Getting out in the sun and enjoying the rays while you can is important, but one woman has been left fuming over her neighbour’s children who constantly ‘scream, screech and cry’
When the sun comes out, people lucky enough to have a garden will flock outside to enjoy the warmer weather – but sometimes, this can cause conflict between neighbours with differing priorities.
One woman explained her neighbour has four kids, the youngest aged six and the eldest 15. She said that they’re so loud in the garden that it’s impacting their son’s bedtime, and she wanted to tell them to be quiet.
Taking to the popular forum Mumsnet, she asked: “Am I being unreasonable to ask neighbours children and teens to keep the noise down in the garden?”
She then shared why she had an issue with them being so noisy, writing: “When they are in the garden, they play football but play against the youngest and wind him up, so he’s constantly screaming, screeching and crying. When the screeching isn’t going on, it’s football chants at full volume and a lot of shouting between them and constant fights.
“They will be in the garden until 9pm and can be out early at the weekends and it can keep our son up and make bedtime so difficult, especially when it’s warmer and we need to have the window open a smidge.
“Am I being unreasonable to ask their parents to get them to keep the noise down? Especially as it’s affecting bedtime with our son and making our garden unbearable as there’s not a moment of silence if they are out as they are constantly fighting.”
In the comments, someone fumed at what the woman had written, saying: “Parents can’t win. They’re criticised if their kids are inside on screens all day, criticised if their kids are outside playing in good weather.” However, another responded: “Don’t be silly. It’s eminently possible to play outside without screaming constantly. Don’t you teach your children to be considerate of neighbours?”
A third said the mum was being “precious”, penning: “They are in their own garden and going indoors at 9pm. You are being precious.” Someone else said: “9pm is a reasonable time to come indoors during the summer months. Far preferable to adults who set out at that time firing up hot tubs and chatting over loud music.”
Others suggested a “friendly chat” may work, but some weren’t so sure. One said: “You can ask the parents but if they’re anything like the families around me, they’ll tell you to f**k off.”
Someone else reasoned: “While it’s annoying, reporting it to the council won’t achieve anything other than to create bad feelings between you. It’s also a cowardly move used to avoid ‘confrontation’, even when the neighbours are reasonable people (they’ll know who made the complaint).
“Maybe you can ask them to wrap up the outside play/noise earlier to help with your little one’s bedtime, but be reasonable about the time. For example, asking them to stop playing at 6pm isn’t OK. Just remember, one day your little one will be screeching in the garden with their friends (even if you think they won’t!) Don’t burn any relationship you have with your neighbours.”
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