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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Snow on cars

215 replies

PerfectlyPortioned · 08/02/2021 11:04

We live next door to a playground that's covered in thick snow this morning. Lots of kids playing in it. A mother was standing watching her kids scraping all the snow off our 2 cars to make snowballs (parked in our drive which is open to the road) and I asked her (perfectly nicely) not to incase the cars get scratched. She looked at me like I was totally mad. Didn't want to be a killjoy but they are new cars (and on our drive).... I genuinely don't think I would let my kids do that....

WIBU?

OP posts:
SchrodingersImmigrant · 08/02/2021 11:20

Yanbu because they are on your drive. Would be a fair play if they were on a street

smoothchange · 08/02/2021 11:21

YANBU.

My own kids have gone out to play in the snow this morning and I told them not to touch my car!!

Shieldingending · 08/02/2021 11:22

You are not unreasonable at all, this is your driveway and your cars. They should not be in your driveway and as you say zips from their coats etc risk scratching your car. I wouldn't dream of allowing my child onto somebody else's driveway, or indeed to touch their car

24butfeeling80 · 08/02/2021 11:23

I think unless you understand how easily paint on cars it scratched or have a appreciation for cars and their body paint then people won’t understand OP.

I never used to understand until I met DP who is big on cars, I once teasingly wrote ‘I love -my name-‘ on the back of his car on the dust and he had an absolute field day washing his car and then shower me that even though I did it lightly it had still scratches it into the paint work.

Now I have a new appreciation for paint on cars and of it’s something you’ve invested a lot of money into.. or just because you car about the condition of your car then YANBU. I wouldn’t like it either. Even if they’re being gentle is still worry that leaning against it to get snow means zips and buttons on coats and jackets can scratch it. Dirt under the snow when scraping it off will scratch it.

YANBU OP. Snow or not their touching your property.. on your property which is cheeky enough.

GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing · 08/02/2021 11:23

YABU

That’s incredibly precious even for MN!

GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing · 08/02/2021 11:25

But I wouldn’t let my dc go onto anyone’s drive to get at the snow, only if parked on the road.

I actually assumed people would be quite glad to have their cars de-snowed!

CaptSkippy · 08/02/2021 11:26

Seriously, what the hell is up with it being okay for neighbors to enter someone property and touching their stuff? They need to back off and show some respect.

EdithWeston · 08/02/2021 11:27

How likely is it that they are going to scratch a car?

I suppose if they had zips or other metal bits on gloves/sleeves they mighty but that's really quite unlikely, isn't it?

Makingnumber2 · 08/02/2021 11:29

I would never allow my child to go onto someone’s front drive and start touching their car- snow or not. I think that’s CF-ery. I’m sure they could have found snow in a number of other places..?

crazylikechocolate · 08/02/2021 11:29

YANBU regardless of where your cars are parked the children should not be touching them , their mother should have stopped them before you needed to say anything , sick of people thinking it's ok to just do whatever they want to without considering the possibility of damaging property belonging to a third party

EdithWeston · 08/02/2021 11:30

But they shouldn't be going into gardens or going for bits of cars that cannot be reached from the pavement. And of course should stop immediately an owner asks them to desist

I don't think a zip from a flapping coat will scratch - you need considerably more force behind it - only only hands/wrists

WaxOnFeckOff · 08/02/2021 11:30

I suppose if they had zips or other metal bits on gloves/sleeves they mighty but that's really quite unlikely, isn't it?

You mean it's unlikely that they will be wearing coats with and cloves with things that can scratch? Extremely likely unless they are out in their PJs

You mean it's unlikely to scratch? Again extremely likely, paint finishes now are quite delicate. I was advised not to let my car brush up against my hedge as it leaves scratches.

And anyway, why should OP have to bear the risk given she's parked on her own driveway?

WaxOnFeckOff · 08/02/2021 11:32

I'd also say it's not fair play even if it's parked on the street. That's someone else's property, keep your mits off.

user2021 · 08/02/2021 11:32

YADNBU. Surprised so many on here saying you are! I'd never approach a strangers car like that. Especially if parked on their drive Confused

BrumBoo · 08/02/2021 11:33

I personally wouldn't mind, but I don't have drive so less of a 'get off ma property' issue. I also hate de-snowing the car, along with the fact that mine is in no way a 'posh' brand and therefore don't really care for it's ascetics. However, I dont think you're personally unreasonable being cross. It's your property and some people can be really entitled with their 'why does it matter' attitudes.

I get bloody cross at kids walking across my garden wall, or sometimes right into it/past my window, when there's a perfectly adequate and wide pavement. Another controversial one on MN, but unless you pay my mortgage, stay off my property. I don't allow my kids to walk other people's walls either.

Iknowwhatudidlastsummer · 08/02/2021 11:33

That woman was so rude! I can't believe how entitled some people are.

No, of course it's not ok to scrap snow from people's car.
And it's not even a question about going on somebody's drive!

You are nice, I wouldn't have been that pleasant. Taking snow on somebody's drive is being a CF, but hey ho. Damaging cars? (which is very likely by doing this?) unacceptable.

Orchidflower1 · 08/02/2021 11:33

Of course yanbu saying no to someone coming into your property. Blimey they’ll want hot coco brought over on a tray next - cheeky buggers.

Dinnafashyersel · 08/02/2021 11:35

YANBU re your drive. YABU to suppose a child removing snow in this way is likely to do more damage to paintwork than the average trip on a slushy potholed and gritted road.

lifestooshort123 · 08/02/2021 11:35

YANBU, my car, my snow. Even if it's parked in the street, don't touch my car. Mother at fault here definitely.

ineedaholidayandwine · 08/02/2021 11:35

YANBU, i would don't let my daughter go on someone elses drive and certainly not touch their car. I wouldn't let her touch a car parked on the street, not hers to touch.

HighSpecWhistle · 08/02/2021 11:36

YANBU. There's no excuse for messing with people's property without permission.

Kids need boundaries and this is one she should be teaching. Snow is fun, but you're right, if they'd have scratched your car I highly doubt she'd admit to it and pay for repairs.

JillsFlapjacks · 08/02/2021 11:36

Yanbu. They shouldn't have been on your drive. That's rude. They're also touching your property. Again, rude. I'm sure there was openly of snow elsewhere for them to play with!

Cuppaand2biscuits · 08/02/2021 11:37

I think it is unbelievably rude of them to take snow off your car while it's on your drive. Completely unnecessary for them to be touching your property.

hansgrueber · 08/02/2021 11:37

@GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing

YABU

That’s incredibly precious even for MN!

Because the MN type often thinks that their sprogs can do no wrong! Maybe go and salt the playpark, get rid of the pests.
grumpygiraffe · 08/02/2021 11:38

YANBU. The children shouldn’t be anywhere near other people’s cars.