Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU football in the garden at 8am on a Sunday

46 replies

sleepdeprivedby2 · 10/09/2023 11:40

We all have quite small gardens with fences backing onto each other (as is the case for many in the uk). One of the houses have children who are into lots of sports and regularly play football/cricket/basketball throughout the days/weekend.
Although the football being constantly hit against the fence/basketball being bounced and the general shouting which goes with this (not to mention the shear volume of balls in the neighbours gardens) is annoying and very loud it is nice that they are able to play out.
However when it comes to early morning's AIBU to expect there to be some limits set on how early this is happening and there should be some consideration given to the neighbours?
During the working week they are out as early as 7am and this Sunday they were in the garden kicking the ball against the fence at 8am!

OP posts:
Nanny0gg · 10/09/2023 11:42

YANBU

Munchyseeds2 · 10/09/2023 11:51

I agree with you

RainbowUtensils · 10/09/2023 11:54

That's crazy, if I let my kids go in the garden before 9am it's under strict instruction to be super quiet as neighbours might be sleeping, and often don't before 10am on weekends.

I remember lie ins, they were great, and if I could have them again I'd want them uninterrupted!

romany4 · 10/09/2023 11:58

Yanbu

Original poster
sleepdeprivedby2 · 10/09/2023 12:10

Thanks for the responses.
I did go out and speak to them this morning and politely requested that they go back inside until 9am as they were waking everyone up.
They said they wouldn't and then proceeded to continue to play in the garden with the adults of the house stating very loudly that 'it was their garden and they should be able to use their garden when and however they liked'
The constant playing in the daytime is irritating enough without being woken up by it as well.
Just don't know where to go from here.

OP posts:
Original poster
sleepdeprivedby2 · 10/09/2023 12:11

Btw although the daytime playing is annoying if you just want a quiet time in the garden. All of the neighbours accept this and throw balls back etc.

OP posts:
Imenti · 10/09/2023 12:14

RainbowUtensils · 10/09/2023 11:54

That's crazy, if I let my kids go in the garden before 9am it's under strict instruction to be super quiet as neighbours might be sleeping, and often don't before 10am on weekends.

I remember lie ins, they were great, and if I could have them again I'd want them uninterrupted!

Absolutely agree with this - especially the lie ins part!! 🤣

Original poster
sleepdeprivedby2 · 10/09/2023 12:42

Yes. Sorry. I am a long time member who used to be sleep deprived by 2, but they are now teenagers
So hang in there, it will hair for you too

OP posts:
Original poster
sleepdeprivedby2 · 10/09/2023 12:43

*happen

OP posts:
Pleasenowthatsenough · 10/09/2023 13:29

I just find this so depressing to read and its the norm where I live; barking dogs that all set each others off, kids out ridiculously early and late, power drills, grown adults having barbecue/parties getting hideously drunk and loud and aggressive, but apparently everybody is entitled to not give a toss about anyone else’s right to quiet and to also enjoy their home…

I feel for you OP but not much you can do about this.

Rollawaythestone · 10/09/2023 13:34

sleepdeprivedby2 · 10/09/2023 12:10

Thanks for the responses.
I did go out and speak to them this morning and politely requested that they go back inside until 9am as they were waking everyone up.
They said they wouldn't and then proceeded to continue to play in the garden with the adults of the house stating very loudly that 'it was their garden and they should be able to use their garden when and however they liked'
The constant playing in the daytime is irritating enough without being woken up by it as well.
Just don't know where to go from here.

Although I agree with you in principle, I really don't think you have a right to tell them to go inside and not come out again until a time you have decided on. I think that might be what has annoyed their parents and is now going to be an issue. Couldn't you have just asked them to keep the noise down a bit?

MatthewsMumFromTikTok · 10/09/2023 14:04

I agree you have now pissed off the parents and created a problem!

Wheelemin77 · 10/09/2023 14:24

Honestly, I really wouldn't call 8am early, even on a Sunday. First of all what is it about certain days that seems to antagonise people so much. Why should anyone view a Sunday any differently to a Wednesday? Secondly, this is early autumn. The sun rose just before 6.30am this morning, so that is an hour and a half into full sunshine daytime before it started. A significant number of people would be up and about by 8am so I really don't see the problem about children having fun and playing football.

Jeschara · 10/09/2023 14:31

I think you have a bloody cheek OP. It's not for you to tell them to go in and come out at 9 am because it suits you. I would have told you that if it was my children, entitled much.

That said my children were not out that early, but if my neighbours children did it I would have to accept it.

user1497864954 · 10/09/2023 14:32

To be honest with the hot weather we have been having, I wouldn't mind this at the moment. Where I am it has been too hot to play out later. I go for a daily walk and I've had to go out much earlier than normal this week. Soon enough it will be too wet or old for children to be out playing and with the levels of childhood obesity, I think we should be encouraging children to be outside and not sat inside staring at screens.

Throwncrumbs · 10/09/2023 14:36

’shut the fuck up’ usually works !

user1497864954 · 10/09/2023 14:36

sleepdeprivedby2 · 10/09/2023 12:10

Thanks for the responses.
I did go out and speak to them this morning and politely requested that they go back inside until 9am as they were waking everyone up.
They said they wouldn't and then proceeded to continue to play in the garden with the adults of the house stating very loudly that 'it was their garden and they should be able to use their garden when and however they liked'
The constant playing in the daytime is irritating enough without being woken up by it as well.
Just don't know where to go from here.

I don't understand how they are constantly playing in the daytime. Are you somewhere where schools haven't gone back yet? Around here they all went back at some point in the last week.

MariaVT65 · 10/09/2023 14:37

It might have been because of the hot weather this morning.

But in all honesty, I’ve been kept up till 11pm by adult parties, so if that’s ok, then I think it’s ok to have my 2 year old out in the garden in the morning as long as it’s a legal time for making noise.

PP made a good point about sundays as well. Many people actually work sundays and have other days off.

NewShoes · 10/09/2023 14:38

I agree with others in that whilst it is early, it’s not so early that I’d be telling them to go inside. In general I think it’s far better that children are outside playing than in front of their screens all the time!

Amwondering69 · 10/09/2023 14:42

Yes I agree with you OP . My 2 boys were football mad when they were younger but they definitely were not out in the garden until 9 am at the earliest! There were other activities they could do indoors !

MotorwayDiva · 10/09/2023 14:45

Given the appalling weather this summer, and the fact its now too hot to play out after 11. I think yabu.

Iateallthechocolate · 10/09/2023 14:50

Anytime after 7am is fine, if you can beep your car horn at that time, then other noise is acceptable too.

Belltentdreamer · 10/09/2023 14:51

Send them inside - sit them on iPads so they are silent!!! 🙄

Poor kids - told off for playing football on a Saturday morning. I despair!

BitOutOfPractice · 10/09/2023 14:53

I had a neighbour whose kid constantly kicked the ball against the fence. Honestly it is so loud and annoying. Doing that at 8am on a Sunday is, imo, not on.

Pleasenowthatsenough · 10/09/2023 14:57

Belltentdreamer · 10/09/2023 14:51

Send them inside - sit them on iPads so they are silent!!! 🙄

Poor kids - told off for playing football on a Saturday morning. I despair!

Oh poor deprived kids being made to hold off till a reasonable hour on a Sunday morning to kick a ball…