My neighbour's kids won't stop doing this 'entitled' act

"It's so bizarre. Am I missing something here?"

A mum has written to a parenting forum after growing frustrated at her neighbours' children, who keep using her garden and her kids' play equipment. 

She says she doesn't understand why it's her responsibility to entertain the kids from the street, but she recognises that she "could be missing something", so she turned to the internet for opinions. 

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"They use my garden for their play area"

"So to give a background, we have a bad history with a couple of our neighbours (adults and kids alike) as we've been on the receiving end of torrents of abuse and harassment due to them/their visitors drug dealing on and outside our garden, threats, fencing broken, car damaged with stones, plants pulled out of garden, throwing stuff at windows etc.," the mum explains to NetMums.

"Now, as mine and one other property on the street are only ones with front garden (all have rear gardens) I am getting bad-mouthed amongst these 'adults' for not liking nor allowing the other kids on the street and within the area who come to our street, use my garden for their play area and play with my kids toys (including a climbing frame for ages six and under)."

The mum says she has two kids under five, and the kids on the street are seven to 11 and play out on the road "all the time."

"I don't get why it's my responsibility to entertain their kids with my kids' stuff? Am I really missing something here?? My kids' garden is their safe area to play with their age-related toys not for these other kids to come take them from my kids when they want and end up breaking them!"

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"Your garden, your rules"

In the comments, one woman told her: "Wow no you're not unreasonable at all! Of course, if your kids are friends with them and they are all playing together, then you might be happy for them all to play in your garden - but not otherwise?! These people sound so unpleasant.

"Have you got a fence or is it more open? I feel for you, that's so intrusive, it's your private garden and they have no right at all."

Image: iStock

This reader agreed: "Can you move? I’d have to move… If not, could you move their stuff to the back garden instead so it’s enclosed and safe? Or could you put a fence up around your front garden? Honestly, I wouldn’t want to be anywhere near those people!"

Many thought that if they were rude enough to do it, they wouldn't heed the mum if she approached them: "It's not worth the hassle arguing with them. I’d just move the climbing frame into the back garden until you can get out of there!! Don't bother arguing with them, like they say, you can’t argue with stupid!" 

Finally, there was this blunt response: "Your garden your rules. Simples."

Originally published as My neighbour's kids won't stop doing this 'entitled' act