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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Trampolines

84 replies

Rivendell2013 · 20/04/2020 19:55

Hi all, my neighbour has just knocked at my door and asked me to take down the trampoline in our garden because it encroaches on her privacy. She said that the children bouncing and looking at her in her garden "makes her feel uncomfortable". The trampoline has been up for one day and the only reason I bought it was so that my boys have something to do in the garden during lockdown. Also it was my sons 10th birthday present. I am a high risk person so cant go out and i'm home schooling 2 boys each day. The boys stay at their dads for 3 days a week as well. Am I being unreasonable telling her that it isn't coming down?

OP posts:
collywobble · 20/04/2020 20:13

Your neighbour is being very unreasonable and intolerant. Children are bouncing so up and down hardly staring as they won't have chance . They need fresh air and exercise and this is a brilliant way of getting it during lockdown. We had a trampoline for years and the children even enjoyed it as teenagers so please don't take it down based on a killjoy neighbour . She'll get used to it and realise the children aren't staring I'm sure they aren't remotely interested in her when bouncing .

Stompythedinosaur · 20/04/2020 20:14

Don't take it down, you have the right to have a trampoline.

If you can move it so it's a but further away from that neighbour or screen their garden in some way that would show you are trying to take account of their feelings.

HoneysuckIejasmine · 20/04/2020 20:15

Oh god, YABU! If you can, move it so it's further away from her garden. My neighbour has this problem - the house behind her are higher and have put a trampoline right at the end of their garden, so she has no privacy at all. The kids spend half their life staring are her through her living room windows, it would drive me mad. Can you assure her you'll erect screening in time, and for now just peg up some sheets so your kids are staring? I'm sure they don't mean to but they will.

HotCrossedBun · 20/04/2020 20:15

How did she see DC looking at her? Because she was looking at them which is actually worse.

If you can move it somewhere in your garden then do so. Agreeing on times when each neighbour can be in their own garden makes it seem like jail and 100% guarantee she will not agree.
Maybe like PP said put a sheet round the side the sees through to her garden.

HopeYouStepOnALego · 20/04/2020 20:16

Could you get a net to put on your trampoline? Makes it safer for the DCs and adds a bit of privacy for the NDN. You could always peg a sheet to her side of the net if you need extra screening.

Trampolines
lockeddownandcrazy · 20/04/2020 20:19

Not a chance would I take this down. What next - buy a swing and she will tell you when they get up to the top they can see her, or the same with a climbing frame.

Sorry love, get over it!

ImaPinkToothbrush12 · 20/04/2020 20:22

Ridiculous. I’d just point out that your children will be too busy bouncing to look at her. Why does she think kids will be remotely interested in looking at her and her garden?

BogRollBOGOF · 20/04/2020 20:25

How can you actually stare at a neighbour while bouncing several feet in the air?

It's perfectly reasonable for children to have play equipment, especially in current circumstances when the other options are either very limited or non-existent.

(As long as they are not excessively screeching, but that doesn't seem to be the issue here)

june2007 · 20/04/2020 20:26

Make the mst of the weather, rap up the music and have BBQ or burn some garden waste. She may not be so worried about your trampoline after that.

VenusTiger · 20/04/2020 20:27

Hate the fucking things! My friend's son got his head jammed in between the springs when he was 5yo - they're dangerous, invasive, noisy and bloody annoying. Sorry but there you are.

babasaclover · 20/04/2020 20:30

I've been looking for one since early February before this chaos. Would give anything for my girl to burn off some fun! Keep it up

EmeraldShamrock · 20/04/2020 20:31

Meh we all have to compromise during this time. Mine has been a godsend I am considerate to the neighbour's.
1 hour mid morning another in the evening.
DS forced me to bounce with him for a half an hour last week, I felt so relaxed afterwards.

oohnicevase · 20/04/2020 20:34

I would hate that too.. I've bought a small one for my son in lockdown and have it on the patio so it isn't near neighbours fence ..
can't blame her for complaining .

Hunnybears · 20/04/2020 20:53

There’s people losing their jobs left right and centre, thousands of people dying, the country’s on lockdown

and

your neighbour is moaning about kids on a trampoline??!! As a pp said, if you want to stare at your neighbours you could go upstairs and look out if your window in to garden.

She’s being an utter prick! Tell her to fuck off

Blackandgreenteas · 20/04/2020 20:55

Blimey. Has she no empathy?

Boulshired · 20/04/2020 21:11

I have put up an old fashioned washing line with the centre pole to give height. When DS2 is on the trampoline I put two sheets on the line and raise it up. My fences are 6 ft and with the sheets it’s probably about 12 to 12 ft

Oysterbabe · 20/04/2020 21:16

I'd tell her to get fucked in a more polite and neighbourly way.

Mylittlepony374 · 20/04/2020 21:17

Oh she must lead a miserable life to want to deny kids that fun. No way would I take it down.

mumwon · 20/04/2020 21:24

attach 2 or more long bean poles type things to your fence above the fence height when dc on trampoline as pp suggest attach sheet or similar to this when dc jump this should give a bit more privacy but ask dc to jump facing away from her side & to scream quieter Grin don't let them be on it all day this way the novelty wont wear off & it will be a treasured time. (nb discussion about swing balls & I found a three in one which was tennis/football/netball which were attached to pole. get dc some pavement chalk or something that could be quieter that they could do outside to -that you can introduce to let both you & your neighbour both enjoy your garden (& I am def not judging you op its an impossibly time)

Wearywithteens · 20/04/2020 21:25

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn at the poster's request.

Hunnybears · 20/04/2020 21:31

@Wearywithteens

Because the poor OP has kids to entertain and isn’t allowed to take them out etc so she bought them a trampoline. The first day the neighbour is banging on the door 🙄 composing about her privacy.

She’s being completely intolerant as children need to play and let off steam.

She’s being utterly ridiculous hence my reply

Wearywithteens · 20/04/2020 21:44

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn at the poster's request.

Hunnybears · 20/04/2020 21:56

Well FYI I was actually joking when I said tell her to eff off! I certainly wasn’t the only one! Would I say that to my neighbours in real life? No I wouldn’t!

Obviously I didn’t mean she was literally belting the door down, but I was illustrating her annoyance is evident as its only been ONE DAY.

As others have pointed out, how can the kids stare at her when they up and down etc? I’m pretty sure they are not at all interested in the middle aged woman next door neighbour.

You’re assuming OP can move the trampoline, but what if she can’t? What if that’s the only area for it to be placed ie flat enough?

As it’s already been mentioned, many people have trampoline so if she wants to make sure she doesn’t ever see children bounce then she should buy a detached house in the country.

Why can’t she move? Why doesn’t she go to the other side of the garden and turn the other way if she’s that bothered?

Yes we all need to get on with our neighbours but in the grand scheme of things it’s hardly a big deal now is it? She’s made it awkward.

Hunnybears · 20/04/2020 21:58

Oh and she is a joy catcher!!

Ontheboardwalk · 20/04/2020 22:04

Next door has a huge trampoline. Not long after I moved in the kid was bouncing on the trampoline giving a running commentary on my actions 'new people next door having a BBQ, they’ve got beef burgers etc'

Didn't bother me but the kid in question was quickly taken off the trampoline

As people have said get some bamboo/tall fences and tell your children not to mither the neighbours and you'll be ok

Oh and make sure you’ve got plenty of WD40 for the squeaking