Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

AIBU to tell my friend to STFU complaining about the noises of parents/kids at nearby school whilst staying with me?

51 replies

Gonnagetgoing · 06/12/2021 15:53

For context - I live approx. 3-4 minutes walk away from a primary school which is quite large and busy. In my street and the 2-3 surrounding streets naturally parents park their cars and also walk whilst collecting children from school and of course some of the parents and children talk and laugh etc.

I've got a friend staying this week with me from out of town and occupying the box room, it's a pre-festive season visit and a chance for her to visit family nearby and do Christmas shopping in the West End and also to see me.

First complaint this morning to me "the parents and kids woke me up (at approx. 8-8.30am onwards am guessing?) going to and from the school walking from their cars" - she's staying in the small box room facing the street so would hear this. She was happy with that and refused the larger double bedroom and I don't even count the box room as a bedroom more of a spare. Just now - approx 3pm onwards she pipes up "I'm trying to WFH here and can't hear myself think with the parents/kids noise outside the window" - for context - we are in my back sort of dining room (which also faces the street) - she complained in my living room near the kitchen that the sunlight was too bright and she wanted to be near the front door so she heard doorbell go as she's having parcels delivered here (another Hmm as she didn't ask me beforehand about this just assumed I'd be ok with it, but what the hell?!). She has earphones in on and off - says to me "sometimes I like music on, sometimes I do Zoom calls with them in, sometimes I just like normal background noise!".

AIBU to tell her to stop moaning about something so petty which is transient noise and goes away and if she's that bothered there's a lovely Travelodge in the next town which is free?! I love the noise of the kids and even the parents parking which has got more busy over the few years I've been here doesn't bother me now as they're generally considerate.

OP posts:
Gonnagetgoing · 07/12/2021 10:42

@HundredMilesAnHour

It doesn't actually sound like you like her very much? Why did you agree she can stay?

She does sound rather ungrateful and her trying to WFH is a bit silly if she needs quiet but you live in a busy area. But I'm sympathetic about the school noise. If you're not used to it, it can be very disruptive especially if you're on work calls.

@HundredMilesAnHour - I do like her - she's stayed before and we've had a laugh - I've said that several times! She was a close friend once when she lived nearby. I agreed she could stay as she has family and friends fairly nearby and wanted to visit them and also close to London for her to shop etc and because we actually wanted to see each other to catch up (are seeing a musical this week). I just don't like her constant moaning which has got worse!

She's only WFH a few days this week in my house. My street is generally not busy at all (apart from school traffic) and very quiet (and the area) I'm in a vale so it's super quiet - bar the school noise. As I've stated - there are other rooms she could go into to WFH - e.g. one of the top bedrooms which doesn't face the street and is quieter but she's said no, and the school noise is 10 minutes tops, it's not like they're constantly shrieking! She also has earphones for skype calls.

OP posts:
New posts on this thread. Refresh page