We live in a close of 5 houses. Family opposite have 2 DS aged 10ish and 8ish. Both are footy mad and use the road/grass verges of the close as a football pitch almost constantly. This drives us crackers and I know the other neighbours feel the same. In addition to the noise of them playing, they are gradually trashing the grass, trees and shrubs which grow in the close. This is jointly owned property. (I've posted about this before). Yesterday I went out and collected 9 footballs (yes, really), two large sticks being used as goal posts, a scooter, a pair of gloves, two fruit shoot bottles, a pair or sun glasses and a baseball hat which had been left littering the area. I then made some attempt to collect up all the broken leaves and branches, tidied up some trashed shrubs as best I could and thought about re-seeding the bare patches on the grass. These kids have absolutely no respect for the property!!
Today as I was going out, the mother was washing her car on the front drive, so I went over and had a quiet word. It was an amicable exchange during which she agreed the boys leaving their stuff everywhere and damaging the plants/trees has got to an unacceptable level and she would have words to tell them to stop damaging and tidy away all their stuff. We parted friend's .... all smiles etc.
This evening I mentioned the conversation to DH and he said he'd heard the neighbour telling the boys off for their behaviour and said "that explains it then ..." ... and is now being off with me....So suddenly I'm public enemy number 1 for saying something which resulted in the kids getting told off, when he's been as vocal as me about the mess/damage over the last few weeks.
Sometimes you just can't win. Sorry for the long rant ...