AIBU to think children should not be playing football in the car park?

[Eillen]

Hi all, so my parents have recently moved to Rome, not permanently just for a year or 2 until my dad retires.
They are living in an old apartment complex, undeniably beautiful, it’s not quite the classic courtyard building, they would call it a condominium, several buildings sharing one car park etc.

Anyway we are here staying for 2 weeks, we have driven all the way down (a few stops on the way). My issue is, the car park seems to also be where many kids play, usually with footballs and it’s now happened twice in 2 days that someone has hit our car setting the alarm off. My parents have said I’ll just have to watch for when one of the spots tucked around the back open as they don’t tend to play there but otherwise that’s just how it is!

I think they should talk to their neighbours and mention it’s not very good to be hitting other peoples cars.
It’s carnage out there most of the time from what I can tell, there are always children screaming and shouting until late, blocking the entry door etc.

We have been letting our children (8 and 10) go out and join them but they both come back in and say they aren’t enjoying it. They briefly made friends with a little girl who was about 7, but that seems to have ended.

AIBU to think this isn’t normal or appropriate behaviour?

I certainly wouldn't let my kids do this in the UK but when in Rome......

No, it's not ok to let your kids risk damaging a car. Worse, there could be a person or dog in the car (ok, you'd hope not on a very hot day) that could be seriously injured.

It obviously is normal there, seems to work ok and the locals won't change their ways to accomodate someone's foreign guests.

Just turn the alarm off to not add to the havoc, or park elsewhere.

If you don’t agree with what they’re doing why did you let your children play with them

If that’s what the locals do you’ve got no chance as a guest stopping them.

I think your parents are right. This is these children's home not yours. It may not be normal at home, but if it's normal here you just need to roll with it.