Without asking your friend to watch her child, and without criticising her child or her parenting style... you can approach her by telling her how you feel. Explain that you feel frustrated when her child does normal toddler things that mess up your home, which you like to keep orderly. Explain that you feel helpless when you can't impart the rules upon her toddler and you need her to take charge on your behalf to uphold the rules you have set for your house. Explain that you feel disrespected when your home is disrespected.... whatever your true feelings are, share them with your friend in a non demanding way. If she is truly your friend, she won't want you to feel these feelings or be placed in this position, and she will do her best to take charge of her child. You are not giving rules to the child, you simply have rules for your house (as every house does) and she needs to use whatever parenting technique she wants to teach her child the rules of your house, which must be respected. If she can't do this... then let her know that because you value your friendship, she needs to look for another place to stay or the stress will become a wedge between you, driving you apart, which you don't want to happen. Also keep in mind that your friend may not understand the extent to which these things have been bothering you and it may help to be extremely CLEAR about how people are expected to behave in your home. For her toddler's sake, it may help to make a chart listing the rules that must be maintained (a little illustration beside the rule may help). Then when the child is being an airplane and knocking over lamps, you can point to the clearly written rule on the chart and say, "NO RUNNING IN THE HOUSE". When he get crumbs all over your couch, you can take him to the chart and in front of the mother state firmly, "NO FOOD OUTSIDE OF THE KITCHEN OR DINING ROOM". When the Mom knows these rules have already been agreed upon, she should be ready to discipline. Good luck to you... you can be a friend without being a doormat. :o)