Aibu? Local kids keep kicking ball when I work outside (at me)

[LorikeetSunrise]

Using my sisters laptop to get on here! She said ask parents about what to do about other parents and their kids 😂 But I’m mid 20s, a mural artist, I practice on the outside walls of our house in chalk paint but the local little boys, dragged up but think they’re the best thing ever.

Have taken to kicking their football at me/my legs/my box of supplies/the wall as I draw on it, on purpose, because you hear them laugh and egg each other on to film on someone’s phone.
I’ve tried telling them to stop as I’m working and they’ll go running off to tell a parent that “a stranger yelled at me, I wasn’t doing anything!” When I asked them politely to stop…the parents have then come out several times to yell at me!
Tell me That I shouldn’t be drawing on the walls of my own house, or that they don’t like a strange man (I’m trans, ftm with a bit of a gothic style, autistic but medium functional) near where kids play. Am I being unreasonable to either want to block my area off with bits of wood or have a sign up when working telling them/people to not bother me, or get the police involved as I’m not actually doing anything illegal to my own property?

Set up a camera then take the footage to the police.

This is a difficult one. One one hand I’d feel like taking the ball but it may feed into it and give the parents a reason to have a go. Can you do it at the back of the house? Is there anywhere else you could practice? It’s terrible parenting from your neighbours and you shouldn’t have to put up with it but I’m not convinced the police would do anything. You could try though.

You can tell the kids to stop
Don't tell.

When the parents come out, then tell THEM to ask their children not to kick the ball at you.

But .. are you on a public path? Or have you set up where they normally play?

I’d say speak to police
Sounds like u are being harassed

• don't YELL ( Sheesh, autocorrect!!)

Tell police.

Speak to someone here
www.sophielancasterfoundation.com/
They will be able to give you some advice

I'd be tempted to post on the local FB/NextDoor group stating politely "Hi, I'm Name and I'm a mural artist. You may have seen me practising by painting the outside wall at my house (on X Street). Here are some examples of my previous work (attach pictures). If you'd like to know more about what I do I'd be happy to chat! Take care and wishing you a Merry Christmas, Name".

You could also print the above out and put a few leaflets around your street, if that will work better. Basically you want to explain to the parents what you're doing, be polite and get them on your side. They will then hopefully tell their own kids not to bother you (well at least some of them might).

Don't go into it telling them off or explaining your background. Telling them off will only raise hackles, and your background will come up naturally in conversation once you've circulated the note. Keep it simple and polite and the situation may improve - fingers crossed!

Also, if the above doesn't work then totally go to the Police!

@spotcheck

You can tell the kids to stop Don't tell.

When the parents come out, then tell THEM to ask their children not to kick the ball at you.

But .. are you on a public path? Or have you set up where they normally play?

I don’t yell, never yell, only talk at normal volume what is reasonable to be heard over the sound of traffic. Yelling is a trigger for me but other people don’t seem to care they just yell it freaks me out- The kids about 10-13 They usually play the other end of the alley, far away from my house where their dad painted a goal on his own wall for them, but when I’m out there they see me and move down my end, it’s an alleyway, but we checked with the local council and it turns out the meter behind my wall that is exposed to it is supposedly under resident maintenance so it’s technically public but also under my control(for that little metre that I don’t leave.) I draw there specifically because the first one I did brought a lot of joy to other kids (and dog walkers, and other locals in this depressing time were in and they all love seeing them, and I love doing them.) the other kids, seem to be better, don’t go do anything against me (had a long talk with a young girl about how to draw horses, very nice kids.) but these football boys are a terror. My fam are saying these boys do it for attention they don’t care if it’s bad or good attention. There’s a guy out there always working on his car too that never gets this issue, they avoid him.

@Immunetypegoblin

I'd be tempted to post on the local FB/NextDoor group stating politely "Hi, I'm Name and I'm a mural artist. You may have seen me practising by painting the outside wall at my house (on X Street). Here are some examples of my previous work (attach pictures). If you'd like to know more about what I do I'd be happy to chat! Take care and wishing you a Merry Christmas, Name".

You could also print the above out and put a few leaflets around your street, if that will work better. Basically you want to explain to the parents what you're doing, be polite and get them on your side. They will then hopefully tell their own kids not to bother you (well at least some of them might).

Don't go into it telling them off or explaining your background. Telling them off will only raise hackles, and your background will come up naturally in conversation once you've circulated the note. Keep it simple and polite and the situation may improve - fingers crossed!

This is a good idea. If people actual understand what you're doing they'll be much more tolerant.

Call the police and record them.

Then tell the kids to fuck off every single time.

@Immunetypegoblin

I'd be tempted to post on the local FB/NextDoor group stating politely "Hi, I'm Name and I'm a mural artist. You may have seen me practising by painting the outside wall at my house (on X Street). Here are some examples of my previous work (attach pictures). If you'd like to know more about what I do I'd be happy to chat! Take care and wishing you a Merry Christmas, Name".

You could also print the above out and put a few leaflets around your street, if that will work better. Basically you want to explain to the parents what you're doing, be polite and get them on your side. They will then hopefully tell their own kids not to bother you (well at least some of them might).

Don't go into it telling them off or explaining your background. Telling them off will only raise hackles, and your background will come up naturally in conversation once you've circulated the note. Keep it simple and polite and the situation may improve - fingers crossed!

I was in the local paper recently they wanted to ask me about my work, so it’s not like I’m unknown,, other locals. Know of me, and I’ve been doing this since mid 2020 out there, it’s always these same kids…there’s other parents who love my work because they walk their kids past on the way to school. And a young girl who comes to show me me her drawings of animals (which are very good!)

When the boys parents yell I start shutting down as it overwhelms me as a trigger and no matter how calm I talk back they just get worse 😩 when I’ve asked the boys to not hit me with the ball I say “excuse me, I’m just trying to enjoy my work, could you move to where you usually play?” (Up the other end of the alley, far away, where their dad painted a goal on his wall specifically for them.) but I’ve seen them kick the ball hard at other children too so maybe they’re doing it for bad or good attention like my sister claims.

This sounds really difficult. I'm sorry, no advice really just to say I'm sure you bring joy to lts of people, and it's a shame these kids ( and parents) spoil it.
Is there a community officer who could have a word? Could you get the kids on side somehow? Let them draw a section? ( doubtful from what you said about the parents...)

I’m thinking of contacting the police today yes, I’m also putting a donate link on my Instagram for money towards some camera I can put out as I work. Not so sure on having kids help draw it as I’m a bit ocd my brother is 21 and tried to help finish one and even his wonky lines near put me into a crisis 😂 have had kids chat while I work though, they ask loads of really interesting questions, I love talking about anime and cartoons and stuff, I’m pretty sure no other adults will discuss the finer details of item swapping and values on animal jam (online game)😂 as I used to play when younger. It’s just this one group and the parents 😩 the dad has said things to be before, like when I kneel down to detail low sections he said that it puts my head at perfect D* sucking height??!

That height comment is sexual harassment and should be reported to police.

Could you "accidentally" throw the ball over your fence where they can't get at it? While "trying to throw it back" of course, should anyone ask you about it.

I've been bullied by a group of boys this age at a Church Hall group I ran and ime there is nothing you can do. The reason they behave like that is poor upbringing so the parents are unlikely to help. Your reaction is the reward for them. If you don't react they will probably behave worse til you do. I know you don't want to hear it but I think you should stop for a few years til the little shits grow up and go away

@MissMinutes24

Could you "accidentally" throw the ball over your fence where they can't get at it? While "trying to throw it back" of course, should anyone ask you about it.

That's not going to help OP's cause especially with dickhead kids with dickhead fathers. It'll escalate the abuse if anything.

I wouldn't generally say this but do you have any quite tough looking friends you could ask to stop by a few times while you are working? Sort of appear out of the blue to chat to you? I suspect the sudden appearance of them may keep the kids at bay?

@mewkins

I wouldn't generally say this but do you have any quite tough looking friends you could ask to stop by a few times while you are working? Sort of appear out of the blue to chat to you? I suspect the sudden appearance of them may keep the kids at bay?

I tried something like this with my metalhead brother but they kicked the ball at him instead. We’re wondering if it’s to do with the fact we don’t exactly dress “normal” and people like to bully what isn’t normal to them 🙄 because the guy who’s always out there working on his car is always left completely alone.

Pop the ball, get police involved.

It sounds horrible, do they come into your garden or are you painting on the alleyway wall. Speak to the police and also check if it's ok to put up a camera, will it be on your wall. As you are known for your work locally can the local paper help, would there be a community space where you can draw and maybe the nice kids could join in.

I know this is crazy, but could you try someday getting them involved? Dare one of them to draw something like something you're doing, if it's so easy? Chalk is cheap, right? So if you're practicing on that wall, let them practice on that wall, too. Teach them how to make art. Then they can make the whole alleyway and the street into a place filled with art. I am sure they could be interested in anime etc. These kids are bored and frustrated, and you have something useful to offer them.

Report to the police. It is assault and harrassment