To think you don't summon adults like a lost pet?

[Onceihadaname]

So, I've got the back door open and the washing out the back. I am in the living room on the couch getting some work done & looking after my dc...
Neighbour's kid must have booted over the ball because he has started hollering my name towards my back door. He has done it a couple of times in the past and tbh I have ignored it every time because I thought it was really rude and I didn't want to make him think I would come running if he called. Eventually I will check on the laundry and will chuck the ball over then.
Except this time the mum has joined him hollering my name! Not asking if I was about, not an hello, just repeatedly shouting out "Ethel"*.

Now I happen to know that while she has 2 under 5 to look after that she also has her parents round. Both parents can drive and have no mobility issues and both say hello to me when they see me so there is absolutely no way that 1 adult of the 3 functioning ones available couldn't spare the 30secs to pop down the drive and knock on my front door.

Is this a thing now???? It has absolutely wound me up and I am choosing to ignore them or I'll end up in a row. Please tell me this is not normal and AIBU to think if they can't be bothered to come round they can flipping well wait

Diagrams added as I know how essential they are!

*not actually my name!

Its the norm with my neighbours to call over the fence if back doors are open.
But we've all lived here ages so might not be typical.

YANBU I would explain it to them plainly

YANBU

I’d be tempted to throw the ball back deflated.

YANBU. Not only is it down right rude and a PITA. It's also an invasion on your privacy.
Fair enough the child has to play. I get that and the ball will come over now and again but not all the bloody time.

MrsTommyBanks

Without a “hello” or “excuse me”?

I would start shouting Ethel back at them.

Rather than ignoring and being irritated while it goes on for ages, wouldn’t it be easier to say “please don’t yell for me, I find it rude. If you want your ball come to the door and ask nicely.”

Ever since a particular episode of Wife Swap ca 2002, DP summons me by shouting 'Carol' in a Yorkshire accent, getting louder each time.

It's hilarious I tell you.

Not a single hello or anything other than repeatedly shouting my name. I am not visible nor can be heard moving, and have never set precedent by doing this to them!
Happy to chat to neighbours in the back garden and would shout hello if I saw them outside, but this feels really intrusive.
It's not even like they have ever made the effort to chat I am out back!

I think nona has it. Polite yet assertive without pussy footing around.

I don't see the issue. The boy from next door shouts your name to get your attention so you can throw his ball back? Hardly worth a thread on MN!

Rather than ignoring and being irritated while it goes on for ages, wouldn’t it be easier to say “please don’t yell for me, I find it rude. If you want your ball come to the door and ask nicely.”

Definitely this

I would have told them not to summon me if I wasn't in the middle of something else at the time but really, is this something you actually need to explain to another adult?!

Sadly I think there are adults who need telling that their behaviour is inappropriate

why is it less intrusive to ring the door bell than to call you from the back?

This is the kind of petty harmless thing that would really wind me up too 😂

I think Great Duck must be this boys mum.

And yeah, it is a non issue but I was wondering if I am in a minority thinking it was off. The kid doing it was annoying but excusable but the mum joining in was weird to me.
My kids have been taught to go to the front door and ask nicely for it back, or wait until the neighbours choose to throw it back. I would be seriously embarrassed my kids tried this!

I would pretend I was deaf forever more...

coldrain2018 It's not necessarily less intrusive overall to ring the bell and ask nicely, but it is a damn site more polite!

It isn't less intrusive to knock at the front door, it is just more polite imo.
Certainly this is how the neighbours on the other side used to do it.
Balls come over... if we weren't about they would have to wait, and if we were they could run round the back for it after asking.

Yeah you've got it Spider 🤷‍♀️
Honestly I don't see the problem. The OP has a name, the kid knows it, he uses it to get her attention.

If he was shouting " Oi fuck face pass me my ball " then yes I could see the issue. But not some little kid shouting someone's name.

I'd shut your back door.
Seems the easiest option.

YANBU. My NDNs, who I have a dispute with, regularly call my name over and over to get my attention if I’m in the garden or my door is open to try and start an argument. They always attempt to get through my locked gate when I can see what they’re doing. It’s very intrusive and rude. All it takes is a ‘hello, sorry to disturb you’. I don’t think some people have a good idea about boundaries (not property ones) as we’ve been crammed together and on top of each other for so long it’s all become muddled

The kid's behaviour to me is rude but he is a kid.
It was mum joining in that got to me!
I had wondered where the hell he had got this from but now I am wondering if he was just copying her but I haven't noticed it before?