Children chalking over our land

[Charliec12]

Hi all, am I over reacting? My neighbours brought their children some chalks at the weekend. The children are chalking everywhere with them including on my driveway which we half share with them. My OH said to one of the children tonight that the area looked a mess. Said child started crying and then the Mum came out and was confrontational and annoyed with me that I don’t agree with it looking nice in the area. I also have 2 young children and I get they want to have fun.

Slackers. They're probably shit at overseeing multi-party transactions and putting together funding bids too. Most kids don't even try.

So the children have spent ages drawing pictures and your dh has said what they've done is a mess - that's probably why dc cried, a simple 'wow you've been busy, next time please could you stay on your side/ in front of your house, thank you' would have saved everyone's shock/ tears/ anger

Op, you and your partner sound vile.

I really hope your neighbours chalk "TWATS" on your front door.

It was probably him saying what a mess that upset the poor child!! They probably worked really hard on their drawings and your husband has basically just told them that it looks rubbish 😣

OP Maybe you and your husband could take a leaf from this guy's book and lighten up a bit

@honestanswers cross posted with you and you said it much better!

have been meaning to do this on our drive since i first saw the video, such a joyful idea!!

Your land!! It’s a shared drive, you’re not Jeremy Clarkson

He’s a bully, and it’s sad that you don’t recognise that.

Being slightly put out about chalk outside your front door is one thing, and I can understand it if it’s not something you let your own kids do. But the way your DH went about complaining was totally wrong and far far worse than what your neighbours did. He should have approached the parents and asked that next time the chalk is kept to their own side. He shouldn’t have said anything to the children at all. He could have made them too scared to play outside their own home, which is a really shitty thing for a grown adult to do to a child. It’s bullying.

Regardless of what your deeds say, you have a shared driveway. In practical terms, that means you have to share. If you don’t like that, your only option is to move somewhere with a private driveway. And if you object to kids chalking in public ares like a playground or pavement, I suggest you report it to the council and see what sort of reaction you get!

If you were my neighbour you'd have to make sure you never needed to come on my 'land' for anything. Maybe to get on or off your drive, turn your car, get access to your piece of 'land' to do a job for example.
I'm not normally petty but this would make me be.
Miserable pair.

Well least the kids are outside drawing on land instead of being glued to their iPad. Can’t win.

I've lived in my house a long time. A neighbour opposite sounds very similar to you. The DC next door but one were always being told off by her for doing very normal childhood activities. When they became teenagers they tortured her. Is it right? No, but I'd choose my battles if I intended to stay there long term.
You also seem sniffy about the fact they rent and you own your home. It's not a good look on you.

Wow how miserable, surely bigger things to worry about….. I have a strong memory of chalk drawing on the patio as a child with our nanny, and my DF came home and was fuming. I was confused/ sad/ embarrassed that his reaction was so ridiculous (and remember it 30 years later).

On the one hand, it's only chalk and will wash off.

On the other hand, there is no way I would have allowed my children to chalk land that was belonging to someone else or shared. I let them chalk the back of my actual house (the bricks!) where nobody could see it.

So, on balance, I do think the mum is a bit entitled. She hasn't told the kids to respect other people's property. Yes it is a small issue as it'll wash off, but it's symptomatic of her entitlement that she is instilling into her kids.

Whilst I can see why you're pissed off that they've chalked on your part of the SHARED drive, I really couldn't get worked up over that, or chalking on the public pavement and the public play park. They're just young children chalking!!!
If they'd chalked all over your brickwork of the house or your porch, or were cycling over your petunias then fair enough but this is just ridiculous!
I do hope this has been put up for shits and giggles! 😂

You really do have to be a joyless bastard to get upset about a kid being outside and drawing with a bit of chalk on your driveway, and to have a go at that kid to boot.

It'll wash off, ffs.

I think it's reasonable to politely ask the kids not to chalk on your side of the drive. To make a point I'd have asked them if they will wash it off or should I, then I'd not mention it again. I wouldn't do it in a horrible way, calling their creative games a 'mess'. I'd probably say, that looks really fun but could you keep it on your side please? The mum should not have been rude but I guess she thought you'd upset her child.
But honestly, there are so many more disruptive things kids could be doing all summer so I wouldn't waste my energy too much on this.

That doesn't mean you don't look down at them

You have read my post wrong, this isn’t about a pavement.

Your DH sounds really miserable. Just a bit of chalk for goodness sake.

hear hear!

What upsets you so much about a bit of chalk? What do you think is going to happen?

🤣😂