Neighbour’s kid picked my daffodils

Not a generational thing whatsoever; it was a common thing to do when I was little. DM is a boomer, and was annoyed a woman had absolutely shouted and ranted at me as a very little girl. I had tried to pick some flowers from her garden which were growing over a wall for my Mum, so no trespassing or anything. I was a good kid, just little, and as a child I didn't think I was doing any harm because they were growing over the wall, and I hadn't taken many. Obviously it is still wrong.
I ran home crying my eyes out. Dm thought the woman was OTT, and was really annoyed she had upset me, and told me that she used to do it in the late 1950s/60, so this is not a new thing. Honestly, this memory still sticks in my mind to this day; I just didn't understand; it wasn't malicious! It was a time when DCs played out more and usually unsupervised; it was a very different world back then. I also picked flowers from my own garden for dm, which I was allowed to do, while I was searching for "flower fairies." I think in my child mind I didn't think I was doing anything wrong, with them growing over the wall. I was really shy, and a full-grown woman ranting and raving at me is a memory I will never forget.

"cheap as chips". The OP has grown them and also the kid has daffodils in her own garden!

People plant flowers in their gardens because THEY like to look at them. It's not a "pick your own" field!

I nicked a car for my Mum on Mother's Day. I'm basically child of the year.

At 8 she should know not to pick flowers from someone's garden (and indeed at all!)
I would definitely have a (friendly) word with the mother and explain that you are looking forward to your tulips coming out!

Hi @Lucylooloo2 - if you know who the child's parents are, remind them that all parts of daffodil plants are toxic. If the child gets sap from the stems on her hands and then manages to injest it, she may suffer a stomach upset.

The bulbs are the most toxic part (if eaten; I assume children won't do this but I have seen dogs dig up bulbs in my local park. Their owners appeared oblivious to the potential dangers).

I had a teacher who was particularly sensitive to the scent of daffodils, they would always trigger a violent headache. She reminded us every year that toxic flowers as gifts might not be appreciated!

Bluebells are toxic too, I'm sure they'll be blooming soon too.

Maybe get a card and write a careful considered note asking them to have a word with their child telling them not to.

YANBU. My 7 year old wouldn’t go and pick flowers from someone else’s garden. Not acceptable. I’m not a gardener/precious about gardens either.

Agree that you need to have a word, and make it clear that you have her on your footage.

She's 8, not 4. She should know better.

You need to tell the mother.

I did this as a kid, not inside a garden but on the periphery ( I thought it was waste land...) I got a bollocking off the woman, still haunts me. I don't think kids realise adults plant the bloody things so don't be too harsh but not going inside gardens is something kids learn from a young age so not great that they did that.

My kids used to stand and watch, confused and sad, whilst neighbours' kids helped themselves to display flowers planted by the council. I'd never let mine do that, its not sweet at all - its entitled on the part of the parents not to teach their children not to take things that don't belong to them - otherwise you're basically saying nothing in your garden belongs to you, they must be allowed to help themselves to anything they like in the park etc

I'd be fuming. Go and pick theirs. Cheeky brat.

She didn’t have to take every single one though. She could have left a few for OP to enjoy.

Too bad it wouldn't have brought her joy to pick the flowers from her own yard.

8 years of age is not a 'very young child'.

I know right, I can't believe that people actually think that this ok. Children need boundaries and need to told by adults when these have been crossed. It's not sweet at all.

Why is she even in your front garden?

I'm with you OP, it's not nice and a child aged 8 should know not to pick flowers from someone's gardens. I would be particularly peeved that the ones in their garden were untouched. You are right to tell the parents.

I remember a thread on here where OP had a little girl pick her roses. People were suggesting she start bushes to give to the girl. Total piss take.
Maybe suggest that theft is a thing. Or send her to Lidl. 95p a bunch there.

I'd have been pissed. Bad enough when kids/people take them from parks but from a garden is just wrong. Can't believe all the posters saying it's sweet 😳

Not sweet at all. It’s theft. Little girl needs to be taught you don’t take what belongs to others. Her “treat” to her mother has deprived OP of her joy.

It's not about the price fgs. It's about the meaning to the op. The child should have picked flowers from her own bloody garden

8 is not a very young child and having things taken from your property that give you joy and that only appear once a year is not ott. Strange that she left the flowers in her own garden intact though 🙄

Aw seriously, these are as cheap as chips, just think about the joy they may have brought her to bring them home to her Mum. Kids at 8yrs old are just that.. kids’

stop sweating about the small things

Not on, the kid is trespassing and really should know better at eight.

My neighbour's daughters did exactly the same and also stole our blueberries. They had the entire plant stripped one day when we were out.

Maybe it's just a generational thing but my parents would have gone through me for a shortcut if I'd been running round our neighbours' gardens for any reason, let alone nicking their flowers and fruit.