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

Would the advice on this thread be different if it was a toddler running up and down a room or a baby crying through the night? Personally I don’t think it’s unreasonable during the day. It’s a kid being a kid. If my son was doing this at night or late evening, I’d be sure to tell him off about it.

But it isn't a baby or a toddler, it's a 15 year old!

That's like asking would the advice be different if the OP had smuggled a rampaging elephant into her hotel room 😆 Totally different situation.

There is a big difference between a toddler crying in the night and a 15 year old old play with a football. One can’t be helped and the other can.

Not really comparable so pointless comment.

Jeez I really hate the kids being kids mentality. A 15 year old should be well aware that this behaviour is massively unreasonable. This is how we end up with swathes of young adults who just dont know how to behave properly in social settings and at work

We had a rule of absolutely no balls indoors ever. Take it outside.

Ball being kicked around next door during siesta time? I'd be infuriated too. Isn't there some sort of playground where he could do that?

You should apologise to your neighbour and assure him it won't happen again.

Blimey, that’s harsh.

Exactly.

Great problem solved. So what’s even the point of posting?

I wanted to get opinions to see if others agreed how I handled it, and if the other guest was being reasonable in his complaint, and reasonable or unreasonable in the way he handled it.
it’s actually been a really helpful thread actually. Thank you to all who responded. It’s helped me see how annoying it must have been, albeit it wasn’t loud rick music at night!
And it’s made me look at my son in a different light also.
This evening ( after a day of hiding the ball) I took him out to a patch of grass near the hotel and he dribbled, kicked and “thumped” to his hearts content.

No balls in the house!

Deep down you know he wasn’t being quiet.

Sorry but he had every right to complain to both you and your selfish son for dribbling a basketball in a hotel room and your feelings about being you and your son reprimanded are irrelevant your son was so out of order and you not apologising and instead taking umbridge explains exactly why he felt it nesscary to complain to the hotel manager.
You need to have a serious word with yourself and your ds if you think that you are in anyway a victim in this because you aren't
Edited for typos

Exactly.

Don’t be ridiculous. It’s a much needed consequence. Kid plays with a ball indoors and annoys other people. Ball gets confiscated. Makes perfect sense to me.

Some weird responses on here- I know it’s AIBU but some posters are just rude
you did exactly the right thing but the other guest msg have been wound up but they only needed to tell you the once and certainly not loiter or shout.I certainly wouldn’t want to bump into them after that exchange.Enjoy the rest of your holiday!

Isn’t loud, just a thumping? You must surely know that your son doing that is absolutely unacceptable?! Maybe you aren’t suited to “ naice” hotels if you think it’s ok! Not that it would be ok in any hotel tbf.

The thud thud thud of footballs drive me insane at the best of times, but to wait happening in the adjoining room would give me the absolute rage. Do NOT allow your son to play with a football in a hotel room, you must know that's totally out of order. Give your heads a wobble.

The guy is right to complain, it is his holiday too and wanting an afternoon nap on holiday isn't unreasonable. I probably would put in a counter complaint as well though about his behaviour.

Was the ball thumping off the walls and furniture. How incredibly disrespectful and arrogant to use a hotel room in that way. Who will pay to repair the scuffs and any damage?

Removing a ball? I was joking, sourpuss.

Thank you. I think he moved rooms after the incidence. I certainly didn’t see him around after that. We’ve checked out now

Whilst I wasn’t there at the time, I’ve witnessed my son playing with his ball in other settings. He doesn’t do it in our house though. It’s more a dribbling. Annoying to others I’m sure. But I checked the room and there was no damage. The incidence went on for about an hour during the day.

I did. It was unacceptable to infringe himself on our privacy, to stop me in the corridor to aggressively complain, then to reprimand my son in his hotel room, after he’d already made a complaint. It appears he moved rooms after this. We’ve checked out now