My 10 y/o son's friend is very...?

Question

Okay, My 10 y/o son has a neighborhood friend who comes over every day, and he just met him last year and instantly they became friends. When his friend comes in, he doesn't knock, he just walks right in and opens the refrigarator and takes juice, some chips, and walks away. If we locked the doors, [which we do] he'll go for the key under the mat, [i have NO idea how he found it was there]. He doesn't even say " Hey" or hello or nothing. He just walks in,takes food, and looks for my son. We've tried everything! What can i do? I've spoken to his Grandmother who is his Guardian. She just nods and says she'll speak to him. What can i do?

Answer 1

Find a different place to hide the key when you lock the door.

under the mat is a pretty obvious place to hide something like that.

Answer 2

Since his grandmother is his guardian, maybe he kind of looks at you as his parent.

Answer 3

Your son's friend just feels at home. Most parents, that I have met anyway, actually encourage me to get something to eat or drink. Watch out when he gets older; it's probably going to be more like 5 or 6 boys coming back from football/baseball practice. Personally, I only do that at two of my friends house (out of 7), but I do say hello to their parents, to be polite.

My boyfriend, who will be turning 17 in October, goes to his friends house all the time. (He practically lives there.) And he is probably a little too comfortable in their home, but it's better than having the whole family feel awkward and say things like "So, how was your day, "John"?" "It was good..", in a low mumbling voice. You know. Cherish the time you have when your son wants his friends to be over at your house. A lot of guys, and girls for that matter, don't want others over to their house once they reach the teenage because they are embarrassed.

Answer 4

get a plant and put the key there instead

Answer 5

This child has had no guidance in manners.  You need to sternly tell the friend how things are to be at your house, or he will no longer be welcome.  That entails knocking, asking before he takes food, and maybe even tell him about "please" and "thank you."  You will be doing this child a favor in the long run.

Also, you need to hide your key elsewhere.  

Answer 6

your life sounds like mine but there is no point in talking to there parents because they dont care so you have to be his parent when he is in your house when he walks in say thats not nice i want you to go back to the front door and knock and what for me to say come in and make him ask for food remember your son can see what he is doing and because you dont say anything he thinks thats ok it sux that you have to parent other people children if its not harder enought to parent your own. good luck

Answer 7

If you see him, say, "Hello, there (his name here). How's it going?" Hopefully that'll make him talk.

And as for the key, try to put it in a less obvious spot than under the mat. Everyone does that :)

Answer 8

You tell your son if he doesn't ask his friend to stop just walking into the house, you will not allow him to come over to your house to play anymore.  

This kid obviously doesn't listen to his Grandmother but you take the lead and look him straight in the eyes and tell him its your house and you don't like him walking in without asking first, its just being very rude and he needs to learn that just isn't done in your neighborhood.

And quit putting keys under the mat, you either have your son wear one or he will be stuck sitting on the porch until you get home.

Nobody leaves keys under the mat anymore unless they want to be robbed!

Answer 9

It sounds to me that this kid seems to feel very comfortable in your house .. I'm guessing he spends the majority of his time at your house as his behavior seems to imply this. He thinks he's part of the family and is treating your house as his own. You need to remind him that although he is welcome to VISIT he must knock before coming in and ask before taking food as it is polite. However since you've spoken to gran and to the child I'm not sure what else you can do. Maybe it's the way you went about it. Maybe you could get the kid, gran, your son and yourself together and talk about it or get the kids to go over to grans every once in a while? Oh and with knowing where the key under the mat is I'd say your son showed him.

Answer 10

If this is your son and your home then how come his grandmother is his guardian?  As far as the friend goes...Isn't it obvious how he knew where the spare key was?  Actually that is the first place burglars look as well is under a mat, so if your house is ever robbed and entry was by using the key under the mat you won't get anything from your insurance company because all insurance companies warn against putting a key under the mat...it's called using common sense.  Anyway if this is the grandmother's home then you have no say as to who comes and goes etc.  

Answer 11

Aw man that stinks. For starters, I would move the key! There's probably some other place where you can keep it not letting this boy know. I would also take the grandma and the boy and look them in the eyes and say "You're welcome here, but you need to call first." Then when he calls you can tell him you guys are too busy to have him, or he's free to come over for a while. Does your son ever go to this boy's house?

Hope this helped!

~egd

Answer 12

maybe your son told him where the key was, hide the key somewhere else and dont tell your son where it is. if the key is there for your son, give him his own key and keyring and tell him to keep it for hisself. tell his friend that you think it may be a safety issue because whenever he comes in you dont know if it is him or a stranger walking in the house and for everyones safety for him to knock or ring the doorbell.