Neighbours hate children!

Gingham_Ribbon

hollykate wrote: »

(See complains about all the neighbours who have families - even though she has a daughter - who she never sees)

She's a sad, bitter lady and maybe she has things in her past that have made her that way. Ignore her behaviour completely and let your children be children. You sound like a good family and I'd love to live next door to you! This is all her. Don't let her grind you down. She's probably so miserable that she can't help spreading it round.

DKLS

I will swap with you OP, they sound like my ideal neighbours, I love my garden but my enjoyment of it is spoilt by next doors mewling cabbage making a racket.

Some people enjoy the noise of children playing for others its purgatory.

jamespir

send the kids round with a box of biscuits they may change there opinion then

Gingham_Ribbon

DKLS wrote: »

I will swap with you OP, they sound like my ideal neighbours, I love my garden but my enjoyment of it is spoilt by next doors mewling cabbage making a racket.

Some people enjoy the noise of children playing for others its purgatory.

I can understand someone not liking noise and I can understand to a point someone not liking living nextdoor to an ordinary, well behaved family. I can't understand bad behaviour because of it though.

pulliptears

Personally, I'd go out and buy the biggest trampoline I could afford and a nice armful of outdoor toys.

Then I'd invite all my friends kids..

donquine

pulliptears wrote: »

Personally, I'd go out and buy the biggest trampoline I could afford and a nice armful of outdoor toys.

Then I'd invite all my friends kids..

You're not the first poster to suggest doing something like this and I think it's cruel. It's obvious the neighbours don't like hearing children play and this would be an attempt to deliberately wind them up.

The OP shouldn't feel uncomfortable in her own home, but equally, her neighbours shouldn't feel uncomfortable in theirs. A compromise needs to be sought for all parties concerned - your suggestion will just make matters worse.

ClareEmily

My hubby's parents are in their early 70's and when their old neighbour died a young family moved in, she was pregnant with twins at the time and has since had two more.

My hubby's parents have hated them from the word go, my MIL will beak out of the window and tell us all how many times the girl's mother has been over helping out and how many times they have been in and out of the house. she moans about the noise of the children even though they have a VERY noisy dog themselves and are forever shouting at it to be quiet. Everytime I have visted I have NEVER heard the children.

They make comments on how many toys are in the garden, that the children wind up their dog (untrue), that the mum is using the super nanny techiques because they are all out of control.

They have reported their neighbours when his tax was out of date, reported them for turning one of the bedrooms into two (I think in the hope of getting them chucked out) etc etc.

The family have made an effort and when it snowed the went round to ask them if they were ok and if they needed anything from the shops, my FIL was just rude to them in reply.

I cringe when I get told another pointless tale from the "neighbours from hell" and have to bite my tongue often. My MIL also refers to the oldest boy as evil..lovely.

Don't let this mean spirited woman ruin your children having fun.

P.S They have forgotten that they bought up 3 very NOISEY children of their own years ago.

mrcow

I think I'd be inclined to buy a large parasol too and position it to partially (as much as I could) block her view of the garden. Also - perhaps grow a tall shrub or two or small trees (10ft or more) to block the view - it's a long term plan but should only take a year or so to make it hard for her to see.

Enquire on the garden boards what would or wouldn't work. My neighbour has a few which look really pretty but are still quite tall so it gives them privacy (but not too tall or blocky so we don't get light).

It is very hard. I used to have a creepy stalker when we lived in our old house - would magically appear whenever we were out there......it can be really intimidating. It's easy to say ignore, but it's really hard.

Stick sunglasses on is my one tip - keeps them guessing.
And music (not really loud or anything) but enough to keep the focus in your garden and not what she's doing.

AnnaLicious_2

Don't know if this helps - my friends had a similar experience. Their neighbour is a grumpy old bag, and used to shout over the fence at their young son to shut up. If he went out in front of the house on his bike, she would run out and shout at him that bike riding wasn't allowed. She would complain all the time about his noise.
I can say, as I'm not his Mom, he is a lovely and polite boy that's very soft-spoken. One day this woman said she was going to the council about it. No idea what that would accomplish as my friends were in a private let, she was a private owner. My friend came into work and told me about it. So we went on the council website and printed off the webpage that discussed 'noise'. Specifically, that children playing outside is not a nuisence. Her partner wrote a polite letter to the woman explaining how important it is for children to play outside and get exercise. She also said if she has a problem in the future, do not speak to her son, speak to her as she is upsetting her young child. They included the council noise information.
She did settle down about it all.
Oddly, the neighbour is incredibly loud! Apparently she has loud parties and is up all night with the tv and radio blaring. My friend's son's bedroom gets the brunt of the noise and often has to go sleep somewhere else in the house because of her!
But it's all calmed down now, after about a year of settling in problems.
Your council will have a mediation service if you feel this is a problem, it may be worth speaking to them if this is upsetting you this much.

retro_bluebell

McKneff wrote: »

Stop worrying about it. Just completely ignore her.

Kids are kids, they get excited. Enjoy them.

Try andget a higher fence so she cant look out onto your garden
and you dont feel so sefl concious about someone wathcing you.
If not, hang your washing out with your back to her.

Just ignore her.

Edit. I'm a 60 year old nana and i love hearing the kiddies next door playing
She has a toleration problem, thats not your problem.
Chill..................

I agree its her problem, let her get herself worked up about it....if you see her I would smile and wave, and say hello when she comes out lol