AIBU to ask neighbours to keep kids off trampoline in working hours?

[PineappleMojito]

Not really for me, for my DP who is WFH. I don’t WFH so this doesn’t impact but he is very bothered by it.

Next door recently bought a trampoline for their two kids. When they go on it, they’re really noisy - they scream and shout a lot, I’ve heard them on the weekends when I’m home and it is loud. DP is hearing impaired, he’s on work Zoom calls during the day and the noise is making it difficult to do his calls. One is a pre schooler and the other we think might be home at the moment because school bubble has burst. Obviously he is used to general neighbour noise during day, but he finds the screaming and shouting difficult as it’s right next to our fence. He’s using noise cancelling headphones for calls, but even with those it’s getting through and making it hard for him to concentrate and hear what’s being said.

Would he BU to ask them if they could keep the kids off the trampoline during his work hours or confine it to lunch time during the week? He has an hour break where he’d be fine with them using it, he normally goes out to walk the dog. They’re very nice neighbours and we’ve never had any issues, but he’s afraid to rock the boat.

@bendmeoverbackwards exactly! Playing great, chatting and laughing -go for it. Screaming and shouting then no, as a child then l would be told to come in if l was screaming and shouting. Quite rightly my parents didn’t think it was fair for me to disturb the neighbours

While I sympathise as I can't abide screaming kids either, it is their garden and they are making a racket during social hours. It's one of the problems of home-working and you can't really expect neighbours to re-arrange their lives to suit business calls etc. Sorry.

YANBU... But these days... Anything goes unfortunately. Nevermind being considerate neighbours due to close proximity and home working - kids always come first and everyone has to lump it. I would ask them to keep the noise down, I.e. bo screaming (A PERFECTLY NORMAL REASONABLE REQUEST DESPITE IT BEING 2021) but if there's no understanding there, move house. A trampoline metres away from a room I'm sitting in would be too much to bear so I sympathise with your husband.

He'll just need to go back to the office. People are allowed to go to the office if they can't wfh.

A PERFECTLY NORMAL REASONABLE REQUEST DESPITE IT BEING 2021

What, stopping children playing in their garden during working hours?

While the OP’s husband can’t countenance working in the room he sleeps in?

No.

It's the battle of the boing.

@Triphazards

It's the battle of the boing.

🤣

@Triphazards

It's the battle of the boing.

😂😂

I don't think its unreasonable to make your neighbours aware that you (or your DH) have to work from home and could they limit the noise to some degree, for some of the time.

Perhaps not between x and x hours or 'after x' or 'bouncings fine but the screaming isn't'.

We do all have to live in close proximity and whilst kids should play and have fun I don't see why that means they should scream, yell, shriek (yes, really, today I could hear a small voice saying 'one, two, three SCREAMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM' and then 'No Bertie, you didn't scream loud enough, try again.....' So the game was screaming...) and generally not have to consider the needs of others.

However if the new neighbours here do think that, I shall need to work with my speakers up, and the tunes I'll be playing will absolutely be inappropriate for small ears - after all I am entitled to enjoy my garden in the summer...

Yabvu.

DP has popped over and taken a couple of bottles of home brew for the NDN in the hope that the chat might go smoothly. They have a love of craft beer in common and do often natter about that. Hopefully it’ll go well.

I get where people are coming from about how he should work in the bedroom, but we did spend quite a lot kitting out a home office, he’s got a double screen setup and a wired Ethernet connection in there. It’s possible he could pop in the bedroom for the odd phone call, but really isn’t a solution for the whole summer. I do really sympathise with those who have had to work in small spaces/bedrooms throughout the lockdowns. Must have been very tough.

@TheKeatingFive

A PERFECTLY NORMAL REASONABLE REQUEST DESPITE IT BEING 2021

What, stopping children playing in their garden during working hours?

While the OP’s husband can’t countenance working in the room he sleeps in?

No.

OP has literally said she understands asking them not to use to the trampoline isn’t reasonable. Asking them not to scream, and shriek and wail isn’t.

Asking them not to scream, and shriek and wail isn’t.

They’re children. They’re playing.

Meanwhile her DP won’t countenance moving rooms.

We all know that if she goes through council channels she won’t get anywhere. Children playing in the daytime is normal, expected residential noise,

We all know that if she goes through council channels she won’t get anywhere. Children playing in the daytime is normal, expected residential noise

Nobody is going to the council. Nor has it ever been suggested that we would.

Nobody is going to the council. Nor has it ever been suggested that we would.

I didn’t say you were.

But as an independent arbitrator of what acceptable and what isn’t, we know the answer.

So you’re relying on good will. Will you mention your partners objection to working where he sleeps I wonder?

No wonder so many children are badly behaved these days if their own parents don’t teach them what’s appropriate and what isn’t

@Nachthex

While I sympathise as I can't abide screaming kids either, it is their garden and they are making a racket during social hours. It's one of the problems of home-working and you can't really expect neighbours to re-arrange their lives to suit business calls etc. Sorry.

I agree with this.

Will you mention your partners objection to working where he sleeps I wonder?

No. It’s not bloody relevant. Sick of being told that as a hearing impaired and therefore disabled person he should have to leave the study that’s been set up for his needs and go perch on the bed because kids need to scream and shout is more important. GTFO with that shit.

I agree that kids screaming on squeaky trampolines is the scourge of the devil and they never seem to be located right outside their own kitchen/patio doors but you cannot expect neighbours' children not to play outside in sunny weather just because your husband is working from home.

No. It’s not bloody relevant.

Of course it is. He won’t make any compromises, but expects others to. It’s perfectly standard for people to work from bedrooms, thousands have been doing it for over a year now.

As you’ve been told time and again, if there isn’t a suitable wfh environment, he should take that up with his employers.

@bendmeoverbackwards

No wonder so many children are badly behaved these days if their own parents don’t teach them what’s appropriate and what isn’t

Playing in their own garden is inappropriate? Seriously?

@TheKeatingFive yes, I agree he should talk to them and be more assertive re his needs but any adjustments that may come from that won’t happen overnight. I’ve said many times on this thread I accept he needs to do more with work to help the situation. You are now being deliberately obtuse in refusing to acknowledge there are disability issues here that make “just work from the bedroom” impractical. I won’t be responding to your crap any more.

i won’t be responding to your crap any more.

Suit yourself 🤷‍♀️

Oh come on! Poor kids, let them play! Will you give a list of approved activities to next door?

It's got nothing to do with the trampoline.
It's got nothing to do with wfh.
It's got everything to do with the screaming and the shouting.
Presumably sitting in your garden is a nightmare because of it and perhaps for other neighbours as well.
Hopefully the craft beer do the trick and he comes back a happy bunny!