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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think this is out of order?

81 replies

Farontothemaddingcrowd · 10/04/2020 15:46

The children next door play football all day with their dad. A few times they have knocked on our door to ask for their ball when it has come into our garden. We have chucked it back over, but really they shouldn't be knocking on anyway! We have noticed our garden gate off the latch a couple of times and one time one of our dogs got out! Luckily we noticed in time. We have a husky and a shitzhu who like to play out there.

Today the ball came over when we were sitting in the garden. Before we could chuck it over, the boy next door opened our gate! On seeing us, he ran off, leaving the gate wide open. AIBU in being quite annoyed now? They should not be coming into our garden under normal circumstances and there is also the risk to our dogs!

OP posts:
willowmelangell · 10/04/2020 17:47

Tape a message on the ball. "Hello neighbour, I can't stop my dogs from chewing these toys that come over into their garden. Please stop throwing the balls into their garden. Thank you."

Lillylouise89 · 10/04/2020 17:58

God YANBU how annoying!!

LouiseTrees · 10/04/2020 18:03

@Farontothemaddingcrowd in addition to bolting the gate put a note through that you’ve adopted a rescue dog An it doesn’t have the same temperament and will really hurt then and then occasionally play a really menacing dog noise on your phone while they are out and then shout at the make believe dog about tearing something to shreads. If they are outside then you just shout at the dog as if it’s inside.

Original poster
Farontothemaddingcrowd · 10/04/2020 18:05

@LouiseTrees that made me laughGrin

OP posts:
SilverDragonfly1 · 10/04/2020 18:10

They will soon run out of balls and get the message.

If they're letting themselves into the garden, I'd suggest they have well nigh infinite balls...

LuluJakey1 · 10/04/2020 18:29

I would put a lock on the gate, not just a bolt. If they get over the fence they can unbolt the gate and leave it open and the dog could get out.

NHSEA · 10/04/2020 18:31

My DH saw our NDN lifting up my fence panel so they could retrieve a ball!

pinkyredrose · 10/04/2020 18:37

Why can't you shout over to them if they're in the garden? Cute dogs btw!

Original poster
Farontothemaddingcrowd · 10/04/2020 18:40

I don't really feel comfortable shouting over tbh.

OP posts:
pinkyredrose · 10/04/2020 18:41

You don't feel comfortable with their kids letting themselves in either!

Original poster
Farontothemaddingcrowd · 10/04/2020 18:45

I know. Hence the bolt!

OP posts:
Original poster
Farontothemaddingcrowd · 10/04/2020 18:45

And thank you, they are great dogsGrin

OP posts:
BunnytheBee · 10/04/2020 18:47

Are many posters here missing the point that it’s not only that they shouldn’t be at your door / in your garden but you should not b me handling a ball they are playing with! That’s potentially worse than them standing 2 feet from your door. I’d tell them they’re not having it back if it comes in again as it’s a threat to your health. Parents are rude to let them keep doing it too.

Fruitsaladjelly · 10/04/2020 18:47

Pop the balls. Seriously though, this would drive me mad, once in a while ok, I guess, but even then.... I’m a gardener so would be fuming at having my plants destroyed by stray balls. If games can’t be confined to your own garden they aren’t appropriate for the space. The coming into your garden without permission takes the biscuit!

Original poster
Farontothemaddingcrowd · 10/04/2020 18:54

The child obviously knew they shouldn't be coming in as they ran away without speaking when they saw us as well. Yes I would rather not pick up the ball at the moment. Someone in our village is seriously ill on a ventilator at the moment - I might be unlikely to get particularly ill myself, but I would rather minimise any risks to my family and anyone else.

OP posts:
blue25 · 10/04/2020 18:59

How rude and irritating. Lock the gate and keep any balls that come over. They’ll soon learn.

Some people have no idea how to parent.

Mumto1girl3boys · 10/04/2020 19:12

You sound like my neighbour she told my kids earlier on she'd put their ball in the bin if it goes in her garden 1 more time. Miserable cow! (My neighbour, not you)

nannybeach · 10/04/2020 19:15

Our last house, dad said shall I get son to knock when the ball comes over, I said no because I worked nights, then had him and masses of his mates, coming over all the time, ruining my garden

T0tallyFuckedUpFamily · 10/04/2020 19:23

You sound like my neighbour she told my kids earlier on she'd put their ball in the bin if it goes in her garden 1 more time.

Well, keep the bloody ball on your side of the fence. Why should your neighbour put herself a5 even the slightest risk of catching COVID19 from a potentially contaminated ball? She’s not the unreasonable one!

Original poster
Farontothemaddingcrowd · 10/04/2020 19:23

Why do I sound like your neighbour @Mumto1girl3boys? I haven't said anything to them, but I am not accepting the risk to my dogs or my family. It is rude.

OP posts:
GabsAlot · 10/04/2020 20:43

Er stop letting the balls over then mumto1?

gamerchick · 10/04/2020 20:50

You sound like my neighbour she told my kids earlier on she'd put their ball in the bin if it goes in her garden 1 more time

If she bopped the ball before giving it back it might hammer the message home as you're not really getting it.

Lillylouise89 · 10/04/2020 20:53

You sound like my neighbour she told my kids earlier on she'd put their ball in the bin if it goes in her garden 1 more time
Good on her!

CharlotteUnaNatalieThompson · 10/04/2020 22:15

Yanbu to be annoyed by this. We used to let our kids knock once if they kicked balls over the wall but anymore then that and they had to do without until it was thrown back over. Now you've locked the gate hopefully this will settle down. Don't answer the door if you don't want to and throw all balls over at the end of the day or the next morning depending on when you are next in the garden.

However all the hysteria about catching covid-19 from the ball is ridiculous. Throw it over at the end of the day and wash your hands. No need for the drama.

redwinefine · 10/04/2020 22:26

YANBU - your garden, your property. Bloody kids! My uncle used to get it from 3 sides and kids constantly climbing his fence to get their balls back. It soon stopped when the dog (German shepherd) was left out the back and he'd chomp on any balls wanting to play!