Kids chalking on pavement

[Ritascornershop]

My best friend lives in a little estate of row houses with a grassed area in the centre and pavement around the edge with paths off to each of their houses.

Her idiot ex-partner lives with her (for the most part never paying rent or contributing to food and bills). They are just past 50 and never had kids.

The neighbours’ kids are aged around 5-6 and have taken to drawing pictures in chalk on the pavement; animals, houses, and hopscotch squares. They do this in front of a number of houses. My friend’s idiot ex partner has been hosing it off and telling the kids not to do it (& given how often she tells me he shouts about other things I suspect he’s not telling them nicely).

I told her I thought he was mean to hose away their harmless drawings, that she used to chalk draw when she was little, that he fancies himself an artist, and that I think he’s being awful. AIBU?

Aside from that lots of potential house buyers would like to see kids chalking and otherwise playing, my friend is not trying to sell so the cocklodger has nothing to worry about on that account. He just hates kids.

As to why I haven’t got her to move him out, it’s because she’s an adult and I don’t have magic convincing powers. He drives her crazy, but she feels responsible for him (because he’s been badgering her for 25 years or so & she knows it’s a quieter short term to put up with him).

@Plumtree391

Really? You never know, you may wake up to find a chalked pavement outside your house one day!

(My daughter enjoys a walk across the fields, up to the church near her old nursery. We may even take some chalks...)

God almighty, that man is a complete thief of joy 🙄

@MidnightMeltdown

Oh wow, I'm amazed that people think it's ok to allow kids to do this. In your own garden maybe, but not in the streets. I remember doing similar with my friends when I was around the age of 6 or 7. When our parents found out, they were all really angry. We were all sent out with scrubbing brushes and buckets and made to scrub it all off!

Maybe it will wash off in the rain, but that's not really the point. Kids should be taught that it's not ok to graffiti in the streets.

You sound awful and so do your parents! It's a little bit of chalk, there are a lot more things to worry about in life.

I wouldn’t mind, generally and certainly wouldn’t complain. Kids have very little freedom and if they are outside being creative then I’m all for it. However, if it’s really thick and your own kids are running in and out without wiping shoes thoroughly then I suppose that it could transfer onto a carpet? Only reason I can think
of to care really.
If it’s good enough for Dick Van Dyke then it’s ok by me!

I'm sure yo u all remember our youth when chalking hop scotch and fighting over who wins was part of the days excitement. Whoever will complain about children using their imagination to play should be hosed down themselves. Would that person rather they were stuck indoors with their noses glued to a screen. Go for it kids, never stop them playing.

@AlCalavicci

Look! Our favourite! Don't know if you're here as I haven't rtft

I love seeing chalk drawings, although the other day was walking out and found some errrr let’s say naughty rude stuff drawn all over the pavement, quite inventive we did laugh, like someone said the rain will wash it off

I love seeing chalk drawings on pavements. To me it shows some child has been having fun. Really outdoor fun not on a computer. Just makes me smile seeing it

why not just take the hose to him? wash him away? on quite a strong setting mind.

I'd be inclined to do a chalk drawing of your own when you next visit, just to pee him off

Christ on a bike, it's not graffiti, get a grip!

He's a complete misery.

My boy was set a homework last year in lockdown to create a trail in chalk with various exercises that passers by could do if they wanted to. It was lovely and we really enjoyed walking around and looking at others. My drive is gravel otherwise I would sit and draw with chalk all the time - it's lovely and he is a meanie.

He doesn’t own the pavements.

But…if he wants to wash it away then that’s all good! A clean slate to draw again the next day.

@LST

My kids, next doors kids and next door but 1 were all out yesterday afternoon chalking the pavement outside all our houses and the walls. They were out there for hours. We have retirement bungalows over the road and the residents were enjoying watching them play.

I'd hate to live anywhere where someone was bothered by a bit of chalk on the floor!

Wow that sounds so lovely. Its such an innocent harmless thing for kids to do and so good for them to use their imaginations and be out in the fresh air

Oh my word we have one of these on our street - from the description I’m wondering if your friend is our neighbour.
My kids came in upset one day as an adult had gone out and told them off for using chalk on the road and paths and said it was graffiti!

I bought more pavement chalk the next day and joined the kids out there.

If there were my kids I'd be borrowing the chalk and decorating his garden path. What a meanie

The couple of kids in our cul-de-sac do it, my son included.
We have a few elderly people living here and non are bothered by it at all.

I think your friends partner is a grouchy kill joy, and being rude to the kids would be a real turn off if i were your friend.

@WingingItSince1973 it really is. They all go to the same school too.. some in different years but it's still really nice to have nice neighbours

@alphasox

Oh my word we have one of these on our street - from the description I’m wondering if your friend is our neighbour. My kids came in upset one day as an adult had gone out and told them off for using chalk on the road and paths and said it was graffiti!

I bought more pavement chalk the next day and joined the kids out there.

Yes, this would absolutely be me

Harmless fun. Albeit my son recently partook this very activity whilst visiting family on a HM forces officers housing estate. Unfortunately his depictions of animals looked like a couple of giant penises 😆

[quote LST]@WingingItSince1973 it really is. They all go to the same school too.. some in different years but it's still really nice to have nice neighbours [/quote]
Aw thats fab. I loved seeing it along our row. Especially during lockdown. Made me smile to think that kids were still doing innocent childhood games despite the chaos in the world

@MidnightMeltdown

Oh wow, I'm amazed that people think it's ok to allow kids to do this. In your own garden maybe, but not in the streets. I remember doing similar with my friends when I was around the age of 6 or 7. When our parents found out, they were all really angry. We were all sent out with scrubbing brushes and buckets and made to scrub it all off!

Maybe it will wash off in the rain, but that's not really the point. Kids should be taught that it's not ok to graffiti in the streets.

oh give over :)

@MidnightMeltdown:

@LittleMissPlant

He doesn’t own the pavements.

But…if he wants to wash it away then that’s all good! A clean slate to draw again the next day.

brillant :)

@rwalker

Can't stand it

But why??