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Original poster

Neighbours complaining about reindeer food

388 replies

wasteful26 · 26/12/2025 23:45

Elder dc bought a bag of porridge on Xmas Eve to mix with glitter with their younger siblings and put out for the “reindeer”
As dc do on Xmas Eve they got carried away and as well as putting the food in our front garden they sprinkled it on the public road.
A neighbour who we do not know by name but to smile at had posted on the local FB page complaining about the mess which went over our heads but he then confronted dh in the street today when he was getting in his car.
Because of the old dry weather the porridge is still laying in the street.
Dh being his usual non diplomatic self wasn’t exactly friendly towards neighbour.
Ive no intentions of going out with a brush and shovel for what is a few handfuls of oats and it’s to rain in the next few days anyway but am wondering if this is something that others would be upset about in their street?

OP posts:
AnOn2909 · 27/12/2025 08:39

In the time it took you to right this post you could have swept it up.

CrazyGoatLady · 27/12/2025 08:40

Clean up your kids' mess. Edible glitter can be bad for birds and other wildlife. Thankfully here we live in a rural area where people are not as ignorant and don't think their kids' fun trumps everything else, including the safety of animals and birds.

butterdish93 · 27/12/2025 08:43

They give this to us from our youngest preschool. I do it in our living room and then hoover it up because we live near water and there’s rats about

DancingNotDrowning · 27/12/2025 08:44

The 27th and the joy of Christmas really is dead.

15+ years ago when my DC were in pre-prep every school Christmas market, Kids TV show and parenting magazine sold/had a “recipe” for making reindeer dust.

it was only on MN that I learnt about the issues relating to the use of glitter (and at the same time exfoliants).

I did stop using glitter (substituting coloured sugar) but honestly it’s a bit rich complaining about a handful of reindeer dust unless you’ve cut out use of laundry pods, wet wipes, plastic bottles, synthetic clothing, disposable nappies and never use printers or own a car.

I’ll also go out on a limb and say the man moaning on FB on Christmas Day doesn’t care about the environment, he’s a joyless dickhead with nothing better to do.

myhaggisblewup · 27/12/2025 08:44

CatrionaBalfour · 27/12/2025 08:18

Also, the DH needs to think about his attitude. Maybe he could supervise the clean up.

He comes across as a complete knob with his attitude.

Keepingthingsinteresting · 27/12/2025 08:44

It’s quite antisocial behaviour, both for the perspective of making a mess you seem to think you are too good to tidy up but also because you have put out food that will be toxic to wildlife, I can’t forgive you for that.

Coconutter24 · 27/12/2025 08:44

wasteful26 · 26/12/2025 23:50

Dc didn’t go into the street they were sprinkling/throwing around the garden so anything over the fence is “overspill”

That’s not a reason to not just go out and sweep it up. A mess has been made so just clean it up.

BunchOfShapes · 27/12/2025 08:45

I hate this stuff. Even without the glitter, I just think it attracts rats tbh. We had some from PILs but just put it in a bowl on Christmas Eve. Reindeer came and ate it all (it went in the compost bin).

I am team neighbour I'm afraid.

Coconutter24 · 27/12/2025 08:46

Illbefinejustbloodyfine · 26/12/2025 23:51

Get some chickens. Ours cleaned up the reindeer food very quickly!

My DC used oats, pine nuts, dried cranberries, some christmss 'sprinkles" and chia seeds

Wouldn’t it be easier to get a dustpan and brush to clean the mess rather than going out looking for chickens

Fundays12 · 27/12/2025 08:47

Glitter kills birds so why you would get your children sprinkle something that contains a poison to birds is beyond me. A handful of porridge oats over by where birds come daily to feed is what we did. Its perfectly safe, not toxic and will not leave a mess. It sounds like you have made a mess with glitter and oats so I suggest you go clean it up

rainbowsandraspberrygin · 27/12/2025 08:47

I few oats wouldn’t bother me - but handfuls would if I had to walk through it. Oats getting wet means porridge!

was is biodegradable glitter (safe for animals)? If not then that needs clearing up.

I think for the sake of peace just a quick sweep.

YellowPixie · 27/12/2025 08:48

DancingNotDrowning · 27/12/2025 08:44

The 27th and the joy of Christmas really is dead.

15+ years ago when my DC were in pre-prep every school Christmas market, Kids TV show and parenting magazine sold/had a “recipe” for making reindeer dust.

it was only on MN that I learnt about the issues relating to the use of glitter (and at the same time exfoliants).

I did stop using glitter (substituting coloured sugar) but honestly it’s a bit rich complaining about a handful of reindeer dust unless you’ve cut out use of laundry pods, wet wipes, plastic bottles, synthetic clothing, disposable nappies and never use printers or own a car.

I’ll also go out on a limb and say the man moaning on FB on Christmas Day doesn’t care about the environment, he’s a joyless dickhead with nothing better to do.

Well no, because not doing this is a really quick win, it's a no brainer.

It's a very lazy argument that there's no point doing anything unless you are doing everything.

CatrionaBalfour · 27/12/2025 08:51

YellowPixie · 27/12/2025 08:48

Well no, because not doing this is a really quick win, it's a no brainer.

It's a very lazy argument that there's no point doing anything unless you are doing everything.

Show quote history

Absolutely this! ⬆️
Plus, I'm going to say that nappies, printers and laundry items are far more useful than mythical food for pretend animals.

CatrionaBalfour · 27/12/2025 08:52

rainbowsandraspberrygin · 27/12/2025 08:47

I few oats wouldn’t bother me - but handfuls would if I had to walk through it. Oats getting wet means porridge!

was is biodegradable glitter (safe for animals)? If not then that needs clearing up.

I think for the sake of peace just a quick sweep.

Should you be using glitter at all? I thought it was bad for all wildlife.

Wanderinggoose · 27/12/2025 08:54

DancingNotDrowning · 27/12/2025 08:44

The 27th and the joy of Christmas really is dead.

15+ years ago when my DC were in pre-prep every school Christmas market, Kids TV show and parenting magazine sold/had a “recipe” for making reindeer dust.

it was only on MN that I learnt about the issues relating to the use of glitter (and at the same time exfoliants).

I did stop using glitter (substituting coloured sugar) but honestly it’s a bit rich complaining about a handful of reindeer dust unless you’ve cut out use of laundry pods, wet wipes, plastic bottles, synthetic clothing, disposable nappies and never use printers or own a car.

I’ll also go out on a limb and say the man moaning on FB on Christmas Day doesn’t care about the environment, he’s a joyless dickhead with nothing better to do.

Men wants to live on clean street without stuff posaibly attracting rodents = joyless dickhead
Love it 😂

Bellyblueboy · 27/12/2025 08:59

it is depressing isn’t it? Kids taught they can make a mess and they don’t have to clean it up. Kids seeing dad get arsy with man who dares ask for their mess to be cleared up.

kids grow up into entitled arseholes who think anyone who challenges their anti social behavior is unreasonable and should get yelled at.

This sounds like an awful family of rude slobs.

SharyBobbins · 27/12/2025 08:59

Our "reindeer food" is in a bowl on the step, promptly discarded once the kids are asleep (minus a few crumbs left in there for realism 😂). I've never understood throwing it everywhere, how do you make it look like it's been eaten?!

graceinspace999 · 27/12/2025 09:00

popupandsayhi · 26/12/2025 23:47

Your mess so clean it up. Not that difficult

Such an easy solution! Unless you want a bit of drama?

Seelybe · 27/12/2025 09:01

wasteful26 · 26/12/2025 23:45

Elder dc bought a bag of porridge on Xmas Eve to mix with glitter with their younger siblings and put out for the “reindeer”
As dc do on Xmas Eve they got carried away and as well as putting the food in our front garden they sprinkled it on the public road.
A neighbour who we do not know by name but to smile at had posted on the local FB page complaining about the mess which went over our heads but he then confronted dh in the street today when he was getting in his car.
Because of the old dry weather the porridge is still laying in the street.
Dh being his usual non diplomatic self wasn’t exactly friendly towards neighbour.
Ive no intentions of going out with a brush and shovel for what is a few handfuls of oats and it’s to rain in the next few days anyway but am wondering if this is something that others would be upset about in their street?

@wasteful26 it would have taken you less time to sweep up the mess than to post on MN.
It must be a fair amount for someone to object to. What message are you giving your dc about consideration for others if you let them make a mess in a public place and then refuse to clear it up? I bet you were that mum that let your dc chuck food everywhere in cafes and left it to staff to clear up 🙄
Glad you're not my neighbour tbh.

AngelinaFibres · 27/12/2025 09:02

wasteful26 · 26/12/2025 23:50

Dc didn’t go into the street they were sprinkling/throwing around the garden so anything over the fence is “overspill”

Well it didn't walk there did it. You made a mess in a public space so now it is up to you to sweep it, jet hose it, tip a bucket of water over it.

Bellyblueboy · 27/12/2025 09:02

graceinspace999 · 27/12/2025 09:00

Such an easy solution! Unless you want a bit of drama?

Show quote history

This is Wayne and Waynetta slob. They probably dont own a brush let alone know how to use it🤣

Sadcafe · 27/12/2025 09:03

Make sure the glitter is as environmentally friendly as it can be , other than that, they are kids enjoying Christmas, neighbours can be an absolute pain, ours opposite used to complain all the time about our kids chalking on the public footpath in front of our house, I definitely didn’t go out to wash it off

ChristmasCwtch · 27/12/2025 09:04

Sweep it up whilst it’s dry OP! Otherwise it will turn into a lump of porridge when it rains

PhantomOfAllKnowledge · 27/12/2025 09:04

"Reindeer food" 😂

grrrlatrix · 27/12/2025 09:05

I wouldn’t mind the children spilling a bit in the street at all and I don’t even object to a bit of glitter (even though it’s bad for the environment etc.), but refusing to clean up your mess like it’s somehow beneath you when a neighbour has asked is a strange choice.