6 year old causing havoc with neighbours

[Amiemac]

I’m literally at my wits end! We live in a street I grew up in as a child. It was a great neighbour hood, now since my kids have been in it the neighbours are so easily annoyed. Don’t get me wrong my 6 year old is no angel but I seem to be getting knocks at my door constantly over him. It just puts my anxiety levels up and makes me feel really low. A few months ago he threw a few stones into one of their gardens and the man came up and was extremely rude about it and approached me in a horrible manner, fast forward to yesterday my next door neighbour came out complaining about a football that hit her window. I’ve spoke to my son about this and have even went as far as to ground him for the week, I just feel as though either I’m doing a bad job parenting or my neighbours hate me. I’ve had a rough year with a miscarriage and mental health issues and my neighbours are very aware of this, I just don’t know what to do.

@Wolfiefan I expect your parent of the year I bet you wouldn't say all this to someone without being behind a screen stop being a nasty bitch, a lot of people have baby sitters younger than 15. Be nice or go away

I would go to Netmums with this. 😂

You can help his behaviour. He cannot be outside the front of the house throwing stones. It's ridiculous to talk of grounding him like he SHOULD be going out alone but today hes not allowed. He should n't be allowed, he's too young and clearly not able to control his behaviour without an adult, therefore he needs to stay with an adult. I don't understand what all the screetching drama is about - just fix it.

@colditz yes and this has only happened once so I'm sure she will now !!!!!!

Your words were 'I seem to be getting knocks at my door constantly about him' I'm sorry but that is not good parenting. Maybe let him play in the back garden (but with no balls) You're being very defensive but you did ask the question. A six year old knows right from wrong and should be made to apologise to the neighbours and have some kind of punishment.
Your anxiety does not stop you being able to parent. I'm not saying I'm a perfect mum but I didn't have any complaints from the neighbours when my kids were growing up. Sort it out now before he gets worse.

I'm presuming all of the posters on this thread have absolute angels that have never stepped a toe out of line 😂. I have a few kids in my street, quite a nice street, nice people and every single one of their kids plays out in the street (it's not a very busy street) and they all get up to little naughty things every now and then, every single one of them! Ignore it OP. I'm sure the ball being kicked at the window was an accident, I understand the neighbour complaining though. Just one of those things.

@colditz being a dick or is a dick! Whatever, 6 year old acting like a dick??? Are you serious, don’t ever call anyone’s child a dick or say they’re ACTING like one!! In fact go see if you can bully someone on another thread!! Preferably one that isn’t SIX

What help are you getting for your anxiety?

Baby sitters younger than 15? Erm no. You said he’s causing havoc. I’m not being a bitch. But you’re (not your) not being a parent if you leave him unsupervised to piss off the neighbours.

Hi Amiemac, I'm sure youre sorry you ever posted on here from most of what I've seen in response. Keep your pecker up. Kids, especially 6 year old boys have a lot of energy and people can be very short of patience. I had a neighbour knock my door recently because my dog was barking at the mower - which we use for about 10 mins a fortnight! Just try and keep it friendly with the neighbours and do your best to keep your lad amused and out of trouble. Everyone's got to live and let live a bit more 😊

Hmm so twice in 13 years isn’t really the same as “knocks at the door constantly”...so I’m a bit confused by this thread.

OP, you said you are getting knocks constantly about him, what else has happened. What were you hoping we would say, instead of grounding him could you just tell him not to pick up stones, they will be dirty anyway and may have animal wee or poo on them, not give him a football to play with, just because you can see him playing doesn't mean he is being supervised.

Perhaps take him to the park for ball games and I would supervise him for now, if you know he's doing things like this then he is still not mature enough to be trusted to play in the garden alone. I don't blame your neighbours for getting cross.

@wolfiefan she wasn’t a 15 year old babysitter! She is his sister and she was in the garden for 5 mins with him so stop twisting the post to suit yourself!!

...is no angel but I seem to be getting knocks at my door constantly over him... .... I’ve 5 children and thankfully no problems, only the two things I stated in my post so which is it?

You're not responding particularly reasonably OP. People are only going by what you say.

What kind of responses were you hoping to hear?

@meantangerine I’m on medication and just about to get CBT after a long wait thankfully!

He was in the sole care of a 15 year old. Does it actually matter who she was? She failed to stop him being a pain in the arse for your neighbours; that’s the only relevant point, really.

Well I can see where he gets his attitude from.You asked for advice, advice was given.

But you justified leaving him in the care of a 15 year old by saying people used younger babysitters.

@gertrudecb you bet your ass he does!! Do you think I’m gonna let people abuse me on this!! I think not!! I asked for advice not ABUSE! Everyone’s entitled to their opinion but so am I, unsupervised in the front garden like! And just to clear this up! My hands are shaking as I type! There was only 2 knocks at the door but when your anxiety levels are high that’s 2 knocks too much! so my apologies about the CONSTANT knocking thing but that’s what it feels like to me

Your neighbours don't have a 'child problem', they have a 'parenting problem' - ie, you. Please take responsibility for your child and don't allow him opportunities to annoy the neighbours. View it as a positive thing 'Let's see how nice we can be so that everyone likes us'. Together. Not just him.

Your neighbours will get over it. The best thing to do is take any balls out of the garden and tell your son that he will be punished if he throws stones in anyone's gardens and if that doesn't work you don't let him play in the garden anymore.
I've had some of the neighbours balls hit my car several times, I've told them off but I don't hold it against my neighbours and I'm sure yours won't too.

Wow!! God love your neighbours...

@everyonesgotanopinion thank you so much