AIBU?
Neighbour's afternoon nap
hollytrees25 · 27/03/2021 16:44
Hi, we are a family of 4, two DS under 10. We live in a small semi, next door lives a lady, 66, by herself. We get on quite well. Till recently she complained she got woken up from her afternoon naps by the boys. She has nap everyday 2-5pm. Apparently her bedroom is at the front of the house facing front garden on ground floor.
Last week after school the boys' friend down the road came to play with a basketball. Two of them patted and bounced the ball on our drive. This must be quite loud and woke her up from her nap.
She came out to tell me that my son's friend played basketball on the drive and woke her up, (ie not my boys but their friend, think she was being nice) when I got home from work that day. I said sorry I will ask them not to bounce the ball.
This afternoon was good weather the friend came around with the basketball again, I asked the boys to play on the green across the road, they did, but got carried away and the friend bounced the ball on the street a few times, opposite the house, coupled with children's laughters and chattering, which are just high pitched. The lady came out and told the boys calmly 'You woke me up' to which DS said sorry immediately.
DH believes bending over backwards to get on with neighbors, he thinks we should bake her some cakes/cookies to make up. Part of me agree with him, however part of me thinks it's our front garden on a Saturday afternoon, the children were not being particularly disruptive, WWYD?
BronwenFrideswide · 27/03/2021 16:49
Your neighbour is unreasonable, children playing either on their own drive, in the front garden or on the green and making normal children playing noise is part of life.
Stop bending over backwards for her, suggest she invests in ear plugs for her afternoon naps. The world doesn't and shouldn't stop for her just because she has a penchant for snoozing for three hours in the middle of the day.
Bettina500 · 27/03/2021 16:54
I would suggest ear plugs or to sleep in a different room. She can't expect the street to stay quiet to accommodate her daytime naps.
Having said that, basketball bouncing can be loud and annoying so I would be mindful of it right outside her house and drive.
timegoesbysoslowly · 27/03/2021 16:56
Nothing to worry about, she can't expect anyone to be quiet at that time off day.
She either sleeps in other room or gets ear plugs.
Do not cook something or say sorry, she'll then complain at anytime you are noisy.
What's gonna happen in school holidays, weekends when you want to enjoy your garden. Don't me terrified to make noise, she should live somewhere rural if doesn't want noise.
My neighbour woke me up from a nap the other day, mowing his garden, I just went back to sleep I would have been crazy to complain! Or told to don't be so ridiculous
hollytrees25 · 27/03/2021 17:00
Thank you all lovely people~
I've asked the little boy down the road not to bring over basketball.
I hate myself when she came out and said 'they woke me up ' and I just apologize like a reflex.
How do I say kindly and politely 'could you nap in a different room it's 3 in the afternoon ..'
gamerchick · 27/03/2021 17:00
Problem is, the more you pacify her the worse her complaining will be as she will think she's justified.
If she wants to take 3 hour naps during the day then that's up to her. Tell her to buy earplugs as you won't be asking hour kids to be silent during the day just because she wants to nap and not to complain to you again.
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