to feel sorry for my mum? :(

[ThatStupidCat]

Please forgive me as I am quite new and one of the younger users of mumsnet (17), mumsnetters may have known me as being PixiePrincess but I namechanged (this is relevent as obviously I still live with my mum!).

Anyway, our garden backs onto another garden in some sort L shape as their garden is very long and is quite away from the house. The kids from this house continuously make a racket with each other (2 of them) and bring their friends over from a few doors down. The constant screaming/crying/attention seeking is known by everyone (elderly people, couples etc) who live around our house and the police have actually been round the parents house a few times in order to get their children to quiten down because the noise is so loud and annoying disturbing, to no avail. Of course, if the children were mainly happy and were pleasantly playing in the garden this would be fine, but no it is constantly scream scream scream cry cry cry! The parents of course are always in the house and do not come down to the end of the garden (where our house is) to sort the children out.

The point of this thread is that I just feel so sorry for my mum, who is asleep as she has had to take on night shifts (5 nights in a row) in order for our family to overcome the money worries that they have. My dad has also had an operation and has to take tablets which have totally changed his personality and constantly argues with my mum, which definitely does not help when she has hardly had a sleep.

Sorry for the essay, I really needed to get this out. AIBU to feel so annoyed I actually want to shout at the children out of my window? (Btw I am aware that I am possibly being U but I needed to get this out).

[squeakytoy]

I dont think you are being unreasonable at all. There is nothing worse than screaming kids disturbing your peace... but... we have had this on here before, and many seem to think that they are in their own garden, so it is entirely up to them to be selfish and make as much noise as possible..

[RedHelenB]

Maybe if you explained that to your neighbours they might take them to the park to play for a bit?

[ThatStupidCat]

RedHelen, this would be ideal as ironically, over the road there is a huge playing field with a park! However they have never done this and they have been told by my parents, nearly all of our neighbours and the police two/three times yet the parents just leave them in the garden and dont intervene when one of them steals a toy/falls over/steals the trampoline etc.

Squeaky, I knew there was something I should have added - this is the reason which tells me IABU, I just wish there was something I could do!

[BoastingByStealth]

Buy ear plugs?
The really bright colourful type that you squash and roll the slip into your ear where they expand and block out all noise?
I LOVE my ear plugs for just this sort of occasion, my garden backs right onto another, and lots of noisy kids and teenagers live here.

Or try having a word with the parents (or get your parents to) and just ask nicely for some thought, due to night shifts and illness. Most parents would be ashamed that their childen were causing neighbours stress.

[squeakytoy]

boasting, OP says police have already been round about the noise, so I doubt the parents are the type to give a toss about their neighbours :(

[TheLadyEvenstar]

I am really surprised the police have been there unless this continues late into the early evening.

I understand that noise can and is disturbing but its part of children playing, growing up and learning.

If they were not in their garden I think I would have more of a problem.

[ThatStupidCat]

TLE, they start very early in the morning and continues into the evening until about 8pm - 9pm. Their garden/my house is next to an alley and they continuously run up and down this alley (they have a gate that backs onto the alley and is always open, the children are allowed out at free will) and then into the road that we live on. The children are all under 10 (i think) one being very young at about 3/4?

[fedupofnamechanging]

I feel sorry for your mum, I'm sure it is horrible, but it is not your neighbours fault that your mum works nights or that your dad is taking medication which affects his personality. You can't expect them to alter what they do on their own property, in order to take account of other peoples shift patterns etc.

That's not to say that I agree with their behaviour - they ought to be properly supervising their children and they are being selfish in taking the view that because they can't hear their kids, then though luck to everybody else, but you can't make them change. They would argue that your mum has chosen to work nights, when everyone else is asleep and you can't expect kids to be quiet all day because of it.

[ThatStupidCat]

karma, this is true, however my mum has only started working nights and my dad had started taking the tablets only a month ago. They have been doing this for years and its just getting worse and the parents do not seem to care - hence the repitition of the visits from the police/neighbours etc. It is annoying the whole street as they are allowed out of the garden into the road.

[fedupofnamechanging]

I do agree with you that it's very annoying and if they are on the road then they have no business being there. I'm just saying that if they are in their own garden, there is little you can do - it's just one of the pita aspects of having neighbours.

[squeakytoy]

If they have been doing it for years, then the consolation is they will be old enough to bugger off out and annoy someone else soon away from your house.. hopefully.

[ThatStupidCat]

Thats what we all keep hoping! Surely they must be old enough by now? Obviously not yet .

Thanks for all the responses btw! :o

[Strawbezza]

Ear plugs. Those foam ones that Boasting describes. You can get them from chemists.

[ThatStupidCat]

I'll see if my mum has 'em, if she doesn't I'll buy them for her :o