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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:
Easterchicken · 21/08/2026 07:50

They are kids
You don't own the path
Chalk washes off

Give your head a wobble you weirdo

PurpleThistle7 · 21/08/2026 07:00

LBFseBrom · 19/08/2026 23:34

Yes, I get there is a difference. When I was a young woman out at work I lived in some grotty furnished flats and bedsits, encountered children roaming the streets and playing at all times and thought nothing of it but it's not usual in most residential areas where people have back gardens and parks nearby. It's off putting for potential buyers.

Show quote history

Huh? One of the reasons we bought our house is because we saw children playing outside. My kids are in and out all the time - there are a handful of children in the houses around us and they all run around outside. It’s lovely.

CrazyCricketLady · 21/08/2026 00:37

My Mother always said "If you've not got anything nice to say, don't say anything". I think this is one of moments where I best keep it zipped

J3001 · 20/08/2026 22:26

We used to play hop scotch

Branwells77 · 20/08/2026 21:48

Wow, is this what really bothers you my neighbours grandchildren have been drawing hopscotch and other games on the pavements this summer and all of the children and even some of the adults have thoroughly enjoyed it caught one of the neighbours at 6am going to his car and he done the hopscotch on his way with a smile on his face we have now had lots of heavy rain and it’s washed it away I’m sure the kids will be out again when it dries up again rather see them with chalk and playing outside than not at all OP there’s a lot worse things they could be doing.

WearyLilac · 20/08/2026 20:40

I wouldn't want it in front of my house if it looked messy. However, I wouldn't say anything because neighbourly discord is unpleasant. We are in the minority OP but your dislike is valid

Singlemumsurvivor · 20/08/2026 20:39

My kids have had great fun over the last few months drawing on the pavement outside our house and other houses with chalk. All our neighbours except one are elderly and not one person has complained. Get a life! It washes away when it rains and brightens up dreary grey pavements.

TheFifthTellytubby · 20/08/2026 20:27

We once were on the receiving end of similar complaints from neighbours in our cul de sac who didn't have children at the time and failed to appreciate our kids' genius artwork. 😁 Fast forward a few years: our children had grown out of such pastimes and their own daughter's favourite summer activity was ... chalking rainbows over all the driveways! 😂

PurpleFlower1983 · 20/08/2026 19:48

You’re being massively unreasonable.

mussymummy · 20/08/2026 19:37

Please dont be that person. During covid my 5 year old chalked hopscotch outside our house and our next door neighbour got her hose out and washed it away 10 minutes later. Petty nasty behaviour

Vse500 · 20/08/2026 18:35

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?

Get a grip.

HollyIvy89 · 20/08/2026 18:33

ShedShedShed · 19/08/2026 22:40

Wow. What's it like to be so miserable?

Show quote history

im not miserable i just hate chalk 😂😂 believe it or not, it’s actually allowed.

Activelife · 20/08/2026 18:33

Kids being kids, kids playing outside making their own games, what crime it is.

PinotandPray · 20/08/2026 18:24

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.

Don’t approach them OP best to pick your battles.

First house I owned I was super precious about and got annoyed at this exact thing. It was going past my house and also up the wall leading to my door and I just overreacted (but I wasn’t rude). Looking back I know I was BU - so nobody come at me pls lol.

(It wouldn’t bother me now and tbh straight after it happened I felt silly and bad about it)

saddest thing was it caused a big falling out with our neighbours for a long time. It ended up all being okay but it was awkward for a couple of years!

It’s not a big deal really just be chill about it. X

OnlyHasEyesForLoki · 20/08/2026 18:15

Rondayvu · 20/08/2026 14:42

Unless they are drawing the outline of your body in chalk then leave them to it.

You win best comment 🤣🤣🤣

IdaGlossop · 20/08/2026 17:43

Cosyblankets · 19/08/2026 22:34

Did you never play hopscotch?

No. OP never played at all. Therein lies the problem.

tilypu · 20/08/2026 17:40

Littlechinagirl · 20/08/2026 13:21

I just need this to be known i clicked you aren't being unreasonable BY ACCIDENT

Good grief. 1st world problems

You can change your vote...

IdaGlossop · 20/08/2026 17:36

Faceonthewrongfoot · 20/08/2026 13:28

Unless they've drawn a massive cock and balls, I'd probably just leave it tbh..

Actually, you have inadvertently provided a solution. If OP drew a massive cock and balls herself, she would have a real reason to be outraged and to ask for the mess to be cleared away.

IdaGlossop · 20/08/2026 17:28

I am a bit shocked. It's the summer holiday. The weather is mostly good. Children are playing outside. They are getting lots of fresh air. They are being creative. They are having fun. They are moving their bodies They are not pestering their parents. They are not on screens. They are not beating hell out of one another. They are not mugging grannies. Rejoice!

If rejoicing is out of the question, blinkers will help.These are quite fetching, and suitable for both indoor and outdoor use:

www.ejwicks.co.uk/products/zilco-half-cup-stretch-blinkers?currency=GBP&variant=55372705005903&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=23826180647&gbraid=0AAAAAC55XUy7nRN13L3YG42e6AaEo8iVi&gclid=CjwKCAjwy5rUBhB5EiwAIoAtCg6_QYtJg_yzAzLCeTQUdx9TrMvt-EKTnCWItSJyoa0vRiQIFny_VRoCezIQAvD_BwE

ChocolateCinderToffee · 20/08/2026 17:17

I wasn’t allowed to do this as a child and i still resent that. For heaven’s sake. It’s completely harmless fun.

XMissPlacedX · 20/08/2026 17:16

Don’t worry a bit of rain and it will all wash right away

Grandmistress991 · 20/08/2026 16:59

Rondayvu · 20/08/2026 14:42

Unless they are drawing the outline of your body in chalk then leave them to it.

🤣🤣🤣

ClearFruit · 20/08/2026 16:55

Do you have kids, OP?

Mycatisreal · 20/08/2026 16:55

The type of kids where I live chalked FUCK YOU on the side of my house. I just washed it off. Nothing you can do. Saying something wouldn’t have changed anything. Choose your battles or it can lead to an escalation.

Witchergeralt · 20/08/2026 16:50

The kids are outdoors playing doing nobody any harm and when it rains the chalk will be washed away. People have been drawing on pavements with chalk since 16th century Italy so yes, you are being unreasonable. Hopscotch is a rite of passage for all kids of any age.

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