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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To tell neighbours children to leave me alone

222 replies

Pleaseleavemealone · 12/06/2021 16:00

Live in terraced housing. Next door is a 2 bed hmo with about 4 adults, recently a mum dad and 3 kids have moved in (5, 7 and 9). As the weather is warmer understandably everyone is in their gardens.
Next doors kids just don’t understand privacy. Every single time we go in our garden - whether I am popping out to hang laundry or if my own children (3 and 1) are playing in our paddling pool - next doors kids heads pop over the fence and they just stand there the whole time staring and answering to everything I say to my own kids. For example :
Me to my daughter - “do you want an ice lolly?”
And before my daughter can answer next doors kids say “can I have one?”
Or if I am smoking (no judgment please I am trying to stop!) next doors kids will say “ew are you smoking?” And everything I do they ask me if I’m doing that.
It is getting so annoying and feel that I don’t even want to be in the garden anymore because these kids are just watching and butting into everything I say/do.
Their parents are sat in the garden the whole time and don’t say anything! But I feel it’s not my place to tell someone else’s kids off really and they aren’t being naughty.
The fences aren’t shorter than average, they have dragged something over to stand on just so they can look over my fence.
I will be on the phone (I go in my garden to take calls sometimes as my tv is on/kids are chatting away) and next doors kids will be calling me over the fence to ask me questions or ask where my children are.
Right now I’m sat in my garden after a long day of paddling pool fun, my children are inside having a drink and cool down and the kids are telling me to bring my kids outside ffs

OP posts:
godmum56 · 12/06/2021 18:42

whose fence is it? If its your fence, you may have to involve the landlord if they won't stop climbing on it....not sure how to put this politely....could it be that the expectations of what is acceptable differ because of ethnicity? amd yes, refuse to engage and put up some kind of barrier.
i had a similar problem only in my case it was because dad worked away from home all week and mum CBA. Kids have got a huge (as in could sleep in it) castle wendy house thing near the fence and used to climb into the top half and yell over the fence. I waited until they did it one weekend and used my best authority voice to yell at them really loudly to GET DOWN THATS VERY RUDE. I have since met dad a couple of times and he is a pleasant polite bloke, he must have been mortified because it never happened again. I think the couple are split now dad and kids around but no mum.

Hawkins001 · 12/06/2021 18:43

All the best op

GettingItOutThere · 12/06/2021 18:43

@Originalyellowbelly

I would just say "no, go away" with a scary stare. But' I'm a nasty cow and it's not my responsibility to entertain other peoples rude children.
i would do this ^

then paint the top of the fence with anti vandal paint, honestly cannot deal with parents who cannot be arsed to entertain the kids!

randomkey123 · 12/06/2021 18:45

Walk to where they are standing, look over at them and say "Get down from the fence please, it will get broken where you are leaning on it" each and every time.

They'll soon get bored if they get no response from your kids or you.

AintPageantMaterial · 12/06/2021 18:47

I might go with a fairly aggressively delivered “shush” every time they speak or a cross face and a finger to your lips as if to sshh. I honestly think the fewer words delivered, the better. And it’s quite hard for the parents to take issue with.....it’s just a sshh.

mathanxiety · 12/06/2021 18:48

But I feel it’s not my place to tell someone else’s kids off really and they aren’t being naughty.

There is your problem.

Tell them to mind their own business and to get down and stop staring over the fence at you. Do it every single time you see them. Stop engaging with them. No more conversations.

If it continues, you are going to have to tackle their parents about it.

Buy an extension/ fence topper for the fence.

CutieBear · 12/06/2021 18:48

You need to be honest and firm. “Please stay away from the fence. You are bothering us and we don’t like it. Go and talk to your mummy.”

Sarahandco · 12/06/2021 18:49

I would give them a short conversation and then say - ok back your own garden now I have to get on ect.

Pleaseleavemealone · 12/06/2021 18:49

I think dad must have read my post as he has just stood up and told the kids it’s rude to climb up and stare into other peoples gardens 😂 kid replies “what if we climb but don’t look!” Dad is having none of it mwahaha

OP posts:
CutieBear · 12/06/2021 18:50

@Pleaseleavemealone

I think dad must have read my post as he has just stood up and told the kids it’s rude to climb up and stare into other peoples gardens 😂 kid replies “what if we climb but don’t look!” Dad is having none of it mwahaha
Brilliant Grin
EmeraldShamrock · 12/06/2021 18:52

Stick your tongue out at them or put sticky stuff on the fence, pre-warn before doing this.
The parents are very rude allowing them do it.

EmeraldShamrock · 12/06/2021 18:53

Oops just saw Dad stepped up.

Panaesthesia · 12/06/2021 18:56

Just tell them to go away. If a stranger on the bus started asking you for an ice lolly or staring, you'd tell them to go away or to stop it, so do the same - they don't get special treatment just because they're nosy, rude, ill-mannered children.

Start being all wishy-washy and polite and the little gits will be running around your house next.

lazee · 12/06/2021 18:57

Don't engage!
Tell your children too
I'd tell em to piss off but that's me 😊

mineofuselessinformation · 12/06/2021 18:57

If they carry on, buy a garden parasol that tilts and put it so they can't see past it. They'll soon get bored.

MsAdoraBelleDearheartVonLipwig · 12/06/2021 18:58

I don’t know what would piss me off more, the nosy kids or the loud music right next door!

lazee · 12/06/2021 18:58

Lol Op
Result

CanofCant · 12/06/2021 18:58

@Pleaseleavemealone

I think dad must have read my post as he has just stood up and told the kids it’s rude to climb up and stare into other peoples gardens 😂 kid replies “what if we climb but don’t look!” Dad is having none of it mwahaha
Good stuff! Long may it continue.
AhNowTed · 12/06/2021 18:59

We had this exact situation.

Little shit would literally pull up and chair to stand on and peer over the fence, butting in and asking for stuff.

Parents did nothing.

Do not engage in any conversation.

Definitely heighten the fence.

AbsolutelyPatsy · 12/06/2021 19:00

good for dad, at last!

Airyfairymarybeary · 12/06/2021 19:00

I had this and it was so effing annoying. I added some trellis to the top bit of the fence which made it a bit better.
We moved in the end 😂

lazee · 12/06/2021 19:01

I'd also water my plants vigorously
With a jet wash hose

Anniegetyourgun · 12/06/2021 19:02

I can't believe this, four pages and nobody's come on to say "you're so mean, they're only being kids, if it was my neighbours I'd invite them all in for a party". Because there's always one Hmm Unless the earlier half-hearted suggestion to give them cheap ice lollies counts.

Good thing the dad has finally noticed something going on.

SmellThis · 12/06/2021 19:04

@HumansAreShocking

Just tell them to F Off 🤣
Yep, joking apart I'd do this It's your bloody garden
RattlesnakesUnfold · 12/06/2021 19:06

Have you tried large headphones? Or a headset/earpiece and saying (shhh I’m on a call).

I’d also raise the fence, either by adding a high trellis that lets light in but keeps peeping eyes out, or if it’s not your fence install a privacy screen next to their fence or position the wall of a gazebo against it.

I’d also be tempted to get one of those large garden tents with curtains you can close, and just go in it and ignore them!