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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Neighbours ball constantly kicked over

23 replies

loopyb · 12/02/2023 18:12

All last summer my neighbours kids were running onto our front garden or knocking on our door asking for their ball back. Multiple times a day. No please or thank you. It's just started again.

The footballs hit our cars. Sometimes four balls are on our driveway before they come and collect them. It's sets off our ring doorbell 4/5 times a day.

AIBU for getting sick of it and speaking to the parents? Am I a complete old hag for getting pissed off by neighbours kids running on my driveway?

OP posts:
FuzzyPuffling · 12/02/2023 18:16

They only get their balls back once a day/week, whatever you choose. Otherwise, ignore them.
They'll either run out of balls or they will learn not to boot them in your direction.

Original poster
loopyb · 12/02/2023 18:26

That's the tact we started to take but they seem to have an unlimited amount of balls!

When they land in the front garden we don't always know until they're running down the driveway so we don't get the opportunity to hold onto them.

Feel like our last resort is to now speak to the parents but I'm worried they'll have a negative reaction/ think we're really petty.

OP posts:
AlotIsntAWord · 12/02/2023 18:31

You get annoyed just because they run on your driveway to get the ball themselves and you don't get the opportunity to hold onto them

Yeah, that’s making you sound like a real misery tbf.

doesslexknow · 12/02/2023 18:34

I’d just speak to the parents, you can do it without sounding like you’re moaning.

londonrach · 12/02/2023 18:35

My elderly patient had this....it made life hell for her in her garden. She stopped returning balls and it stopped

Hellodarknessmyoldpal · 12/02/2023 18:36

NU to have a friendly word with their parents. I'd probably lead with they're hitting your car. I would also maybe say you'll not always be able to stop what you're doing and give the balls back so you could say going forward you'll just chuck them back over in the evening/once a day. Parents might not have realised how often they've been at your door.

Shgytfgtf111 · 12/02/2023 18:39

I had this in the back garden (neighbours garden backs onto mine, no alleyway or anything), I was constantly out back throwing it back. Funnily enough it stopped when it landed in dog shit and I (carefully) threw it back just as it was. They became a lot more careful after that. They were teenagers to be fair.

Spanielsarepainless · 12/02/2023 18:44

Love the dog shit idea. Almost worth smuggling the balls out and smearing them round the nearest verge, if you haven't got a dog.

A friend used a tiny screwdriver to let some of the air out through the valve...

gettingalifttothestation · 12/02/2023 18:49

Take the balls

Shgytfgtf111 · 12/02/2023 18:51

I have plenty of dog shit going spare if anyone needs it! 😂

TakeMe2Insanity · 12/02/2023 19:17

This drove my mother mad. There was no limit on the number of times they came round.

With my dc our rule is if the ball goes over the fence 3 times we go indoors or play non ball games.

Murdoch1949 · 12/02/2023 19:20

Cannot see a problem with the front garden balls, back garden just keep until you're ready to return. Kids are kids.

Maybebabyno2 · 12/02/2023 19:23

Murdoch1949 · 12/02/2023 19:20

Cannot see a problem with the front garden balls, back garden just keep until you're ready to return. Kids are kids.

This!! I don't understand why the front garden is a problem. The fact you want to nip out and grab it before they can get it back is rediculous.

RosaCaramella · 12/02/2023 19:35

This would drive me mad too but be careful how you approach parents. The vast majority think their child can do no wrong and will take the major huff / get angry / be petty if anyone ever complains about them🤷‍♀️

DanaScully53 · 12/02/2023 19:53

Maybebabyno2 · 12/02/2023 19:23

This!! I don't understand why the front garden is a problem. The fact you want to nip out and grab it before they can get it back is rediculous.

Show quote history

Because the balls are hitting the OPs cars.

Daffodilis · 12/02/2023 19:56

Maybe an electric fence

Maybebabyno2 · 12/02/2023 20:00

DanaScully53 · 12/02/2023 19:53

Because the balls are hitting the OPs cars.

Show quote history

Then talk to the parents about them hitting the cars. Don't lay in wait to run out and grab the balls before the children get to them.

mrsbyers · 12/02/2023 20:05

Always the kids will be kids argument but that’s bollocks , we had this at our last house with the neighbours kid having a football goal against the wall separating our gardens and the constant thudding on the wall , dog going crazy as either constantly jumping the low wall to retrieve , balls flying across windows or worse still hitting the windows was maddening. In the end we put up a full height fence around the perimeter of the front gardens

Eastereggsboxedupready · 12/02/2023 20:27

Ime let the balls down.. When their dps get fed up of having to pump them up it will stop...

homelovingalme · 29/06/2023 23:38

AlotIsntAWord · 12/02/2023 18:31

You get annoyed just because they run on your driveway to get the ball themselves and you don't get the opportunity to hold onto them

Yeah, that’s making you sound like a real misery tbf.

Didn't you read the rest of what she said?

No, OP, you're not being unreasonable - the parents are.

BunnyBetChetwynd · 29/06/2023 23:47

Our terrier pops each and every ball she gets her paws on. A terrier is what you need.

LivesOnPigeonStreet · 29/06/2023 23:48

I think kinda should be out playing. Just let them collect their balls. Loosen up a bit.

bossybloss · 29/06/2023 23:54

When we had this we used to go into the back garden to “look for” the ball… then tell the kids “ sorry I can’t find it, it must have gone next door”….on repeat

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