How to handle bonkers request from neighbour

[DaphneMoonsSeattle]

We live on a small estate (22 houses). One of my neighbours knocked on my door yesterday to ask if I could please stop my DC riding their scooters past her house.

Today my DD came in to tell me that the neighbour had now asked her not to ride on the footpath outside her house. I went outside. She asked me why my DC ride on the footpath right outside her house. I told her; it's a footpath. They're allowed on the footpath. I have asked DD to avoid being right outside her house but my DS is autistic. I've told her that. He doesn't understand "don't ride your scooter on this particular bit of the footpath".

But, aibu to think that what she's asked is unreasonable? You can't ask people to not use a footpath! They are not on her property, fair enough she can absolutely ask people not to be on her property, but she can't control the footpath. She's complained that they ride their scooters near her car. Her car is parked right beside the footpath. She's in a corner house so she probably does have more footpath outside her house than most. But that's not really anybody's fault. She's really taking it personally. 'They're outside MY house'. They're on the footpath, they're not peeking in her windows!

If there are other routes your children could take, I'd encourage that. Why not try to be nice to the neighbour if you can? If you can't, that's different, but who knows, maybe she has noise sensitivity too, and she's asked politely - if it doesn't inconvenience you too much to accommodate her, why not? You might find there's a time when something she does annoys you or your children, even if it's perfectly allowed, and you'll be glad that you gave her some tolerance and benefit of the doubt. Autistic children grow up to be autistic adults, and your children might want some tolerance from neighbours doing annoying - but allowed - things later on as well, who knows.

Clearly she's finding it annoying and has obviously endured it for some time. Why not take the child to a park where its acceptable to make noise. This, just 'please myself' attitude is what is wrong with society! 3 hours on a scooter up and down your front room window is enough to drive anybody mad

Until you’ve experienced the noise of scooters constantly going past your house , you cannot appreciate how irritating it is.
It’s like wind chimes, they don’t bother you if they’re yours.

I’d ask my kids not to congregate outside her house but she can’t stop them scooting past. She sounds miserable!

I had a neighbour on my old house who told me off for cycling past her house (cycling on the road) on my way home from work each day with my bike lights on. She actually expected me to cycle on the road in the dark without lights!!!

I dunno.
One of my neighbours has told the people opposite her to not walk past their house.
Totally bonkers.

Mine did this - I had one child doing A level exams, the other GCSEs, and a relative dying of cancer in the house. Neighbours were doing full extension, including a basement and loft.

My immediate thought was possible noise?
Eg If he is shouting ?
If she’s worried about her car, it’s unlikely to be damaged by a child’s scooter, if he is riding it sensibly.

I'd encourage the children to "accidentally" scrape her car on the way past. It's a public footpath and not part of your horrible neighbour's property.

Then the op will have to pay the bill. It’s not part of the OP’s property either. What a terrible attitude.

You'd encourage children to deliberately vandalise someone's car?

Seriously?

I'd buy them a claxton to attach to the scooter to alert the neighbour to their presence.

Don't do what @LondonQueen says. That's a fucking stupid idea and likely to lead to retaliation. If you can avoid open hostilities with your neighbours then do so, unless you want a miserable home life!

As if the neighbour hasn’t got enough problems. Klaxon indeed.

Your neighbour is being ridiculous. it seems getting older for some means they forget what it was like to be a child. We don’t want them in the house watching screens all day.

We had a delightful neighbour last summer tell the kids off in our cul-de-sac for chalking on the pavement in the communal garden. She accused this feral group of 6-9 year olds of “graffiti” and ruining the neighbourhood. 😆 oh how we all laughed. It rained that night and the chalk disappeared so a few parents went out the next day and chalked games like hopscotch all over the pavement outside the delightful neighbour’s house.

It’s part of living on an estate, personally I quite like the sound of kids playing (as long as they’re not screaming).

Next door bought their baby (yes, baby) a remote control car that she sits in. It has a horn and goes “beep, beep, beep” constantly. It’s a bit annoying but tbh they’re good parents and their dd loves it so who cares?

My point is, it’s a bit sad to get upset by the sound of kids having fun, they’re only young for such a short time and it’s really not hurting anyone.

neighbour is crackers.

I’d also be concerned about the fact if your child can’t follow instructs, why are they allowed out unsupervised

I remember a neighbour who complained about my kids play outside , I just looked her in the face and said was you born a grumpy old woman or was you every a child, sorry no I won’t be stopping my kids playing end of conversation. Now I am the grumpy old woman, but I love to hear kids play outside, because it’s part of growing up and it’s the sound of a happy community. Some people should just live in a Croft at the back of beyond.

I'm not sure pps think they are being amusing or edgy by suggesting your children scrape her car or sound a horn at her.
They are showing their ignorance and I hope they are not being even in the slightest bit serious. What an example to set.

Genius suggestion!

But you can stop your children scooting past her house for hours on end, something you've admitted is probably annoying.

I think I'm with your neighbour on this one.

Basically you're saying your neighbour is 'bonkers' for finding your annoying children annoying.

I'm guessing you're one of those 'live and let live' types who are really skilled at making other people's lives a misery.

👏

I used to get told off for climbing a tree on communal land when I was a kid.
Bloody miseries.

Terrible attitude. Badly brought up kids and parents who don’t care about their neighbours. As long as their kids are OK, they can make everyone else miserable-it’s antisocial behaviour, and so easily could be sorted.

Why these people just want to cause problems where there are none? Just tell your children to be careful around her car and that's it.