AIBU to struggle with neighbours' children screaming while working from home?

[fld]

One of the few things I am not looking forward to the next few days are screaming kids.

Two families that moved late last year and earlier this year have 5-6 kids between them and all they do is scream! They run outside and scream. As the properties are in an odd shaped quadrangle, their screams bounce off the walls. Making the screaming even more intense. The kids’ ages, c3-9 years old.

My job is hybrid, so didn’t get this issue last summer as properties the kids live in - one didn’t have kids and the other had kids and behaved.

I had to close a window to keep the screaming down. There is no way I would close a window when it’s 31c.

I do wish parents would tell their kids that screaming is not acceptable. My work is two thirds on calls ti various customers, other staff in other departments and my team’s colleagues. I can hear the screaming from wearing the call headset.

Any tips will be appreciated

His brain would have been developed at 25. Well done on highlighting your lack of knowledge on child development though. Also, managing a mine at 25 sounds tough. Maybe he can recommend a good headlamp so you can find your way back to the actual topic, which is children between 3 and 9 years old playing outside between 3pm and 5pm.

Let me get out my ouja board and ask him.

Expecting young children to have the situational awareness of a 25 year-old between 3pm and 5pm is wild.

The expectation is that their parents, who presumably are mostly over 25, should actually do some parenting, and tell them to pack it in.

Someone is very proud of their little diploma aren't they? 😂

You do realise that child development is not just one study, yeah? You women are something else🤣

Good idea

Pack what in though? Young children are noisy. They will make noise playing outside in the summer in the middle of the day. Do you seriously believe they just stand there screaming for 2 hours, everyday? Or is it more likely that a group of 6 children between age 3 and 9 are just outside, having fun? Honestly, the level of bitterness and hyperbole here is wild. I'm off to enjoy my day, outside with my children, but I genuinely think some of you would be much happier over on Gransnet where the world moves a little slower. Bye now! 👋

Thank fuck for that

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brain_matures_at_25_myth

Here you go, you silly sausage.

A Wikipedia link, seriously. Groundbreaking research there🤣 not sure why you bothered. It doesn't change the fact that young children struggle to self regulate. This conversation is getting beyond stupid now. @ByWittyGoose You seem like a desperate pick me, I didnt even realise you were talking to me 🤣 FYI I have a masters, not sure at all what little diploma you are referring to or why, I havent mentioned my education once. Anyway ill leave you get on with your bitching, piling on people, swearing etc you have gave us a good laugh today and clearly our comments have caused a lot of stress amongst you. Maybe try a beta blocker....

It's absolute, classic midwittery to believe the brain development at 25 thing, but crack on 😂

Thought you were going to play with the kids?

Couldn't resist a peek could you? 😂

Off you pop with your imaginary masters

The OP sounds like she has really taken a disliking to these children and finds any reason she can to get annoyed by them. Children are allowed to play. I hate the smell of BBQs or building works but I know it's just something I have to get over. If you allow yourself to get wound up it only gets worse

I was just thinking the same thing 😂

Kids being kids doesn't have to mean unmitigated screeching and screaming without a parent or other responsible caregiver telling you to keep it down or go back inside. Adults wanting peace in their homes (whether their working or just living) isn't new or a problem. In the past, more people had no qualms about telling children to be quiet. It won't trample their spirit or inflict psychological scars.

Kids do scream, especially when let out to run about. Most of us as responsibile parents do address this to be respectful to neighbours.

However homes are just that, so people wfh need to understand it's a street where all the annoying noises of cutting grass/DIY etc goes on during the day.

Only advice is headphones, windows shut, fan.

Then don't work 3-5pm. Try 5.30-7.30pm.
Problem solved.
Simples. 🤗

And also how can they live with the noise themselves? Ditto dog barking at 3am. Do their owners not need to sleep?

Well it's not that simple if your contracted hours are until 5. And no doubt it continues until they are called in for bath and bed. Which might be a reasonable time in term-time but they might be allowed to stay out until it gets dark once term ends.

Why should OP have to alter her working hours just because some people can’t be arsed to parent properly?

It's simple. It's because the neighbours are unlikely to change their routine to suit OP and neither can they be compelled to do so.

There is nothing anyone can do to make the parents "parent properly" as you put it. As long as the children are well cared for and not in any danger, the parents are allowed to parent as they see fit.

It's OP who has a problem. It's OP who needs to find a solution. There is literally no legal process by which OP can manage this problem except by changing her own routine.

If living next-door to a family with young children is preventing her from working from home, she needs to have an honest discussion with her employer about what she - the OP - can do to manage this problem.

Noise cancelling headset or work in your workplace.

But they're not being asked to change anything except to teach their kids that excessive screaming is not considerate towards others, which they should be doing already. Yes OP can manage the problem to some degree, but she can only reasonably be expected to compromise if her neighbours show some willingness to compromise in return.

You sound pretty awful and aggressive tbh.
Kids scream when they play. They’re in their own gardens. You are not entitled to silence.

It seems reasonable enough but often times loud feral children learn their behaviour from their parents and complaining is going to result in this 👆 response, with the actual parents screaming directly in your face. This is a battle you cannot win , you just have to wait it out or adapt.