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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Kids playing football on the road!

87 replies

offmybush · 12/02/2024 20:54

There seems to be one family that really are so entitled.

And whenever the weather is not raining, their kids, 7&13 are playing out on the front. Today for 8 hours has been consistent banging their football against the side of my house. (My side wall faces opposite their homes and pavement)

I said nicely once "please stop" but they didn't, their mother didn't seem too bothered.

They've even hit the top of my back garden wall so much the top brick came off.
Their neighbours brand new car has been hit on the bonnet about 40 times (they've been out all day so are completely unaware)

There are cars parked up and they are just kicking the ball on the road and against my home.

They only just stopped one hour ago.

There are no signs to say "no balls" so I probably don't have a leg to stand on but I can't cope with this now until winter arrives again.

Anyone with any advice? Am I being a moany neighbour!

OP posts:
Dunnoburt · 12/02/2024 21:24

Would you rather the future generation in your street were indoors on social media?...... yabu...... kids being kids

LolaSmiles · 12/02/2024 21:26

You'd be unreasonable wanting them to stop playing there but you're not unreasonable for expecting them to not kick a ball against the side of your house for hours at a time.

Their parents should be teaching them what's reasonable for the space and which games they need to go to a bigger area for.

Original poster
offmybush · 12/02/2024 21:34

Dunnoburt · 12/02/2024 21:24

Would you rather the future generation in your street were indoors on social media?...... yabu...... kids being kids

There is a park at the back with a football pitch on.

I don't think the alternative to screens is bashing mine and peoples cars (no driveways on our road) and bashing the side of my home. I'm allowed enjoyment in my living room.

OP posts:
HelloMiss · 12/02/2024 21:37

Just play some Barry manilow.... or opera....they will naturally move off elsewhere

No drama.

Original poster
offmybush · 12/02/2024 21:40

HelloMiss · 12/02/2024 21:37

Just play some Barry manilow.... or opera....they will naturally move off elsewhere

No drama.

But they didn't. It continued until it was dinner time.
So if their ball damages my car? I cannot start any "drama"

Because they make sure they don't do it in front of their mums car.

OP posts:
Forchatting · 12/02/2024 21:42

Did you explain why? They might not realise that the ball vam ne heard through the wall ?

Dunnoburt · 12/02/2024 21:43

If its anything like our local park it's full of 17 year olds and sharps.....

BananaWaving · 12/02/2024 21:45

I understand how you feel Op. I would find that totally unbearable and I don’t understand why parents think
it is OK to let their kids play out on the street. That’s what back gardens and public parks are for. They should have some consideration for their neighbours and not be so selfish.

Original poster
offmybush · 12/02/2024 21:47

Dunnoburt · 12/02/2024 21:43

If its anything like our local park it's full of 17 year olds and sharps.....

It's not. Not every park is full of needles and weird people. We don't live in such a area where I guess that would be common.

OP posts:
lifebeginsaftercoffee · 12/02/2024 21:50

A few boys in our area were doing this and managed to smash someone's windscreen - they got reported to the police who (surprisingly) took it all pretty seriously.

I don't know if you'd get anywhere with that if they haven't actually caused any damage though.

Original poster
offmybush · 12/02/2024 21:50

BananaWaving · 12/02/2024 21:45

I understand how you feel Op. I would find that totally unbearable and I don’t understand why parents think
it is OK to let their kids play out on the street. That’s what back gardens and public parks are for. They should have some consideration for their neighbours and not be so selfish.

I wouldn't mind if it was just kids playing hide and seek or something. But I can't even hear myself think, it's a constant thumping bang against my wall. One other neighbour told them to stop when the ball smashed the back of their car as they was driving off but they just moved slightly back to my wall again. It's relentless.

OP posts:
Original poster
offmybush · 12/02/2024 21:51

lifebeginsaftercoffee · 12/02/2024 21:50

A few boys in our area were doing this and managed to smash someone's windscreen - they got reported to the police who (surprisingly) took it all pretty seriously.

I don't know if you'd get anywhere with that if they haven't actually caused any damage though.

I just feel it's a matter of time when my window or car will get damaged.

OP posts:
Original poster
offmybush · 12/02/2024 21:51

lifebeginsaftercoffee · 12/02/2024 21:50

A few boys in our area were doing this and managed to smash someone's windscreen - they got reported to the police who (surprisingly) took it all pretty seriously.

I don't know if you'd get anywhere with that if they haven't actually caused any damage though.

And they have their own front and back garden! Their mother just doesn't want it directly on their own property herself!

OP posts:
DinaofCloud9 · 12/02/2024 21:54

They shouldn't be playing against your wall. That's just rude. I'd go and tell them to move to their own house.

lifebeginsaftercoffee · 12/02/2024 21:57

Not surprising mum doesn't want it on her own property - it's annoying!

But that doesn't mean they should be doing it on yours or hitting cars. Does anyone have a ring doorbell or dashcam or similar? I'd be making them aware they're being filmed and that any damage will be reported.

Dunnoburt · 12/02/2024 22:00

What did their mum say when you mentioned it to her?

AmyandPhilipfan · 12/02/2024 22:02

That would really annoy me if they were kicking it against my wall. A kid out the back of mine kicks his ball against his own wall, which makes an annoying thudding noise but as it's his own wall I can live with that. But if it was my wall I'd have to ask them to go somewhere else. And if they refused I'd probably resort to being really petty and standing next to my own wall for as long as it took them to decide to move on.

ragdoll12345 · 12/02/2024 22:30

Absolutely not on. I had that years ago when the boy opposite would kick a ball for hours on end against a metal garage door (not my house) and it drove me mad. I would pray for rain so he wouldn't do it - waiting for every 'bang' was torture. I would never put up with it against my house and you have every right to stop him. 👿

Castlerock44 · 12/02/2024 22:47

Dunnoburt · 12/02/2024 21:24

Would you rather the future generation in your street were indoors on social media?...... yabu...... kids being kids

There was no social media in my day and my kids played out. Somehow they managed to do that without annoying the neighbours. It certainly isn't just kids being kids.

Liverpool52 · 12/02/2024 22:50

Dunnoburt · 12/02/2024 21:24

Would you rather the future generation in your street were indoors on social media?...... yabu...... kids being kids

Why is it one extreme or the other? Why does children not being on screens mean people have to put up with their property being damaged?

Hopebrown · 12/02/2024 22:52

Yanbu OP. It happens where I live too, I feel on edge everytime the ball gets booted and hits my car. They arent gentle and like yours, funnily enough never outside their mums or hitting their mums car! No advice but solidarity.

notknowledgeable · 12/02/2024 22:56

YANBU, it would have me on edge all day too. Can you talk to the landlord or council? its not fair to expect you to put up with this

DinnaeFashYersel · 12/02/2024 23:04

I said nicely once "please stop" but they didn't

That's not going to do it.

You've asked nicely.

Next you tell them off. Properly.

Then you complain to the parents.

YABU to expect them not to play out
YANBU to expect them to not hit your house/car

Pumpkinpie1 · 12/02/2024 23:13

No you are not being unreasonable. Banging a football against the side of your home is blooming annoying as well as being antisocial.
Speak to your neighbour whose car was being hit by the football & let them know what’s happening. Do you have a PC assigned to your area? Ask them about it and if they can have a word.

positivesliceofpie · 12/02/2024 23:24

Tell them to piss of and kick it at their own house.
If the mother has a issue with that tell her her kids are being little fuck wits and to teach them some manners if my windows get smashed im smashing yours.
Thats how its done my neighbourhood.