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AIBU?

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Original poster

Neighbour’s kid picked my daffodils

809 replies

Lucylooloo2 · 21/03/2025 22:48

Just that really, had lots of notifications of movement on the doorbell camera and lo and behold a kid (8ish years old) from a few houses down with a bunch of daffodils in her hand.

Checked mine in my front garden when I got home and Every. Single. One. has been taken.

I’m just really sad tbh. Know there are much bigger problems in the world but they were a little spark of joy for me 😕

OP posts:
Keiththecatwithamagichat · 22/03/2025 15:36

godmum56 · 22/03/2025 09:07

if they are old enough to be out without an adult, they are old enough to know not to go into other people's gardens or pick anything.

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I actually wouldn't let my own 8 year old out without an adult, but that's a whole other thread!

Hwi · 22/03/2025 15:37

LazyArsedMagician · 22/03/2025 15:10

Unless they're told by an adult, they don't realise that those are specially planted flowers and not just like buttercups. I know because I did similar at that age and my mum explained to me that while she loved the sentiment, they weren't for picking Blush

Think it's a bit much some calling this child a "thieving little brat".

Also - Mother's Day is next Sunday.

What, and it is OK to rip out wild buttercups just because no human planted them?

BunnyLake · 22/03/2025 15:40

Hwi · 22/03/2025 15:08

Sensitive kids won't do it - kids who are sensitive about themselves, are usually sensitive about daffodils. 'Sensitive' people who are only sensitive about themselves are egoists of the highest order.

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Sensitive kids can still make mistakes, can they not?

BunnyLake · 22/03/2025 15:42

Hwi · 22/03/2025 15:37

What, and it is OK to rip out wild buttercups just because no human planted them?

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Did you never make a daisy chain while sitting in the park as a kid? Are you saying children can’t pick a wild buttercup now? Never put one under your chin to see if you liked butter?

LazyArsedMagician · 22/03/2025 15:43

This reply has been deleted

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Growlybear83 · 22/03/2025 15:48

LazyArsedMagician · 22/03/2025 15:10

Unless they're told by an adult, they don't realise that those are specially planted flowers and not just like buttercups. I know because I did similar at that age and my mum explained to me that while she loved the sentiment, they weren't for picking Blush

Think it's a bit much some calling this child a "thieving little brat".

Also - Mother's Day is next Sunday.

Why is it a bit much to refer to the child as a thieving little brat? That’s what she is.

if I had children stealing from my private property, I would keep my garden hose by the door and get ready to give them a good soaking next time I got a doorbell alert.

LazyArsedMagician · 22/03/2025 15:50

Growlybear83 · 22/03/2025 15:48

Why is it a bit much to refer to the child as a thieving little brat? That’s what she is.

if I had children stealing from my private property, I would keep my garden hose by the door and get ready to give them a good soaking next time I got a doorbell alert.

Show quote history

I posted later I hadn't realised the daffs were picked from the garden, I had assumed it was from a grass verge outside OP's house. Which is why that sentence refers to the first part of my post.

LazyArsedMagician · 22/03/2025 15:52

Growlybear83 · 22/03/2025 15:48

Why is it a bit much to refer to the child as a thieving little brat? That’s what she is.

if I had children stealing from my private property, I would keep my garden hose by the door and get ready to give them a good soaking next time I got a doorbell alert.

Show quote history

Would you fuck turn a hosepipe on an 8 year old instead of just saying something to them Grin

AnAlpacaForChristmasPleaseSanta · 22/03/2025 16:10

DontWheeshtMe · 22/03/2025 15:22

Did anyone give you an Alpaca for Christmas. Perhaps that will keep them away 😁

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No, Santa did not the bloody tightwad 😒.
But your suggestion might add some leverage as to why I need one (and it is a need, make no mistakes about it) so thanks for that 😊.

KimberleyClark · 22/03/2025 16:11

LazyArsedMagician · 22/03/2025 15:10

Unless they're told by an adult, they don't realise that those are specially planted flowers and not just like buttercups. I know because I did similar at that age and my mum explained to me that while she loved the sentiment, they weren't for picking Blush

Think it's a bit much some calling this child a "thieving little brat".

Also - Mother's Day is next Sunday.

If she thought the daffodils were “just like buttercups”, why didn’t she pick the ones growing in her own garden?

TheHerboriste · 22/03/2025 16:11

LazyArsedMagician · 22/03/2025 15:52

Would you fuck turn a hosepipe on an 8 year old instead of just saying something to them Grin

Show quote history

They don't listen to mere words. Take it from me.

Just like balls in the yard. "Hey, please don't kick balls over, they crush my plants." Repeatedly ignored. "Your ball? Oh, I did find a ball in my yard. It's not mine so I stabbed it and put it in the bin. That is what I do from now on." Problem solved.

TheHerboriste · 22/03/2025 16:14

BunnyLake · 22/03/2025 14:54

We have no idea if this child is a brat and the neighbourhood terror or if she’s a bit whimsical and head in the clouds (which I was). If I had done this there would have been no ill intent (only childish thoughtlessness). If my mum had sat me down and explained that it’s not the right thing to do and let’s go over there and apologise I would have taken it on board never doing it again. If she’d been very cross and ‘frog marched’ me over there (as a pp said) I would have been mortified and very very upset. It would have caused me great upset and stress as I was a very sensitive kid. I’ve always kept that in mind with my own parenting as my younger son was very sensitive as a child. No need to frog march a kid over there when you can just walk over.

Edited

Causing them "upset" is what helps them to remember.

If they'd had the guts to show their faces, in the OP's place I would have given that child a lecture she would never forget. We all have had it with entitled "gentle parenting" that produces children oblivious that others even exist, let alone must be considered.

TheHerboriste · 22/03/2025 16:16

Killjoy124 · 22/03/2025 12:59

Saw my own little girl eyeing up a neighbors daffodils earlier this week and warned her they are already being loved and to please do not disturb them. We get to see them every day walking to school now, that's nice enough surely

"Already being loved" ???

How about "Those flowers belong to someone else. We don't take what belongs to others. That's thievery."

Lilith666 · 22/03/2025 16:22

Sorry @Lucylooloo2 but they will grow next year. Reminds me of when I was 6 or 7, I picked all the daffs from our front garden and went round all the neighbours trying to sell them, I wanted the money to buy my mum a Mother's Day present. My mum was so upset but I didn't get it at the time.

AnAlpacaForChristmasPleaseSanta · 22/03/2025 16:32

Sorry for going off course but forgot to add @DontWheeshtMe , your gif was pure 🥰🥰.

SillySallie · 22/03/2025 16:41

LazyArsedMagician · 22/03/2025 15:50

I posted later I hadn't realised the daffs were picked from the garden, I had assumed it was from a grass verge outside OP's house. Which is why that sentence refers to the first part of my post.

Edited
Show quote history

It doesn’t matter if they’re on grass verges. I have verges full of them and they’re not fair game for people to pick.

DoraSpenlow · 22/03/2025 16:44

A few years ago I noticed a small child picking the heads off the daffs in my front garden. I went out and asked the Mum to ask her child to stop doing it. She replied that the child was only young but I replied that she wasn't and would she please ask the child to stop. She huffed a bit, muttered something about not planting stuff where kids could get hold of it and walked off.

The next morning the head of every daff had been picked off and thrown it the garden. I cried.

What the hell is wrong with people?

WearyAuldWumman · 22/03/2025 16:44

DoraSpenlow · 22/03/2025 16:44

A few years ago I noticed a small child picking the heads off the daffs in my front garden. I went out and asked the Mum to ask her child to stop doing it. She replied that the child was only young but I replied that she wasn't and would she please ask the child to stop. She huffed a bit, muttered something about not planting stuff where kids could get hold of it and walked off.

The next morning the head of every daff had been picked off and thrown it the garden. I cried.

What the hell is wrong with people?

I'm furious on your behalf. Horrible.

Middleagedstriker · 22/03/2025 16:45

floormops · 22/03/2025 09:08

In my part of North London, if you have a front garden, you can't plant anything in it unless you accept the risk of it being stolen. Flowers, small shrubs, even a tree was removed from a front garden a few years ago.

God I couldn't live in London. Never happened to anyone I know in Manchester.

Sunbeam01 · 22/03/2025 16:45

Growlybear83 · 22/03/2025 15:48

Why is it a bit much to refer to the child as a thieving little brat? That’s what she is.

if I had children stealing from my private property, I would keep my garden hose by the door and get ready to give them a good soaking next time I got a doorbell alert.

Show quote history

@Growlybear83 I expect others have made you aware of your anger issues in other areas of your life.

Middleagedstriker · 22/03/2025 16:46

TheHerboriste · 22/03/2025 16:11

They don't listen to mere words. Take it from me.

Just like balls in the yard. "Hey, please don't kick balls over, they crush my plants." Repeatedly ignored. "Your ball? Oh, I did find a ball in my yard. It's not mine so I stabbed it and put it in the bin. That is what I do from now on." Problem solved.

Show quote history

You sound lovely.

Middleagedstriker · 22/03/2025 16:50

WearyAuldWumman · 22/03/2025 16:48

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Wouldn't live in Fife either!

BashfulClam · 22/03/2025 16:51

A young girl in our street kept picking my mums flowers then just crushing or throwing them around. My mum told her off gently and she then pulled up one plant and threw it with the dirt onto my mums step. My mum had to go to the door and her mother was so apologetic. She later brought the wee girl round with some sweets and made her apologise.

StarDolphins · 22/03/2025 16:52

I agree op. We’re lucky to have a gorgeous small wooded area in the middle of our estate & I make it clear to my kid & her friends that they don’t pick the daffodils.

it drives me mad when I see parents letting their kids pick flowers. Same parents that let their kids chase ducks/birds in the park.

I would ask her parents to tell the kid not to do it again.

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