Ring doorbell goes off continuously

[SuzieJ221]

Neighbourhood kids - 2 families the kids are ringing doorbell from 11ish to 7/8 in evening. I put a note on door yesterday saying “child name can’t play today sorry” but the same kids came several more times to read the note. They didn’t ring bell but the notifications went off. I thought I was a genius putting a note on the door and my problem was solved but why are they checking same note so many times? If it says she can’t play today why will that change an hour or 2 hours later? After 6pm and I think the 8th alert on my phone I let DD play with them, I did speak harshly to the eldest one (10) yesterday and said I’ve told them all before that she’s not always home during the day but is free evening from 6pm onwards to which the child responded back “6pm is day time not evening” my dd chimed in and they all did too that I was wrong 😂 I felt I was in school again!

this is obviously affecting be as I’m up at this hour stewing over this incident and many others since the start of summer. My DD never knocks on anyone’s door as she’s too shy so if I do let her play during the day she just hangs around the gardens to hear if they are playing - the parents never get disturbed.

Just stick with “I’m working and my daughter isn’t available. When she is available to play she’ll come out.” Don’t give them a reason or a timeframe to argue with you about. Then if you need to approach the parents keep the conversation about how their child is constantly interrupting you at work.

Clearly they are bored and this has become a game. You need to give them a stern telling off. Dd isn't here and we are busy working so stop knocking on the door. The fact you mention being being scared to be firmer with them in case their parents confront you suggests they have accurately assessed you as a bit a of a wet blanket and they are taking the piss.

"this is private property. You can’t jump our fence or come into our garden. That’s not okay. It’s being recorded on camera and automatically shared with neighbourhood watch.”

Although the danger is that they find this fun and keep coming back. Could you look a bit scary? Disheveled? Like you eat children? 😂

Sounds like their parents are neglecting them in the school holidays. Shame.

Otherwise, speak or text the parents, hope your holiday is going well. your kid is so sweet, she seems so keen to see dd and I feel sorry for her as dd is away at <name of fancy camp> . Are you going away anytime? Hope your dd has a lovely holiday, such a shame my dd is not around to play"

DC don’t always understand your pov. They don’t read social conventions.
They don’t really understand that you’re working, especially if their DP don’t work from home.
They are inclined to think that when you passionately want something, things can change.

You need to be blunt.

Hi Sarah, Susie isn’t playing. Don’t come again until tomorrow.

@myplace that’s good advice thanks.

does anyone else have any advice please? I really want to relax in my own home and not be edge!

It’s a tough one, you are currently running the risk of saying no so often that they stop hanging out with your daughter entirely. How would you feel if they never knocked on again?

sometimes it’s about habits on the days you don’t have deliveries can you turn the notifications off? It may only take a couple of days for them to form new habits

Fgs they’re kids.
Move and let your DD be lonely and unsociable like you.

It's not tough at all. You either ignore them or go and speak to the parents.

They are getting a rise out of you and enjoying it. Stop opening the door and trying to reason with them. Just totally blank it however many times they try. I did once have to do this with a very persistent brat child when my kids were the age of yours. It took persistence but it really wasn't long before they gave up and moved on.

You can see on a Ring doorbell who is there so you could quickly establish whether it was something important or just the brats again.

Stop being so afraid of approaching the parents or of what they think. Most reasonable parents would want to know if their child was annoying the neighbours in this sort of way. I know I would have, and would have put a stop to it. Granted that some wouldn't be so keen, but then why does it matter what they think? They probably wouldn't be types you would want your DD to associate much with.

Are you okay? My DD is in camp! Do u want me to let them in and I’ll jump on the trampoline with them rather than do my job? Maybe I should keep DD at home and that way she can play all day with them and I can miss my meetings and not work as I have to keep looking in on her. She’s 7! I can’t get her to make her own lunch. But thank you great advice.

just to add yes I am bloody unsociable as I’m bloody working! I’m not going to invite the neighbourhood kids in and have them making noise when I’m trying to deal with serious meetings! Gosh you’re probably the mother of one of these brats.

thank you guys. She’s in grandparents today and I made sure I told them all yesterday. If they knock I’ll just remind them and keep reminding.

What a ridiculous and unhelpful comment.

No. Just ignore the doorbell if it is them. They are getting a rise out of you always coming to the door, so just don't. Stop doing it. No matter how persistent they are, they will get bored and move on.

@Topseyt123 thank you!

This really sounds like a you problem. Your tolerance for anything outwith your control or your own bubble sounds unreasonably limited.
I've worked from home for years and adapted long ago to neighbourhood noises, kids coming to the door etc. It really is only a problem if you allow it to be.

Maybe it's not the neighbourhood for you, perhaps somewhere isolated and completely detached might be better, but I'm guessing that wouldn't be right either and other things would bug you.

If dd wants to play when she gets home, have you tried putting time on the note so they don’t need to keep coming back. ‘If you call round after 6.30 she will come out’. Or if DH is sitting about watching tv send him out. He might be less anxious about it all

You won't miss anything important I promise you.

Sounds to me like it's the trampoline that is the attraction rather than your wee girl.
Try adding "trampoline is broken" to your note.

I've had to NC for this post, just in case because I've told numerous people 😆

My NDN kid, aged 6, always knocks on mine, numerous times a day. No matter how many times I say no she still comes, bang bang bang, bell bell bell, bang bang, you get it, it sends me from 0-100 with rage.

So about 2 weekends ago she knocked on for about the 6th time in an afternoon and I was a bit firm with her at the door and told her no, I said not today. She said why and I said because I said so!...
Shut the door and looked through the spy hole and she's there flipping me off with both middle fingers in my own front garden !🤣 I was fucking seething.

Anyway I got my DP to answer the door the next few times & he isn't as friendly looking as I am so I think she got the message and I've had quite a peaceful 2 weeks so far... 😆

Do you have her carer’s number? Can you say your daughter is at camp today, but will be back at xxx time/day.
But don’t be afraid to be blunt, I can assure you that child will not be bothered.

Just get rid of your ring doorbell- they're a bloody nuisance. It's the summer holidays. I think this is a nice problem to worry about, tbh. Your dd has lots of friends that want to play with her. That's sweet.

That’s exactly how I feel! I get so angry! They just came now! I feel so silly - my legs are shaking as I’m so angry, I stayed calm and I said I told you yesterday she’s at grandparents. I then said why did u guys come 6 times yesterday after I left a note she can’t play today?

I feel I was a bit harsh. They said but we did t ring the doorbell. I explained the doorbell still alerts me. I wish I had said its private property.

Shut the door and looked through the spy hole and she's there flipping me off with both middle fingers in my own front garden 😅

You put a note and they’re probably checking to see if you’ve changed it. Essentially you’ve created something for them to check to see if their friend can play. They’re kids and they think differently to you.