Am I being a bad neighbor

**dmclone** · 08-12-2009, 07:31 AM

I don't have kids so I need a little guidance.

I have a neighbor that has two kids. I would guess that they are around 10 and 13. Every second of every day they are outside and I never see their parents. We live on a corner lot so they are always playing and running through my lot. This itself isn't a big deal but they are constantly screaming. I have to be up at 5am during the week so I'm usually in bed around 9pm. Last night from 9-9:30 all I heard was these kids running around my house screaming. Finally I went outside and asked them if they had a home and to get off my lawn.

Any ideas?

Should I call their parents at 5am in the morning to let the know what it's like to not be able to sleep?

Set up booby traps in the yard?

Is it normal for a 10 year old to be out running around at 9:30 at night?

Am I the grumpy old man in the neighborhood?

**Cyclonepride** · 08-12-2009, 07:36 AM

At my old house, we had some kids like this, except ranging from about 4 to 11 in age. Or rather, I should say parents like this. The kids will naturally do what they are allowed to do. I wouldn't hold any ill will towards them, but the parents are deserving of a little conversation. Some people seem to turn their kids loose just to get them out of the house, and seemingly have no idea where they are. Incidently, my house over there is for sale and vacant, and the other neighbor kids saw them go inside through a door that a realtor evidently forgot to lock. Those neighbors came over to my new house and told me about it. So there are some good, well trained kids left out there.

**Bubbahotep** · 08-12-2009, 07:36 AM

you get 8 hours of sleep?

**egami** · 08-12-2009, 07:36 AM

That's nothing, in about 5 years you're going to be picking up beer cans and cleaning up puke from your lawn.

**IcSyU** · 08-12-2009, 07:37 AM

Land mines should fix the issue.

Just call the parents and give them a heads up. If the problem doesn't fix itself, make a home visit to talk to them face to face then.

**dmclone** · 08-12-2009, 07:43 AM

Not trying to stereotype but the next time I move I'm going to live next door to an Asian family. We have three Asian families in the neighborhood and their kids are so well behaved.

I assume stereotyping is fine when I say something nice?

**dosry5** · 08-12-2009, 07:55 AM

I hate having to talk to neighbors about problems.....but this one should be easy enough. I'd just tell the parents that you are up at 5am and ask if there is anyway you could get them to keep their kids from being on your property in the evenings as you go to bed early. After that, if it's a problem, you escalate.

**balken** · 08-12-2009, 07:56 AM

I would bring in the A-team.

**dosry5** · 08-12-2009, 08:02 AM

Originally Posted by balken

I would bring in the A-team.

They love it when a plan comes together.

**mj4cy** · 08-12-2009, 08:03 AM

get a mean dog

**CycloneErik** · 08-12-2009, 08:04 AM

Are these Stewo's parents? That might explain some other recent discussions?

**egami** · 08-12-2009, 08:05 AM

Originally Posted by CycloneErik

Are these Stewo's parents? That might explain some other recent discussions?

Dude, like Stewo has parents...

**balken** · 08-12-2009, 08:05 AM

Originally Posted by mjones34

get a mean dog

**puckwarrior** · 08-12-2009, 08:07 AM

I am guessing that they figure nobody would be going to bed at 9:00 pm and having the kids run around outside is better than in the house. Let them know your sleeping habits and if they are decent people that should help.

**dmclone** · 08-12-2009, 08:12 AM

Originally Posted by puckwarrior

I am guessing that they figure nobody would be going to bed at 9:00 pm and having the kids run around outside is better than in the house. Let them know your sleeping habits and if they are decent people that should help.

Yes, that's what I'll have to do. I think it will probably get better once school starts next week.

I just can't believe that people have kids and then never spend any time with them. If the parents were ever outside with them it would be a different story.