Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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:
LilyBunch25 · 19/08/2026 20:38

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.

With all due respect what did you really expect the reaction to be? So many of us deal with real neighbour nuisance issues, asb, vandalism. Some coloured chalking on the pavement....you will get slammed for complaining about that, I'm afraid.

Mt563 · 19/08/2026 20:38

And we wonder why kids don't play out.

Skatefordinner · 19/08/2026 20:38

Do you have DCs OP?

AndyKitten · 19/08/2026 20:38

Really?

A bit of chalk is only going to hide the uneven stones, the stinky stains, the general rubbish and the dog and ox shit on the pavements round here.

Bring it on!

SoLongMae · 19/08/2026 20:38

Jesus.

I love our pavement chalk - the kids round here have been doing it for weeks and I think the little rainbows, hearts and flowers add a lovely feeI to the neighbourhood. It'll be too cold and wet for it soon enough, chill out and wait a few weeks - but in the meantime, let the kids have a bit of harmless fun.

Eyelashesoffire · 19/08/2026 20:38

Is this a reverse??! If not, you miserable git! It's a classic part of childhood drawing on the pavement with chalk. Will you only be happy once you've squeezed every last ounce of joy out of their lives????

My old neighbour used to complain about this but she had dementia so I indulged her nonsense and made the kids not do it outside her house and got them to wash it away after a day or two. She had very little meaning in her life apart from looking out of the window so I didn't want to upset her unnecessarily.

Timeforachange26 · 19/08/2026 20:37

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.

Why is it actually bothering you? Does it hurt you? It's your property damaged.

Soon be rained away

UrOutdoors · 19/08/2026 20:37

Didn’t you do this when you were a kid? It’s a charming, harmless activity!

TheJoyousHiker · 19/08/2026 20:37

Complaining about children having fun chalking on the pavement. You sound a real fun sponge.

First shower of rain and it will be gone.

Seaglasscat · 19/08/2026 20:36

I think some people really don’t have enough problems if they get wound up about stuff like this.

FFS as soon as it rains it will magically disappear. Come and live round me where little scrotes like to graffiti on people’s walls and the side of houses.

YouHaveAnArse · 19/08/2026 20:36

Grow up.

LilyBunch25 · 19/08/2026 20:36

It will rain at some point and it will go! Genuinely, is this such an issue for you? Makes a nice change to hear that kids are outside playing in this way imo.

superchick · 19/08/2026 20:36

So what if it looks a mess? It does not affect you at all. Do you not have anything else to worry about?

Vulturesoverhead · 19/08/2026 20:35

Makes me think fondly of the time I got pissed with a friend before her DH did a big bike ride. We PAINTED the road in the style and custom of Le Tour. WTF were we thinking. That, is an issue OP, chalk? No.

hugasaurus · 19/08/2026 20:35

We used to do this all the time as kids! Mine do it in our back garden as we have lots of slabs there and they are still little so it’s safer than out the front; but I would love to see kids’ chalk drawings on the pavement outside our house! Nostalgic!

Cluelessfirstimer · 19/08/2026 20:34

Vulturesoverhead · 19/08/2026 20:33

Oh for goodness sake get the kids a fucking iPad, what is the world coming to

Can't win honestly.

Send those kids outside ! Literally complaints about them so much as breathing

Send those kids inside! Oh FFS you ipad parents.

FudgeFudy · 19/08/2026 20:34

It does look a mess

So what?

ALovelyPinkUnicorn · 19/08/2026 20:34

Shedmistress · 19/08/2026 20:32

Oh no Chalk! Whatever next? Little piles of flour?

Or… or… weeeds!! 😱😱 where is the TRIGGER warning @Hanji83 ?!!!

ToKittyornottoKitty · 19/08/2026 20:34

It doesn’t look a mess, it looks like kids have been playing on the pavement with chalk.

WerewolfOfLoudon · 19/08/2026 20:34

Shedmistress · 19/08/2026 20:32

Oh no Chalk! Whatever next? Little piles of flour?

Someone else complained about that on here the other day too 😂

Love seeing kids pictures on the pavements, rainbows and flowers mostly around here. All gone in a day or two.

You're being ridiculous @Hanji83

BudgetBuster · 19/08/2026 20:34

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.

Looks a mess to you. Looks like a wonderful innocent childhood to all the kids.

Plus I don't think you own the path.

Vulturesoverhead · 19/08/2026 20:33

Oh for goodness sake get the kids a fucking iPad, what is the world coming to

Original poster
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.

OP posts:
allthemind · 19/08/2026 20:32

OMFG its going to chuck down for days any day now and it will all be erased. Let them have a last bit of summer fun.

lovethepuppies · 19/08/2026 20:32

You miserable bugger 😂 are you also called ebenezer?

Swipe left for the next trending thread