When it comes to neighbours, some people like to keep to themselves and not strike up friendships with those who live in the area, but others like to form close relationships with those nearby.
One man has shared how he doesn't have a particularly strong bond with his neighbours over the road, but over the three years they've been on the street, his wife has become good friends with the woman who lives there and their kids all get along.
However, he claims that recently the neighbours split up and the woman was forced to move out, taking her kids with her.
In a post on Reddit, the unnamed man explains that the man has remained in the house and now has partial custody of the children, seeing them on certain weekends.
While he hasn't spoken much to the neighbour about the break-up, only knowing he had an affair, it seems his wife has been getting involved on her friend's behalf - and it's causing problems.
He wrote: "My wife (37F) and I (38M) moved to a new neighborhood about 3 years ago with our 2 kids (8 & 6). Our neighbors across the street have 2 kids (9 & 7) that our kids quickly became friends with. We would hang out with the parents as well and my wife became close friends with the mom.
"The dad and I got along fine, but never got as close as my wife and the mother.
"Unfortunately, about a year ago, the parents separated and the mom filed for divorce. Apparently, the dad had an affair. The mom moved out as the house was owned by the dad before they got married. She took the kids with her. According to my wife, the mom tried to get full custody of the kids, but the dad asked for and was granted partial custody. So he has the kids 3 weekends a month, the rest of the time they stay with their mom.
"The kids all still play together when they can. I noticed my wife would make it a point to make sure our kids invited them over to our house. I also noticed that my wife was asking the neighbor kids some pretty odd and honestly rather intrusive questions about their dad. Like if he has 'friends' over at his house when they are there. What he feeds them, what rules he has at home, do they feel safe there, etc."
He thought this was odd, but it wasn't until recently that he felt his wife had really crossed a line and he called her out for it and urged her to mind her own business.
"This past weekend the kids were at our house and stayed over for dinner and my wife asked the kids if they like hanging out with their dad or mom more. I cut in before the kids could answer and changed the subject to watching a movie after dinner. As my wife and I were cleaning up, I asked her what the hell all the questions are about.
"She said that her friend is still trying to get full custody of their kids and she asked my wife if she would keep an eye out for anything that she could use to build the case against the dad. I was shocked. I told her that's none of our business and she needs to stay out of it. I told her it seems like her friend is still upset about the affair and is using that anger as justification to try and take the kids away from their father.
"I told her that neither of us has ever seen a single thing to indicate that this guy is a bad father. Sure, he had an affair and that makes him a bad husband, but that has zero influence on his ability to be a good loving father. I told her what her friend asked to do her was gross and the fact that she's going along with it is something that I strongly disagree with. I told her she needs to mind her own business."
He added: "She said she's just trying to look out for her friend and she's trying to make sure that the kids end up in a situation that is best for them. I told her that essentially spying on our neighbor is not her responsibility and she's definitely in the wrong for asking the kids the kind of questions she is. She feels she's completely justified, but I do not."
The man went on to ask if he was wrong for telling his wife to keep out of it, but many people agreed it wasn't her place to meddle.
One commenter replied: "Putting the kids in the middle and using them as a weapon to hurt the father is not what is best for them. Even if he is a jerk."
Another said: "My father did this to me when my mother divorced him. It was not appropriate for a child. I am now 66, and it still bothers me. This post really bothers me. If your wife cares for these kids, she will make your home a safe place for them instead of an interrogation room."
Someone else added: " Your wife is actively trying use these children as a weapon against their relationship with their father. Unless he is neglecting or abusing them, and there is nothing to indicate that either of those things -or anything anywhere close to that- is happening what happens in their home is none of her business. Her actions will likely cause a strain between your childrens' friendships, your neighbor, and within your neighbor's family. She is doing a great disservice to these kids in her attempt to help a grown adult woman punish her ex-husband. He was absolutely wrong to cheat but your wife's behavior is disgusting and she should be ashamed of herself."
What do you think? Let us know in the comments below.
