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.

Tell parents their kids are a pain?

8 replies

Questionasker1 · 23/07/2023 18:03

More of a what would you do than aibu I suppose.
We live on the end of a quiet cul de sac, with a park & field at the end a few houses down. A lot of kids here 'play out' at the park, scooters, bikes down the road etc We've started letting ours (10 & 6) out to play with them, with strict rules and I keep an eye from the window.
However the last week or so a couple of the kids have become non stop at the door. They seem to be out most of the day at the weekend, we're happy for ours to go out for a bit but weekends we want to spend together while my husband isn't at work. Today alone they came to the car as soon as we got home asking to play, knocked 3 times across the afternoon, then when we settled to watch a movie and unplugged the doorbell they stayed at the door for over 5 minutes trying the bell, knocking and then peering through the gap in the curtains until I told her a final no.
Our living room window is at the front of the house so unless I keep the curtains shut they can see we are in, and now it's the holidays I worry its going to get even more constant. We're due a baby in the next few weeks and I need to put a stop to this before then.
As it is we've tried ignoring the door when it's a no but they don't go away, if I tell them they're busy they come back later, even when I tell them a time ours can go out they still keep knocking until then!
Kids themselves are around 5 and 8 and seem nice enough, I don't want to be rude to them to get rid of them, and keep it friendly as our kids do like playing with them we just need some boundaries!
I've never seen their parents and don't know which house they live at.
The only thing I can think of is to find out which is their house and put a note through for their parents, but how would you phrase it? We don't want to make any neighbour enemies, and no one wants to be told their kids are annoying, but we can't carry on like

OP posts:
decaffonlypls · 23/07/2023 18:08

A firm "x and y are not playing out today , they will come and find you next time they are free"

Once baby is here I'd put a sign on door saying NO KNOCKING

MargosMangos · 23/07/2023 18:14

You need to be firmer, tell them not to come back they'll be out if they can

Tidsleytiddy · 23/07/2023 18:18

Once you let your own kids out to play it encourages all-comers in my experience. Opens the floodgates to constant pestering

AllyArty · 23/07/2023 18:21

I would casually ask them their names and where they live but don't contact their parents yet. Then once you have your baby and they knock on the door, pop over to their house and just say to whoever answers the door that you have a newborn and whilst their children are lovely you would prefer if they don't knock at the door for the time being. Keep it light, they could turn out to be good friends to your children and you never know when your paths will cross further down the line.

fortnumsfinest · 23/07/2023 18:31

I think @AllyArty has it spot on.
Please don't say the DC's are a pain, that's never going to go down well and it's certainly not worth falling out with neighbours over

forrestgreen · 23/07/2023 18:50

Next time they knock, explain that you'll have a baby soon so there will be no more knocking.
Your kids can see them outside and if they want to join in they will do.
If they knock again, ask them what did I say last time you knocked.

Never let your kids play out because they knocked. They'll link it as a success. Get your kids to do a job then they could go out eg

PassMeTheRedbull · 23/07/2023 19:57

It's annoying when it's constant my street is the same, but I was that child when I was young, a total pain in the ass 😁

OliveWah · 23/07/2023 21:02

I'd probably be a bit firmer initially, and specify that you'd rather they didn't knock for your children, they will come out and play when they are able to do so. Once the baby arrives, I would put a sign on the door saying "Please don't knock, baby sleeping" and if they ignore that, I'd try a stern word with them and if all else fails, then have a chat with their parents.

New posts on this thread. Refresh page