So we've met our first dilemma.
The lot to the west is wooded but to our east is the local charity case. Their property is in shambles with garbage everywhere and it appears they had a fire sometime in the recent past which didn't help. The mother doesn't seem to do much but smoke and yell at the four children. They are all under the age of 12 at the most. They look healthy and clean but are shy like rural children are. They just stare at us. My wife has tried to speak with but only briefly. I would like the 12 year old to do a few chores for us and we could help them with some cash, at the least so the kids can enjoy a few luxuries. I started to doing the same at about the same age (mowing grass, trimming bushes, etc.). It seems to be politically incorrect these days, however.
The problem is the father. He's a real piece of work. A couple of weeks ago I took my girls to lake in the afternoon. Babushka stayed at the house to work on some of her projects. We had eaten lunch and packed up most of our things because we we're going to head back to Kyiv after relaxing at the lake. We had left the stroller, though, and the guy next door thought we had left it and didn't know that Babushka was still there. Babushka reported that she heard him clearly yelling to the kids in the back of their yard to go and take our stroller. He was up near their house. One of the girls, about 10 y.o, came into our yard toward the stroller and Babushka came out from around the house and the girl ran off yelling that we were still there.
I wasn't told about until we got home. Last week when we went to the homestead I planned a sting but it didn't turn out. I did have the pleasure of seeing the neighbor come out in the cold and rain in his speedo, piss drunk, and yell at the kids.
I'm hoping that since the douchebag was caught in the act that he knows that we will know it is him if any of our stuff comes up missing. I talked to our other decent neighbors and they all said he is trouble. I saw him jump over the neighbors fence across the road. He was hollering to them and they were just ignoring him but I guess he needed to see them.
We're putting up a fence soon.
So the question is, what approach would be best towards the children? If their father does steal from my family I can have him dealt with, and harshly, but I'd rather not. I would like for us to be able to foster a relationship with the children and help them and not alienate them or their parents. I'm weary of giving gifts, other than food, because it won't teach them anything. My wife hasn't told me it is taboo to have children do chores for pocket money and I think this the best option. She also tells me that she doesn't think they will understand. Earning something through work doesn't seem to be a value in their family, nor cleaning up one's own home, etc.
Like I said, they are shy. They've started to respond to "hello" and my wife has has had a few words with them. I suppose that is about all we can do, yeah? I'm not naive enough to imagine any organizations would be able to help them and they do look clean and healthy and aren't in any immediate danger so... we'll just do what we can but any other insights would be appreciated.