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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask neighbours child not to play nicknacks on our door...

48 replies

Starzinhereyes · 08/04/2021 18:38

I caught my neighbours kids red handed ringing our doorbell & running off to hide behind a car to hide... I went out to them & called them by name, straight away the dad was out watching me, I asked them not to do it again as I was in the middle of making dinner. Then the mom came out watching, their big son explained what they did but the parents didn't even react.... I just said hi, lovely evening & went back indoors...
I don't leave my dc out as theres always some type of low level mischief & poor behaviour/language & that's not what I want for them. They are happy playing in the garden anyways...
Was i being unreasonable? I know people will say kids are kids etc but I don't feel I have to tolerate it...

OP posts:
Original poster
Starzinhereyes · 08/04/2021 18:42

Just to add, I was very nice when I spoke to them!

OP posts:
JackieTheFart · 08/04/2021 18:44

Of course YANBU.

If they do it again I’d be tempted to do it back - and when the parents open the door and catch you just blithely say “oh I thought this was a game we were playing?”

They probably won’t do it again though.

Original poster
Starzinhereyes · 08/04/2021 18:46

I don't think they will hopefully not... Just feel embarrassed as the parents were watching me reprimand their kids.. I know already via my own dc I'm known as the "strict" parent on the road 😭

OP posts:
Original poster
Starzinhereyes · 08/04/2021 19:02

DH reassures my I was right but I still feel uncomfortable, my parenting style would be different to many on the road🙈

OP posts:
Exhausted4ever · 08/04/2021 19:03

They should have said something when they heard, so clearly they couldn't care a less what their kids do 🙄 Yanbu at all

Kaleidoscopecascade · 08/04/2021 19:04

You definitely did the right thing. Nip it in the bud now.

jessstan2 · 08/04/2021 19:07

Of course you're not unreasonable, the parents are for: 1 not telling them 2 letting them play out the front.

oohmyback · 08/04/2021 19:09

I'm that parent too. Yadnbu

Original poster
Starzinhereyes · 08/04/2021 19:09

There's definitely an attitude of "let the kids be kids" on the road... Anyone who thinks otherwise is in the wrong... Said kids have been out every morning at 9.30 until 8.30 ish hail, rain or snow..... I said my piece nicely, the child replied sorry, it wasn't a good idea & I told her not to worry but if it gapped again I'd have to call into her mammy...

OP posts:
Original poster
Starzinhereyes · 08/04/2021 19:11

Happened not gapped!!!

OP posts:
StoneofDestiny · 08/04/2021 19:16

The parents are the ones that should have been embarrasssed that you had to tell their kids off. They should have called them inside for the night straight away.

mineofuselessinformation · 08/04/2021 19:29

Good for you, OP.
Kids that are old enough to be allowed to play out are also old enough to know they shouldn't do it.

violetmonster · 08/04/2021 19:31

Not helpful but I've never heard it called nicknacks, ding dong ditch or chappy where I'm from!

Sausageroll67 · 08/04/2021 19:36

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Fundays12 · 08/04/2021 19:37

I wouldn’t mind a neighbour telling my child not to do that but I would have told them myself to if I seen it.

Sausageroll67 · 08/04/2021 19:37

Wrong thread! 😂

MrMeSeeks · 08/04/2021 19:38

Haven't heard this! Its always ding dong ditch!
I always wanted to do it, but like you my parenrs would have killed me!
Yanbu
Even bloody worse the parents knew Confused

Monicuddle · 08/04/2021 19:39

I had neighbours whose kids did this. Every single time I’d go and ring their bell and say, all innocence “little Janie just rang my bell - did you want something?”

1Morewineplease · 08/04/2021 19:40

@Monicuddle

I had neighbours whose kids did this. Every single time I’d go and ring their bell and say, all innocence “little Janie just rang my bell - did you want something?”
Nice one!
Hankunamatata · 08/04/2021 19:40

Constantly keep offering them sweets for not ringing the bell - hopefully go home hyper and sick Grin

MadeOfStarStuff · 08/04/2021 19:42

Of course YANBU to politely ask them not to do it again! Their parents should be ashamed that you had to do it for them

Cherrysoup · 08/04/2021 19:44

You were right to tell her off, but I would have spoken to the parents and told them what she did and asked them to speak to her.

GoToSleepBabyPlease · 08/04/2021 19:46

YANBU. If they try it with an elderly person it could end up causing an injury as they try to get to the door.

Emeraldshamrock · 08/04/2021 19:47

Yanbu but you're better off ignoring them they love a reaction.
I know what you mean though it is similar here DC have no parental supervision or the types that ignore them.

DarkMatterA2Z · 08/04/2021 19:56

I've had this before. Particularly annoying when it happens during bathtime and you think it's something important because they ring repeatedly so you have to carry a naked, dripping toddler to the front door only to find it's a hoax.