Mum 'frustrated' as neighbour's child has 'loud meltdowns' in garden

Published date13 September 2021
Publication titleLiverpool Echo: Web Edition Articles (England)
The mum took to parenting forum Mumsnet's popular Am I Being Unreasonable [AIBU] thread to seek advice and ask if she would be in the wrong for "politely" asking her neighbours if they could encourage their child to go inside when he's "agitated".

She titled her post "[AIBU] To have a polite word with neighbours about their DS [dear son] screaming his head off in the garden every day"

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The mum then explained: "Regular on here, have NC [name changed] for this.

"Our garden backs on to another one belonging to a family with several children. The DC [dear children] are out in it a lot playing football and making a fair bit of noise. That is all fine obvs, I have DC [dear children] too though they are older now and I'd much rather kids were out and about in the garden than stuck in front of a screen.

"The dad who I've exchanged a few friendly words with when lobbing balls back over the fence to them seems a nice bloke.

"But, one of the younger kids has really loud meltdowns more or less every day. He'll be arguing with siblings or whatever and he will just let out these bloodcurdling screams for prolonged periods. It makes it impossible to enjoy sitting out in the garden they are small gardens and very close together and in fact when he's properly screaming I have to shut the patio doors and windows."

The mum continued: "It's a bit frustrating during what'll probably last few days of decent weather not to be able to enjoy our garden or work anywhere near an open window on that side of the house.

"So I was thinking today that I might just go round and say something along the lines of. 'I totally understand young kids getting worked up is a fact of life and but is there any way, if he's very agitated in this way, you could sometimes encourage him to go inside until he's calmed down' I appreciate that it won't always be possible but maybe if they have a sense of how it's affecting the near neighbours they might consider it some of the time.

"Maybe this is just city life though and to bring it up would be unreasonable and v upsetting for them. Would appreciate some objective views.

"YABU -you live in a city and you just have to suck it up

"YANBU -and it would be ok to have a polite conversation with them about it".

Hundreds of divided Mumsnet users took to the comments section to share their thoughts.

One said: "I'd probably laugh in your face if I were your neighbour."

Another said: "If they could solve the meltdowns they would. And not because of...

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