How to handle this

[howbadistheball]

Currently staying at a “naice” hotel in Spain. My bored 15 year old went up to our room to chill for an hour. He’s can’t sit still ( possible ADD, undergoing assessment) and started gently dribbling a ball around the room apparently. It was 1.30 pm.

I was down by the pool ( so don’t actually know how annoying it must have been, but from previous experience it isn’t loud, just a thumping) and came up to check on him. I was accosted by a guest from the room next door, just as I arrived who was very confrontational and annoyed. Apparently it was disturbing his afternoon nap.

I told him I would deal with it, and opened the door to the room. Son and ball are standing there. The guest did not come in to the room but stood at the door and proceeded to tell off my son.

we left together to do an activity. When I returned an hour later there was a note from reception asking me to contact them immediately. Apparently the guest had made an official complaint about him.

for info. I’m on my own here with my son. No other adults. And he was a bit intimidating

I bet the guest was on holiday, thinking that as it’s still the school term, it would be lovely and quiet.
Then boom, all his hopes were shattered. An annoying teenager turns up with a flipping football.
Supervise your son, so other guests can enjoy their holiday….

Dribbling a ball doesn't make a thud. Teach him some manners and etiquette and then you won't have to face intimidating men trying to enjoy their holiday

I try to go on holiday in school term time to
avoid other people’s horrible children and shitty parenting. I would have been furious.

You let your 15 yo play football in the bedroom of a hotel and you're aggrieved because someone complained to reception? YABVVU. The person who complained might have been on a plane all night!

EXACTLY! He’s 15 FGS. No need to tip toe around him. At his age he should know better

How would I deal with it?
Ask the teen what on earth was he thinking playing with a football inside a hotel room. Make him apologise to the neighbour.
Make sure to tell reception that your son has spoken to the neighbour.
130 is siesta time in Spain. Very common to be asleep then.

Why was he not outside? If he can't sit still and doesn't know you don't play football inside then he should not be left alone.

I would bet that the man was not in fact intimidating, just rightly annoyed and voicing this to you. But you’re going to say that he was intimidating rather than take accountability for your son being a pain in the arse.

I have lived in Spain for several years in the past and it’s not just a nap. It’s Siesta time that is very very important not to disturb someone during that time you really need to consider the culture of the country visiting

It was inappropriate to dribble the ball indoors, regardless of the hour, but the other guest shouldn't have stood there talking to your son after already discussing it with you.

I'd expect to apologise to the staff member at the desk, say it won't happen again, and try to enjoy the rest of your stay.

In Spain siesta time is usually more important than night time . So frustrated that people don’t consider local culture it’s what makes some Uk tourists so unpopular in Spain .

Absolutely unreasonable. I'm not surprised the guest said something directly. Have you heard of siestas? I hesitate to ask that as it would be totally unreasonable at any time.

Ffs. He's 15. He should know better than to be playing football in a hotel room. I hope you dealt with it by bollocking him and apologizing to the guest!

The other guest should simply have contacted Guest Services/Reception and not involved you or spoken to you directly at all.

Having said that, I’ve been on the receiving end of this. Kid playing unsupervised football in a room and impacting 5 rooms above him, 4 rooms to the side and 5 rooms below him - it’s honestly real torture for other guests.

Was it dribbling as in football or basketball?

Im guessing he was practicing basketball!

either way you are very unreasonable to think it is acceptable for your child to play ball games in a hotel room

Was it dribbling as in football or basketball?

I have to say I cannot think of any context outside sport in which that question could possibly be more relevant😂

Who plays football in an apartnent fgs?

Stop making excuses for your son. He was ooo.

Apologise. End of.

Thank you... Ive heard it said before on here and never understood what it meant

Back in the day I believe someone found a shopping list with the magical words 'naice ham' on it and so a legend was born. It's 'nice' pronounced the way Hyacinth Bucket would say it.

I think complaining to you was fine. Telling your son off when he saw him, tolerable, as he's not a small child, and is old enough to hear directly that he's been a nuisance to another person. Adding on the complaint to reception is OTT as to me its either/or. Address it yourself or get the 'authorities' to deal with it. No need for both.

Ok. Thanks for the comments. I really appreciate it, and I understand I’m unreasonable.

to answer a few questions. The other guest was British, not Spanish, so there wasn’t a cultural siesta aspect, but I appreciate there are likely Spanish guests that may be on the same floor too.

I was taken aback. Unprepared. I hadn’t been in the room during that time. If I had been the situation would not have arisen in the first place, as I would not have allowed it otherwise.
I didn’t apologise at the time, which I appreciate now that I should have done, but I literally had just arrived back, so was unaware as to what was going on, as was a bit taken aback to be confronted aggressively by a total stranger about something I was unaware had been happening.

He made his point in an aggressive manner, then doubled down by lingering at my open door to then give my son a row too, which felt like an invasion of my privacy. To angrily complain to me, then angrily complain to my son, to then complain to the hotel I feel was a bit much, especially as it wasn’t late at night, we weren’t partying or playing loud music.

my son and I went to reception together. We BOTH apologised, and assured the hotel that it would not happen again, ( and it hasn’t) . The manager was really nice, she even said she had a son of a similar age, and she understood.
However I also made the point that his manner was unacceptable and that I felt intimidated.

so that’s that then. Probably a pointless post as some of you have said.

Cultural siesta aspect? A lot of people like a snooze when they’re relaxing on holiday, it’s not weird.

And it's not specific to Spanish people!

Yes, I suppose this man was only expecting kids under 5, who wouldn't be on their own. Before anyone says he might well be homeschooled, as UK schools aren't on holiday now, that's obviously fine if OP chooses to homeschool, but the man probably did expect British 15 year olds (if that's what he is) wouldn't be there.

Being assessed for ADHD doesn't give your son the right to bounce his ball around in a hotel. Complaining guest should have left you to deal with it and not got involved.At least hotel staff now aware,and if the hotel is 'naice' they will try and make it work for everyone.

TBF the son wasn't playing footy, he was bouncing the ball and I agree it likely annoyed the neighbour. But, the correct action is t contact the front desk and not stand in the doorway of another guest's room.