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AIBU?

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Original poster

To find pavement chalking by neighbour unreasonable?

414 replies

Hanji83 · 19/08/2026 20:29

We are in a row of houses which have a footpath running in front of the road with a grassed area either side. One of the neighbours has two kids, who for the past week have been drawing on the pavement using chalk. It looks an utter mess. Would it be wrong of me to say something to the parents?

OP posts:
Oioiqueen · 19/08/2026 21:53

My kids have been painting with chalk a couple of times this holiday. I even let them venture onto the pavement off our driveway. They spent a whole morning the first time and only came in because it was too hot in the midday sun. They had the best of time, displayed a bit of teamwork, encouragement of each other and worked on their creativity skills. Other kids have stopped as they've walked past to admire or work out what they are looking at. It's brought smiles to people's faces, do I give a F about it being unsightly? Absolutely not, it'll all finally wash away properly in tomorrows biblical rain.

Zov · 19/08/2026 21:50

I REALLY wanna draw a hopscotch grid on the pavement tomorrow now, and have a go. 😀 I reckon all the kids in my cul de sac would join in! 😆

(Probably even some of the adults!)

shuggles · 19/08/2026 21:50

@Hanji83 Are you the summer time version of Scrooge?

Pushmepullu · 19/08/2026 21:48

I love when kids chalk a hopscotch grid on the pavement. It means that I can have a quick go.If the kids are there, so much the better!

likeafishneedsabike · 19/08/2026 21:45

Hanji83 · 19/08/2026 20:32

Ok, clearly there’s a strong disagreement. No it’s not a reverse. It does look a mess. But clearly I’m being harsh so I won’t approach my neighbour or argue with everyone on here.

Do you have hobbies?

Lexy2345 · 19/08/2026 21:45

Kindly, you need to lighten up. Kids chalking pictures on the pavement aren’t anything to get your knickers in a twist about.

Asterales · 19/08/2026 21:43

God, this thread has cheered me up. I've been a miserable cow all day and have snapped at a number of people (for reasons that still seem perfectly valid, tbh, I feel like today has been a particularly bellend-heavy one...) but this post has really lifted my spirits, because even in the depths of my snarkiness I wouldn't be as mean spirited and petty as this, so overall I feel like I'm not as mardy as I'd feared and will be going to bed on a high, thanks OP!

Ileithyia · 19/08/2026 21:43

You absolute misery. They are drawing pictures with chalk. It’s harmless creative fun. As long as they aren’t drawing dicks or anything like that just leave them be.

AlwayAnxious · 19/08/2026 21:42

Get a grip of yourself

ALovelyPinkUnicorn · 19/08/2026 21:42

viques · 19/08/2026 21:40

You had ornaments! We had to cut out pictures of ornaments from the newspaper and stick them on the mantlepiece with spit.

Show quote history

Newspapers?!! AND cutting implements?! Hark
at you Lady Muck!! 🧐

viques · 19/08/2026 21:40

thistimelastweek · 19/08/2026 21:17

We had to break cheapo ornaments and use the sharp end!

Show quote history

You had ornaments! We had to cut out pictures of ornaments from the newspaper and stick them on the mantlepiece with spit.

LumpyandBumps · 19/08/2026 21:39

I know just what you mean OP
Where I walk my dog there’s often a whole activity course
Hop here, stand in circle, jump, etc.
It goes on for ages.
It took me 3 attempts to get it right this morning.

dustabsorber · 19/08/2026 21:38

I don't know how to play hopscotch

Wishitwasstraightforward · 19/08/2026 21:37

Crikey OP, I guess you can’t help finding this an issue but surely if this is bothering you, you must spend an awful lot of time feeling upset or annoyed?

Not only would a chalky pavement not bother me, I think it is lovely.

NotAnotherScarf · 19/08/2026 21:34

Just to piss the op off, during lockdown we gave the kids around us Street chalk we'd ordered in error (wanted normal blackboard chalk). She'd be going nuts! 😂

Cluelessfirstimer · 19/08/2026 21:33

You know when you get those moments in life where youre like am i an unreasonable person?

Then you find threads like this and your like nah im fine 🤣

Itsbeenalongtimeincoming · 19/08/2026 21:31

What is wrong with people? Seriously it would never enter my mind that it was a ‘mess’ nor ask for advise abiut whether to say anything or not on a forum.

OP this is Honestly one of the most ridiculous posts ever.

Good on kids being creative, being outside, being harmless etc.

vickylou78 · 19/08/2026 21:30

Good lord Op what a killjoy you must be!!! Upset about chalk drawing on the pavement? You literally can't get more wholesome activity than that! Unless they are drawing obscene images then what's the issue?
It literally washes off the next time it rains. Does zero damage to anything.

Tunnocksmallow · 19/08/2026 21:30

Today chalk, tomorrow coke dealing on the corner. Nip it in the bud now OP. These kids will soon be ruling the streets… FFS. This site gets worse and worse.

Dobeebeedah · 19/08/2026 21:30

In Glastonbury lots of people do pavement art. It's beautiful and doesn't last long, not even overnight. Get over yourself and let the children play. We used to chalk hopscotch squares on the pavement.

vodkaredbullgirl · 19/08/2026 21:29

😂

Calm Down Chill Out GIF by CBS
Gonners · 19/08/2026 21:29

Laughing at the hopscotch posts. I'm in my 70s and still delighted to hippety-hop through one. Being shameless, I don't even care if anyone's looking.

DropEmOut · 19/08/2026 21:29

There’s a hopscotch type activity course which has been drawn down my road. Different kids seem to add to it. It’s absolutely brilliant.

I see adults and kids completing it. It’s brings a small bit of joy.

lighten up, it’ll be washed away soon.

Shloopie · 19/08/2026 21:29

YANBU

I also hate hearing children laughing, I'm disgusted when I see them neat as pins on the first day of school, I retch when I see little siblings holding hands and I lose my lunch when I encounter children skipping merrily down the street.

mamakoukla · 19/08/2026 21:29

Oh gosh. Life’s too short. Let the kids enjoy their childhood. It’s all too brief