WIBU in making this child cry?!

[ILoveFlumps]

We have a new build house, which has shingles on the front garden next to the driveway.
I went out of my front door to put some rubbish in the bin and find a man with his toddler son playing on the shingles. I was a bit confused and politely said “excuse me, would you mind not doing that on my front garden?”. The man then replied “he’s just a child who is playing”. I replied “but it’s my property”
He then picked up his child who then started crying and as he was walking away he said to me “are you happy now, you made him cry?”
I’m a bit taken aback! Was I wrong to tell them to stop playing in my front garden?!

No, you weren't wrong. And if the dad can't think of something else to entertain his toddler other than playing in other people's gardens, he's going to run into problems more frequently.

I personally wouldn't let my children play on somebody else's front garden, but neither would I be sufficiently bothered if a toddler did for a few minutes. If they were happy and not doing any damage, then it wouldn't really bother me.

Some years ago we had a small motor boat,, which we moored on the beach. found a young woman encouraging her child to climb onto it and jump off. I asked her where her car was .
"Why?'
"So I can help my children up onto the bonnet so then they can jump off!"
Not sure I got through, she left in a huff.

@Floralnomad "I have no fucking idea what a shingle is and this thread has only made me more confused. Will someone please post a picture and explain what it is and what it's used for"

People keep saying "shingles" when they mean "shingle". Shingles are wooden tiles so it is a bit confusing.

Aww, he was only a toddler. It wouldn't bother me in the slightest and I'd try to strike up friendly conversation with the Dad. He is going to be your neighbour after all.

I don't think you are being unreasonable. I have always told my son not to walk on people's shingle - it makes a mess and is annoying for the person that lives there. His dad should have told him no.

daybath and others let us know where you live we'll all be round soon to sit in your garden and i'll bring a some garden tools with me ok?

10 acres of woodland really isn’t the same thing though... a child AND adult playing on a gravel area beside your house is more intrusive than some kids in the woods (or of toddler messing about just where driveway meets pavement, which IMO should be tolerable).

@NotFabulousDarling You really think an entitled adult like him would be volunteering to help a neighbor?

@lidoshuffle I know what it is , the quote is from someone else .

The poster with 10 acres who lets the little ones play on it sounds very Lady Bountiful. My parents have a large house with lots of land and they would not do that because of public liability insurance issues.

YANBU

I’d have put the hose on them.

@Skythrill

YANBU

I’d have put the hose on them.

It wouldn't have bothered me at all, crunchy shingles, a minutes play and then off he'd go. We've got a low wall at the end of our garden with bushes in from but the wall is straight and wide and small children are always walking along it holding parents hand, technically its mine but they do no harm, mine used to love walking that wall.

I wouldn't have a problem with it.

But it wasn't your fault he cried either.

@orphlids you've restored my hope in humanity. People on this thread are so mean!

@crystalcherry87

Yanbu, they were cheeky and entitled. A while ago a woman drinking from a bottle of wine, opened my front yard gate and sat on my doorstep. I was going to tell her to move but I noticed her just as she as leaving.

If someone on their own is sitting on a doorstep drinking I think compassion is needed.

[quote lidoshuffle]@Floralnomad "I have no fucking idea what a shingle is and this thread has only made me more confused. Will someone please post a picture and explain what it is and what it's used for"

People keep saying "shingles" when they mean "shingle". Shingles are wooden tiles so it is a bit confusing.[/quote]
I thought that shingles were adult pox?

Of course ywnbu

And I'm amazed that some people in here think you were

What rude inconsiderate thing to do

@Shnuffles

YANBU. Definitely not when the man stupidly asked if you were happy "you" made the child cry! That idiotic comment is enough to tell us all we need to know about him.

If he bases every parenting decision on how to stop the child ever crying it looks like this kid is going to get anything it wants

@Isit2021yetplease

Was it really necessary? There isn't a whole lot for parents to do to entertain their kids right now - a few minutes looking at shingles on your front drive might have given him a few minutes peace! Yes technically they shouldn't have been doing it but a bit of compassion or ability to see the bigger picture might have been nice. What a grump you are.

Here we are. MN classic. You should have let them play in your property and you should probably also have laid on lunch, endless teas and coffees and maybe given them your car.

@Ileflottante well obvs - it’s not as if she was using the car now is it?! I think the OP is being very entitled...!

I think I want to see a diagram.
Your drive is very long!

Actually it's not that long I've just paced mine out!
Not that I'm bored or anything.

@MisfitNotMissFit

I think I would've highlighted that local cats like to shit on the shingles, but he's more than welcome to let his kid play there and left them to it.

For what it's worth, I don't think you were being unreasonable.

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