Neighbour’s kid picked my daffodils

[Lucylooloo2]

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 😕

how many times? If children aren't old enough to know not to do it, they aren't old enough to be allowed out alone!

I would be just as angry if a child came into my garden without permission and picked daisies and buttercups from my lawn - it is MY private land and they should not be trespassing.

Karma doesn't exist and OP has said that the child has daffodils in their own garden, so why not pick them for their parents?

Why are you responding to me like this?

Children are allowed to make mistakes. And parents will correct them. That's what parenting is. 8 might be two years off the age of criminal accountability, but that's also 20% of their life still to go before they get there. That's a lot of time for maturing. And if you've never been told that daffs on the verge are specifically planted and not just flowering like buttercups and dandelions, then how would you know?

"Don't pick the daffodils they're not ours". That's what you say, that's what happens. Don't know why this kid picked out of OP's garden.

Yours isn’t a ‘more level headed perspective’ though. Yours is a self serving grabby perspective. Teaching children that they should leave flowers for the greater good is a precious and valuable lesson about living in community. Shame you haven’t learned it.

because you said this
" I said that children oftentimes won't realise that daffs are purposely planted"

Yes, and? I mean, ok, glad your parenting was so exemplary that your children never did anything they shouldn't have done when out of your sight. Nothing I said suggests that I don't think that parents shouldn't address this if/when it happens.

When I was about five I picked a load of white flowers from the garden round our flats then went door to door in the flats trying to sell them. (Army Quarters) My mum was furious with me but I didn’t understand why. I’m sure she had a laugh about it with the ladies I had tried to sell to once she’d got over the embarrassment and had taken me to every flat to apologise. I didn’t make any money, by the way, but one lady did give me an apple. I hope the little girl who picked your flowers has a decent mum who will explain to her and bring her to apologise to you.

and my comment was that if a child doesn't understand what they can or cannot do when they are alone and outside of their own house and garden then they should not be allowed out of their own house and garden alone....or are you suggesting that a parent allowed this?

Just because grateful you didnt have some of the nuts on here for neighbours, they would have had the police at the door to give you a talking do and your crimes logged against your parents just incase you turned into a juvenile delinquent.

Because no MN child ever did anything wrong ever, you know!

No one is seriously suggesting calling the police!

It’s just that parenting does require the adult to explain to the child and in a way that creates empathy… ie “ the neighbour was crying when she got home because she LOVES her daffodils and she has to wait another year for them to come back “. Explain why we act /don’t act in certain ways, not in an angry way, but to instill understanding and sensitivity to the needs of others. The criminal age of responsibility might be 10, but the age of reason is much younger.

My 90 year old mother has a flowering shrub in her front garden. I cannot tell you the pleasure it gives her EVERY SINGLE DAY.

If someone came and cut off the blooms for a vase, she would be devastated.

Stealing is "super sweet" ?

Hmmmmmm

I’d put a sign in the garden saying don’t pick the flowers, it might not do a lot but hopefully the parents will see it and teach their children to leave them alone.

Go back and read the full thread.

One suggested getting the Community Police officer out, presumably to give the kid a talking to.

Another has suggested calling the police to -log the incident.

Can you imagine the person on the other end of the call? You want us to do what...over some daffodils?

Going by quite a few of the messages on this thread, the parents may not see that what their daughter did is wrong.

I'm getting to see why some children behave the way they do; their parents have very weak moral compasses.

Yes, it's really appalling.

Especially the soppy maudlin "anything a child does is so sweet" ilk.

And how obtuse does an EIGHT year old need to be, to not realize it?

Eight year olds are studying math, language, science, playing football, etc. The ones near me are outspoken, sturdy, loud and some walk to school on thier own. Is anyone seriously trying to argue that children this age don't know enough not to vandalize others' property?

I have a very unusual flower bush in my front garden, and every summer it is quite the feature. So much so people stop to take pictures and selfies. This has been happening for years. It has now just occurred to me to be aghast at this.

Tell you what, I'll come and dig it out as I quite like the sound of it. You won't mind, will you?

Is it a magnolia? I quite fancy that, too. Is it small enough to fit in the back of a seven-seater?

🤓

Is it a magnolia? I quite fancy that, too. Is it small enough to fit in the back of a seven-seater?

I have a pickup, I can drop it off for you if you like?

digging party?

@Needspaceforlego
OK. The majority of posters are not in that league!

But do you honestly think that front gardens are “fair play” for children to help themselves to flowers?

At no point have I said its fair play.

I think we are talking about a young child, who's heart was probably in the right place, even if she did something she shouldn't have.
Ops told the Mum, who's sent an apology round. To me that should be the end of it.

Some reactions on here are a tad over the top. Inc phoning the police 🚔 can you imagine the reaction at the other end of the phone, "your reporting a child taking daffodils".

Kids are kids they are still learning about the world. They don't always think through what they are doing.
None of us were perfect angels 😇 even if out moments of daftness are long forgotten.
But this is MN world the mothers who's cherubs are all perfect angels from the age of two and who never do anything wrong.

Never talk about anyone else's kids, because you don't know what your own are going to do!

I have two DC, both teens, one easy going the other challenging. If either did this I'd completely understand people talking negatively about my DC because actions have consequences!
I'm glad the mum and daughter took a pot of flowers around, hopefully she had stern words about what happens if that behaviour continues (e.g. not allowed to play in garden alone).
Letting DC off poor behaviour doesn't help them to grow up as well rounded people it just lets them be uncaring DC growing up to be uncaring adults.

In that case I’d definitely be saying something to the parents or your tulips will be gone too! You don’t need to be stroppy but I would make my point so it doesn’t happen again if it were me.