Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Flip

1 2

Original poster

grumpy old neighbours

29 replies

yogamatcalling · 21/08/2017 16:43

AIBU? What time of night do you think it is acceptable for children to play outside in a private garden and driveway? My children are allowed to play outside in Summer to 8.30, latest 9pm when the light allows. They are not screaming or shrieking, they are trampolining, skateboarding and riding their bikes. According to my neighbour they are so loud (I can't hear them) that she can't hear her TV and she would like to go to bed at 8pm but with their noise she is unable to sleep. Why should I stop them playing because she likes to go to bed ridiculously early. I really think she is making it up for something to complain about...I've absolutely had enough of her ringing me and ranting down the phone about their playing. Shouldn't children be allowed to play and make some noise between 9am - 9pm?

OP posts:

TroelsLovesSquinkies · 21/08/2017 17:03

I'd just ignore her.
School starts again soon enough and the weather changes so they will be inside again.
Wanting silence so she can go to bed at 8 make her sound a little bonkers.

5rivers7hills · 21/08/2017 17:06

Ignore.

If they genuinely aren't screaming or shouting then there is no problem. It will be dark and cold and rainy soon enough anyway and the neighbor can go to bed at 5pm if she likes then.

Slightlyperturbedowlagain · 21/08/2017 17:10

YANBU provided it is just a normal level of 'playing' noise, and 9pm is really not late. As people get older it does apparently get more difficult to filter out unwanted background noise, but that is just the downside of living in a community and not in isolation. personally I would be inclined to block their number or unplug the phone...

sizeofalentil · 21/08/2017 17:13

YANBU - but… Trampolining is one of the the most annoying sounds in the universe. At least get them to stop this after 8pm if she's specifically complained about the sound as a compromise.

RatherBeRiding · 21/08/2017 17:14

Are your children the only ones playing outside, or does she complain to others with children too?

I really don't think 9pm is particularly late so long as they aren't screaming and shouting outside her windows.

Yes - block her number.......

PickAChew · 21/08/2017 17:15

Trampolining can go through the ground a bit like a ball being bounced. I'd knock that on the head, but otherwise ignore her if they're genuinely playing quietly.

ilovesooty · 21/08/2017 17:16

How "old" is your neighbour? I'm inclined to think trampolining at 8pm would irritate most people.

coddiwomple · 21/08/2017 17:19

trampolining and skate boarding are awfully noisy activities, so not after 7pm in my area.

There are kids on their bikes up to 9-ish, kids playing football in local parcs or quietly-ish in their garden, but 9pm is far too late for noisy activities. All our neighbour seem to think the same around here. There's a balance between kids enjoying themselves and neighbours having some peace and quiet. Some little ones go to bed before 9pm too, so shrieking neighbours or banging boards or balls would not be pleasant either.

ZeroFuchsGiven · 21/08/2017 17:22

What has her age got to do with anything? Trampolining is repetitive awful noise, I'm pretty sure it would piss a lot of people off listening to that all day, regardless of age.

LadyMaryCrawley1922 · 21/08/2017 17:26

Trampolining is repetitive awful noise

Are you confusing a trampoline with a trumpet?

CockacidalManiac · 21/08/2017 17:26

Sod that. When I was a child in the 70s, we used to play out until all hours. All children did. There was always some miserable old sod moaning at us; we weren't particularly noisy either. Some people just don't like children, or like the sound of children laughing. Some people are just miserable fuckers.

LakieLady · 21/08/2017 17:26

The noise from skateboarding is incredibly aggravating. We live on the only level stretch of level road in very hilly area, and it's sometimes like skateboard city outside our house. Even DP, who's unusually noise tolerant, gets wound up by it.

I wouldn't let kids skateboard in a residential area for more than an hour or so, it's a really intrusive noise. Take them to a skatepark.

Spangles1963 · 21/08/2017 17:33

She sounds like my older brother. He was complaining to me about the NDNs having a barbecue last summer at 7.30pm,because he wanted to go to bed! According to him,they were 'completely out of order'. The year before that,he came storming down the stairs at 9.30pm threatening to call the police because someone had had the audacity to start letting off fireworks. On bonfire night.

coddiwomple · 21/08/2017 17:35

Some people just don't like children

Some parents don't like feral children allowed to disturb the neighborhood at all hours. My kids are not running around screaming in the garden at 5:30am- 6am, and they are not running riot at 9pm either. They are perfectly happy and healthy, and we get on really well with our neighbours.

If you chose to live surrounded by other people, you have to show some respect. If you don't like it, move in the middle of nowhere where you don't disturb anybody.

CockacidalManiac · 21/08/2017 17:38

Yeah, because kids playing in the garden are 'feral' 🙄

coddiwomple · 21/08/2017 17:42

playing nicely in the garden, no, but excitedly jumping on a trampoline, yes!

I have never witnessed anyone being silent on a skateboard either, child or adult.

CockacidalManiac · 21/08/2017 17:44

playing nicely in the garden, no, but excitedly jumping on a trampoline, yes!

How very dare they! Bloody feral kids, eh, getting all excited.

Floisme · 21/08/2017 17:44

Yes, I like children playing out - mine did - but let's not pretend they're trampolining and skateboarding soundlessly.

The most intolerant neigbours I ever had, regarding noise, were a couple in their thirties who put their toddler to bed at 6pm every night.

CockacidalManiac · 21/08/2017 17:46

Kids playing on 'screens' get criticised on here for being antisocial. The minute they start playing out with each other, they're 'feral'. Can't really win, can they?

PigletWasPoohsFriend · 21/08/2017 17:48

Trampolining can go through the ground a bit like a ball being bounced. I'd knock that on the head

Me too and the skateboarding.

CockacidalManiac · 21/08/2017 17:51

Yeah, get them all playing chess and cribbage instead.

coddiwomple · 21/08/2017 17:52

Yes CockacidalManiac because children can only ever be in front of a screen or bouncing around disturbing the neighbourhood, there are no other possible options in between

CockacidalManiac · 21/08/2017 17:55

So what are they allowed to do? Kick a ball about? Too noisy. Water pistols? Too noisy. Chasing games? Too noisy.
Until the last twenty years, this was perfectly normal. Kids played out, and were noisy. It's not until all hours, it's until 9pm. It's for the few pleasant days in the summer. Kids need to be kids.

aayla · 21/08/2017 17:58

Personally I think that 8-9 is too late for noisy play.
Why can't they put the bikes etc away at 8 but stay outside?

milliemolliemou · 21/08/2017 17:59

You don't have to be old to be grumpy - or cross about noise at any time of day.

Can you approach your GON and ask her what would be a suitable compromise? Perhaps sit in her house at 8pm when your kids are trampolining/skateboarding and hear what she hears?

Flip

1 2