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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To be twitchy about neighbour's kids going in my front garden?

12 replies

leguminous · 28/07/2012 14:42

So, what with the summer holidays and all, and the kids who live opposite (I'm guessing they range in age from 6 to about 10) are playing out a lot on our close. Which is good and nice and great and what kids should be doing. One of their favourite games is to throw a ball back and forth across the street, and very, very often it ends up in our front garden. We just have gravel out the front and no wall or fence by the pavement, so no bother, they just dash onto the gravel, pick it up and dash off again. I don't really mind that even when it happens every couple of minutes all bloody afternoon, though I sort of wish they'd take the ball into their own garden or over to the little green that's all of three houses down. But, no big deal.

Except that now they're not just doing that, they're chucking the ball in on purpose, dawdling off, running round the car on our drive during hide and seek, pausing to poke shrubs as they go by, picking up little stones and throwing them, and once the girl appeared with a spade and proceeded to briefly dig about in the gravel.

Am I just being precious about my personal space, or is this legitimately annoying? If they're going to keep this up until September I'll be sat in my living room going quietly spare. If your kids were doing this, would you want me to speak to them (politely, I'm not going to yell about it!) or to you?

Incidentally, we're renting, which means I probably can't just go and build a wall!

OP posts:
JarethTheGoblinKing · 28/07/2012 14:46

Have you got a pitchfork? Grin

cansu · 28/07/2012 14:46

I think I wold probably say nice and friendlyish "it's ok to get your ball but please don't play on the gravel or on the driveway, thanks". if they then continue and take the piss I would speak to the parents and say the same. You are being very reasonable but t would irritate me tbh.

Condensedmilk · 28/07/2012 14:46

This happened to us and I (very nicely) told the children that my DD was sleeping (she wasn't) so could they please be as quiet as possible.

It worked Grin.

thisisyesterday · 28/07/2012 14:47

i don't think you're being unreasonable. i guess they're just kind of secretly enjoying going somewhere they know they aren't supposed to go?

if they do it again, on purpose, or start digging etc then just go out and say "hey kids, I don't mind you coming in to get your ball, but my garden is not for you to play in"

or something along those lines.

Mutt · 28/07/2012 14:48

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

SayWhatWhat · 28/07/2012 14:50

This is happening to me at the moment and twitchy is definitely the word for how I feel. It's my back garden though as at the moment I have 2 fence panels down,this seems to have given all the neighbours kids free entry.
New fence panels going up as soon as possible!! I have just planted some plants too,making me very twitchy and territorial :)

thatisall · 28/07/2012 14:50

You arent being unreasonable. What if one of them got hurt in your garden. questions would be asked as to why you have the children in there no? Also what if they damage your car?

Id just gently say 'just be careful it doesnt come in my garden guys, Im a bit worried about the car, if it gets damaged it will cost alot to fix' simple.

If they pick up stones, say 'dont pick up the stones; cats wee in them!!' That would do the trick for most people!

otherwise you'll have to speak to parents. awkward

WildWorld2004 · 28/07/2012 18:57

Id have been straight out & asked them (or probably rather told them) to please stay out of my garden.

leguminous · 28/07/2012 19:56

Yeah, I will do if they're in there again. They were out on scooters today so stayed off the gravel. Smile

Ridiculous really, that a grown woman (who's a parent herself) can't summon the courage to politely confront a couple of kids. I'm so crap at this stuff, and so don't want the parents to think I'm arsey - we've only just moved here and I don't know anyone so feeling a bit unsure of myself generally!

OP posts:
ImperialBlether · 28/07/2012 20:11

Just go out, be polite but no-nonsense. If they do it again, tell them you are going to talk to their mothers if they do it again. You have no privacy if little kids are in your front garden all the time.

cocolepew · 28/07/2012 20:16

Go and stand at your door with this -> Hmm look on your face. It usually works without the need to speak.

JumpingThroughHoops · 28/07/2012 20:17

If they were coming to get the ball, fine ... but poking about with a spade in the gravel? noooooooooooo!

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