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.

Graffiti and trespassing?!! Call the police! It's the only sensible reaction.

Relax.
There are bigger things to worry about.
Unfortunately you've shown yourselves to be ridiculous by causing a problem about it and I'm not surprised the neighbour responded as she did. Kids are just doing kid things, you were a child once weren't you?

It’s just chalk, it will wash off when it rains or if you chuck water over it. If it really bothers you that much ask for them to keep it on their side of the drive. Your DH shouldn’t have made that comment to a child.

I really feel for kids these days, they’re moaned at if they stay inside on their tablets and they’re moaned at if they play outside and make noise, draw on the street etc.

One of my old neighbours got all up in arms about this. He reckoned it lowered property values. He wasn't selling btw....

Kids chalking on our cul de sac was one of the reasons I wanted to move there! It meant creative kids playing out in groups, not getting squished by cars, and there were no penises or expletives so they were nice kids!

They should have only done it on their drive but it's really not a big deal. If you think it's that bad you can always go out there and throw some water on it. It's just a bit of chalk.

Not sure how making a kid cry made anything better. Our neighbours kids used to drive me mad ringing our door bell constantly for no reason and leaving shite all over our drive but I spoke to the parents instead of making the kids cry.

What joyless lives some people lead.

I couldn't get worked up over this. It'll good wholesome fun for them, and it'll be gone when it rains.
We did it as kids. There was one cow of a neighbour, who used to go nuts at us about it. Don't be that neighbour, just leave them be. It's part of childhood.

First day of the summer holidays and your OH is telling the neighbour’s kids off for a bit of pavement chalk? I’d hate to live next door to you tbh. Relationships with good neighbours are useful and you will find a petty, unfriendly attitude like this gets you nowhere.

You know the miserable old bag every neighbourhood kid hated. Kids should be seen, not heard, no noise, playing etc.

That'll be you soon.

It's chalk. Maybe just remember it's the smallest potential molehill to make into an unnecessary mountain.

What did they write? Was it TWAT or ARSEHOLE or COCK?

Poor kids with misearable neighbours moaning at them for innocent harmless play outside

YABU

It’s not spray paint or permanent marker. Literally as soon as it rains it will wash away or if it’s really bothering you that much then throw a bucket of water over it 🙄.

We allow our children to chalk on the driveway at the front of the house or on the decking at the back, it’s literally gone as soon as it rains.

My OH said to one of the children tonight that the area looked a mess

Yes it’s unsightly but honestly that’s just mean!
Start working on your kindness, embrace children and the gift they are. Apologise then encourage your own children to go and play chalking with them

Are people really this awful?

Good to see kids actually playing outside and then you get miserable people acting like Victor Meldrew

I'll never forget an American friend telling me that her neighbour called the freaking POLICE because friend's 2 kids were drawing with chalk on the pavement - it wasn't even outside neighbours' home! Friend was forced to scrub it off with hose and a brush. People are unbelievable and society is getting worse, the world over.

It’s chalk. Not paint. Let them have fun while the weather is good and they can get outside. It will
be gone in the next downpour but you will forever and always be remembered as the miserable parent who moaned about the chalk for the rest of your time living there.

This

Dear god get a grip. Its chalk. It washes off.

He should have spoken to the parent if there was an issue not the child. I'd be pretty annoyed if he made my child cry.

But equally parents should have said to stay off your side.

It's chalk, it literally comes off. Why be so narky with a child who's probably just trying to occupy themselves

It's going to be a looooong summer for you guys. Do you share a fence? Hopefully they won't decide to stop chalking and practice their football shots instead.

Totally agree with this.

The people next door had to be reminded that my drive is not their playground and to keep their chalk drawings to their own property.

Boundaries. The sooner they are trained, the better.

Why can't they do it at home and refrain from making an eyesore on others' property?

Team DH here.

Get a fucking life

😂When seeing kids having harmless fun upsets you - you’re the problem