Are we a nightmare to live next door to?

[squinker45]

Me and d h child mind from home. We have d s 6 and d d 4, plus up to 5 other under fives. Nice weather means the kids are in the garden every day from 830 to 930 then 3 to 5, then 5..30 to 6. The rest of the time we are out at groups, or eating or sleeping etc. Neighbours hate us! They came round to complain saying this is a nice quiet area and her kids, teenagers, could not revise under these conditions. Also that she knows the other neighbours, who have barking dogs,feel the same as she does. They are old friends and their kids are the same age. Bet it wasn't a nice quiet area ten years ago when they got the paddling pool out. Aibu to think they are being overly arsey? We have only been here six months. Semi detached house. No complaints about the noise from within the house but a clear expectation to keep noise in the garden to a whisper. We work four days a week, neighbour works 2.

I wouldn't be impressed personally, but I'd say the 3-6 period is a greater issue than the hour in the morning. It's quite a long stretch of outdoor play (including the half hour gap).

I have to ask (as you're out all day at clubs) do you ever actually let the children in the house?

I wouldn't like to be your neighbours but then again I like peace and quiet. We have screaming/ shreiking kids one side of us ( who constantly have lots of other peoples kids round) and a yappy yappy dog ( who,likes to crash around in a paddling pool in hot weather !!) the other and it does drive me insane especially when I'm tying to sleep after a nightshift. I do recognise though that if you live in a row of houses there is going to be unavoidable noise and there's not much you can do about it.

I don't think you are being unreasonable either. Children playing in the garden is a normal noise for a residential area. It's their issue not yours and is probably more down to control than actual noise, like it always is with unreasonable neighbours!

I have a neighbour with a constantly barking dog, I think I'd rather hear children playing!

I wouldn't mind if it doesn't involve screaming, music or trampolines.

It depends. If the children screech then yes, I would find you the noisy neighbour; if they play without screeching I would get used to it. At least it's never late. The noise of barking dogs, especially late, sets me on edge.

It wouldn't bother me. The only thing that does is constant ball kicking against the fence. The sound of children playing is fine.

Also I agree it must be really hard if they have teenagers revising , or really for anyone trying to study/ work at home. My ds had to stay late at school and revise in the library due to excessive noise from neighbours.

I would absolutely hate it and do an elaborate raindance every day.

But, you're not being unreasonable either.

I do think, though, that if the neighbours have complained, then you should at least try to modify the disturbance, because the kids may well be creating a disturbance. It's not about laying the law down, or acting entitled, it's just about common courtesy I think.

In a couple of years time would you appreciate 7 kids screaming and playing whilst your kids revise? Can't you compromise until after the exams are over?

Can you move next door to me? I would swop you for my crap music playing, weed smoking, swearing nightmare I have next to me!

7 children is a bit much, actually. Thinking about it

The morning would annoy me the most

The thing I love about my garden is the absolute peace, birdsong and solitude.

I think I would be very upset by seven children all day four days a week making a racket.

Especially at 08.30, which is when I have seen everyone off and walked the dog and I go outside to meditate.

That sounds horrendous! Especially if they're screeching and shouting. You're spoiling the peace and quiet for everyone. That is so selfish. How would you like it if you were trying to work from home, study, enjoy your garden, get a baby to sleep?

Why can't you take them to the park or for long walks, instead of using the garden so much?

The OP doesn't say 'all day'. It says '830 to 930 then 3 to 5, then 5.30 to 6.'

OP: tell your neighbour to bugger off.

*"I reckon I am more than averagely tolerant of children's noise.

BUT
I think that if I knew that every time we had nice weather I wouldn't be able to use my garden in peace it would put me on edge"*

This

I feel sorry for your poor neighbours. The noise is clearly upsetting them so have some consideration and take the children to the park some of the time instead.

YAB a bit U
I sympathise with your neighbours
jus
Yes, you might be the 'annoying' loud neighbours right now, but next door will just have to suck it up. Children don't stay children for very long and children with working parents need a childcare provider.
yes this is very true but as the child mindees grow up and become quieter (and not needing a minder) there will be a new lot of under 5s to 'screech'

I would hate it tbh, I don't have kids and would find that number of small children in the next door garden, extremely trying

Tell your neighbours I'll swap our quiet flat for their house anyday, I love hearing kids plau out. It's nice to hear them getting outdoors and having fun. I don't think yabu at all.

You are not actually being unreasonable but I too would hate it and consider moving to avoid. I really like quiet, especially while I work from home.

I can see both sides. I live near a school and love hearing the children playing and my own children are now 12 and 10 and still play a little outside but its not every day and I try to be conscious of our neighbours so if its football they go to the local green.

I think it would be the fact that every sunny day you know that your peace and quiet will be disturbed between those times by 7 kids - which would produce quiet a lot of noise. It would likely grate on me some days.