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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

in allowing my children to decorate the pavement with pavement chalk?

110 replies

Mancunian · 10/06/2010 19:30

They have a box of proper pavement chalks and want to do pictures on the pavement outside the house. I think that's fine as it'll wash off easily enough and the weather is predicting rain anyway tomorrow. I also don't think that anyone will have a problem with childrens drawings done in chalk on a public pavement.

My husband however, disagrees. He says it looks messy and is akin to graffiti. He doesn't think the neighbours will appreciate it at all and has banned them from doing so, instead they are limited to a patch of tarmac in the back yard.

So who is right here and who is wrong?

OP posts:
piratecat · 10/06/2010 19:31

got any brick walls on your home? good compromise.

PestoEatsPasties · 10/06/2010 19:32

I am with you Mancunian, but my DH would be in total agreement with your DH. So I can't give you an answer to your question, sorry!

fryalot · 10/06/2010 19:32

we've had this with dp and I.

I have no issue with it - it will wash off and it's a lovely activity for them to do.

He thinks it is teaching them graffiti artist skills which they will fully utilise once they hit teenage years.

I think he's being a twat about it.

Let them play

monkeyfacegrace · 10/06/2010 19:32

as a mum, id love to see chalked pavements, it would make me smile that kids had enjoyed themselves.

Disenchanted3 · 10/06/2010 19:33

Run a bucket of soapy water and sit it next to them, if anyone says anything they can say they have water to wash it away after.

littleducks · 10/06/2010 19:33

Let them play and then wash it off with bucket and broom?

they can help if not to precious about their artwork

Pozzled · 10/06/2010 19:33

I wouldn't see the problem with using the pavement, as you say it will wash off fairly quickly.

It would make me smile to walk along the road and see some art work!

GypsyMoth · 10/06/2010 19:34

are you prepared to get them to wash it away if someone complains??

mrspir8 · 10/06/2010 19:34

YANBU Your DH is being precious. It's only chalk FFS-with all the rain we have been having lately i'll be suprised if its on there for more than five mins Why not let them do it then when they have finished chuck a bucket of water over it yourself.

scurryfunge · 10/06/2010 19:34

It is creative and neighbours would not object unless they are complete twunts. It is not damaging anything and is gone in an instant if necessary. Does your DH object to sandcastles that mess up the look of a beach?

biryani · 10/06/2010 19:34

Hi Mancunian. I agree with you.Children are part of the community and need to be seen as such. You obviously respect your neighbourhood and neighbours otherwise you wouldn't have posted- and it's not as if it's gratuitous or permanent and therefore not vandalism.

NotQuiteCockney · 10/06/2010 19:35

Chalking on the pavement is totally normal back home in Canada. I don't think it encourages graffiti, my kids know that chalking is ok, because it washes off in the rain.

belgo · 10/06/2010 19:36

totally normal and encouraged in Belgium.

My children were taken with the school to one of the squares to scribble on the ground with chalk, celebrating a special occasion in the time.

waitingforbedtime · 10/06/2010 19:37

Let them do it.

belgo · 10/06/2010 19:37

town not time!

Original poster
Mancunian · 10/06/2010 19:38

Thank you, I shall now barge in and tell him that he's being a twat

Yes I am fully prepared to wash it off should anyone complain, but I don't think anyone would complain about kiddies drawings on the pavement. It's not as if I'm encouraging them to go out with aerosol cans.

Personally I think it promotes creativity and it's a much better pastime than playing on the Wii. He never did this activity as a child and compares it to vandalism.

He's also worried because most of our neighbours are elderly and might look down on it. But I reckon most of them were doing the very same thing as kids themselves.

OP posts:
belgo · 10/06/2010 19:41

I think you're right Mancunian.

It's a safe, fun way for them to express their creativity.

Original poster
Mancunian · 10/06/2010 19:41

I've told him what you've all said and he says that his word is gospel and that is that. The children are confined to the back all because HE thinks it unacceptable. I feel a PMT type rant coming on, you know those arguments that blow up out of all proportion over something as trivial as pavement chalking?

OP posts:
scurryfunge · 10/06/2010 19:43

Wait till he is asleep and write "twat" in permanent marker on his forehead

belgo · 10/06/2010 19:44

yes I do know all about arguements over trivial things but if he was my dh spouting things like'my gossip is law' and refusing to let my children do a fun harmless activity then I would have trouble remaining calm!

Sorry that probably doesn;t help

julybutterfly · 10/06/2010 19:44

Let them do it when he's not there! And if neighbours complain, wash it off and swallow a big piece of humble pie (but I don't think you'll need to do that )

ZZZenAgain · 10/06/2010 19:45

would never have crossed my mind to complain about it

mummytime · 10/06/2010 19:45

I'd be with you and my DH with yours, actually he hates chalk on the patio and I don't care. We've never really rowed about it, but if my DH ever said to me his word is gospel I would hit the roof.

Actually as we live on chalk, you just can't keep the kids away from it.

ilovesprouts · 10/06/2010 19:46

let them do ot ,as ppl says it will come off in the rain or give them a bucket to wash it afterwards

GypsyMoth · 10/06/2010 19:47

mancunian.....his word is gospel????? seriously,he speaks to you like that?

are you at home with the dc? i think its your call if so