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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:
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.

dustabsorber · 19/08/2026 21:38

I don't know how to play hopscotch

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.

viques · 19/08/2026 21:40

thistimelastweek · 19/08/2026 21:17

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

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

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.

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

AlwayAnxious · 19/08/2026 21:42

Get a grip of yourself

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.

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!

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.

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?

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!

shuggles · 19/08/2026 21:50

@Hanji83 Are you the summer time version of Scrooge?

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!)

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.

Abricot1983 · 19/08/2026 21:54

Just leave it. They’re outside not sitting alone in a room. The chalk will wash off. Are you real??!!

ExplodingSmittens · 19/08/2026 21:57

likeafishneedsabike · 19/08/2026 21:45

Do you have hobbies?

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That actually made me laugh and not much I come across at the moment is managing to do that Grin

thistimelastweek · 19/08/2026 21:57

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.

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You had a mantelpiece?
We had a fire in the middle of the room with a hole in the ceiling

katseyes7 · 19/08/2026 21:58

Quite frankly, considering the behaviour of some of the kids where l live, a bit of chalk on a pavement would barely register with me.

Vulturesoverhead · 19/08/2026 21:59

moto748e · 19/08/2026 21:12

Or, better still, don't.

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That was the point 🤦‍♀️

Neuronimo · 19/08/2026 21:59

YABU, we did this in the 70's, did you not play hopscotch? It's got to be better than playing on consoles all day. I'd love to see this.

thistimelastweek · 19/08/2026 22:00

likeafishneedsabike · 19/08/2026 21:45

Do you have hobbies?

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Or maybe a library ticket?

viques · 19/08/2026 22:00

thistimelastweek · 19/08/2026 21:57

You had a mantelpiece?
We had a fire in the middle of the room with a hole in the ceiling

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To be fair we never actually had a fire in the fireplace, it was where we kept the ferrets.

MelonSorbet · 19/08/2026 22:00

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.

How much time do you spend outside looking at the pavement, really?

Pinkissmart · 19/08/2026 22:01

OP, what will happen if it fades naturally, or gets washed with the next rain?

thistimelastweek · 19/08/2026 22:03

viques · 19/08/2026 22:00

To be fair we never actually had a fire in the fireplace, it was where we kept the ferrets.

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You win.
I proper lolled