Neighbour’s kid picked my daffodils

I'm certain that it's not worth the amount of energy that's being ploughed into this thread. As I posted above, I think we're talking about general principles regarding theft and vandalism now not just this particular child.

Daffs grow in the wild, there's loads around on the highways & sides of the road. Usually because someone planted them. School children, Brownies etc. often do this in my area. Wild daffodils are actually quite rare. Whether wild or planted they shouldn't be picked.

But it doesn't deserve a public dunking or community fucking service. She's just made a mistake Nobody has suggested this but she needs to understand how her thoughtlessness has upset the OP.

They probably did. We know nothing.

That's how children learn though, you cannot supervise a child 24/7 especially so close to home.
The child thought they were doing something nice, OP complained, child & parents apologised. End of matter.

I think the point is we don't know anything really. That's the point. We only have one side of the situation, just one perspective. There's others.
People need to remember that we all make mistakes, how old is this child anyway? I'm certain that it's not worth the amount of energy that's being ploughed into this thread. Daffs grow in the wild, there's loads around on the highways & sides of the road.
What's the set up of the gardens for example, do they border the roadway? Did said child assume that the daffs were part of the highway? And therefore wild? If so yes she needs to be advised either way because she obviously can't pick wild flowers. But it doesn't deserve a public dunking or community fucking service. She's just made a mistake. FFS chill out everyone. OP is right, there are worst things going on probably right in their own neighbourhood.

My DD is 5, and we’ve recently had a conversation about this when we passed some crocuses in the local park, and she wanted to pick them. I told her that somebody took time to plant them so it would make them sad if they were gone, and that they’re for everyone to look at and will make everyone happy. She now asks about any flowers we pass, if they’re picking flowers, like daisies, or planting flowers, like daffodils. It’s an easy thing to teach your child, although it’s obvious that not everyone feels the need to. IMO, it shows them that it’s not “just flowers”, but that their actions can affect other people, and it’s not kind to steal even that little bit of happiness from others. 💐

I agree! Would it be so sweet if the child wanted to give their sibling a present and stole your kids bike? Bizarre.

I can understand them wanting to do something nice for a parent or whoever it is, but it’s a bit insensitive to label something ‘sweet’ when the OP’s clearly upset that something she loved has been stolen from her. That’s it for this year. What if it happens again next year?

If that parent were rock-bottom decent, she wouldn’t have left the measly pot without ringing and offering a proper apology.

Exactly.

If I were the OP, that family would cringe at the word “daffodil” for the rest of their lives.

Many of us in the “village” have had it with being disrespected doormats. If the parents won’t teach proper behaviour, the kids will learn it from us.

i'll say it yet again. A child who doesn't understand that they should not take things which don't belong to them shouldn't be out without supervision.

In that case I’d definitely be saying something to the parents or your tulips will be gone too! You don’t need to be stroppy but I would make my point so it doesn’t happen again if it were me.

I have two DC, both teens, one easy going the other challenging. If either did this I'd completely understand people talking negatively about my DC because actions have consequences!
I'm glad the mum and daughter took a pot of flowers around, hopefully she had stern words about what happens if that behaviour continues (e.g. not allowed to play in garden alone).
Letting DC off poor behaviour doesn't help them to grow up as well rounded people it just lets them be uncaring DC growing up to be uncaring adults.

At no point have I said its fair play.

I think we are talking about a young child, who's heart was probably in the right place, even if she did something she shouldn't have.
Ops told the Mum, who's sent an apology round. To me that should be the end of it.

Some reactions on here are a tad over the top. Inc phoning the police 🚔 can you imagine the reaction at the other end of the phone, "your reporting a child taking daffodils".

Kids are kids they are still learning about the world. They don't always think through what they are doing.
None of us were perfect angels 😇 even if out moments of daftness are long forgotten.
But this is MN world the mothers who's cherubs are all perfect angels from the age of two and who never do anything wrong.

Never talk about anyone else's kids, because you don't know what your own are going to do!

@Needspaceforlego
OK. The majority of posters are not in that league!

But do you honestly think that front gardens are “fair play” for children to help themselves to flowers?

digging party?

Is it a magnolia? I quite fancy that, too. Is it small enough to fit in the back of a seven-seater?

I have a pickup, I can drop it off for you if you like?

Is it a magnolia? I quite fancy that, too. Is it small enough to fit in the back of a seven-seater?

🤓

I have a very unusual flower bush in my front garden, and every summer it is quite the feature. So much so people stop to take pictures and selfies. This has been happening for years. It has now just occurred to me to be aghast at this.

Tell you what, I'll come and dig it out as I quite like the sound of it. You won't mind, will you?

And how obtuse does an EIGHT year old need to be, to not realize it?

Eight year olds are studying math, language, science, playing football, etc. The ones near me are outspoken, sturdy, loud and some walk to school on thier own. Is anyone seriously trying to argue that children this age don't know enough not to vandalize others' property?

Yes, it's really appalling.

Especially the soppy maudlin "anything a child does is so sweet" ilk.

Going by quite a few of the messages on this thread, the parents may not see that what their daughter did is wrong.

I'm getting to see why some children behave the way they do; their parents have very weak moral compasses.

Go back and read the full thread.

One suggested getting the Community Police officer out, presumably to give the kid a talking to.

Another has suggested calling the police to -log the incident.

Can you imagine the person on the other end of the call? You want us to do what...over some daffodils?

I’d put a sign in the garden saying don’t pick the flowers, it might not do a lot but hopefully the parents will see it and teach their children to leave them alone.

Stealing is "super sweet" ?

Hmmmmmm

No one is seriously suggesting calling the police!

It’s just that parenting does require the adult to explain to the child and in a way that creates empathy… ie “ the neighbour was crying when she got home because she LOVES her daffodils and she has to wait another year for them to come back “. Explain why we act /don’t act in certain ways, not in an angry way, but to instill understanding and sensitivity to the needs of others. The criminal age of responsibility might be 10, but the age of reason is much younger.

My 90 year old mother has a flowering shrub in her front garden. I cannot tell you the pleasure it gives her EVERY SINGLE DAY.

If someone came and cut off the blooms for a vase, she would be devastated.

Just because grateful you didnt have some of the nuts on here for neighbours, they would have had the police at the door to give you a talking do and your crimes logged against your parents just incase you turned into a juvenile delinquent.

Because no MN child ever did anything wrong ever, you know!