Parents with no common sense

barbiedoll

I used to live in an ex-council flat, in a block which had a low wall all along the front, behind which was a 6ft wide strip of grass. My kitchen and bedroom windows looked directly out at this. We lived next door to a nursery/infant school and there is a primary school at the end of the road.

I had a neighbour who was a drug addict (and prostitute!:eek:) and we had lots of her very anti-social "friends" visiting the block at all hours. So when I found several used and bloody needles on the front grass, I dropped a letter into the schools, advising that parents shouldn't let their kids run around on the grass. I had picked up the needles that I found (I worked in a pharmacy so got hold of a sharps bin and gloves etc...someone needed to do it) but who knew when more would be left there?

Despite this, there was no visible reduction in the amount of kids still running all over the grass and on the wall. I actually went into the school to speak to one of the teachers (who I knew because she was a customer in the pharmacy) and she said that every parent had been given a letter, warning them of "drug activity" and to be wary of letting their children walk around the area near the flats.

When I moved to a house nearby, still on the school route, I was astonished at the amount of times I had kids running in and out of my front garden! I had a large (and quite stabby) tea tree bush in the small space but it didn't deter the little darlings, I've seen them open and slam my wheelie bin lids, drop rubbish and food in my garden and even bang on my door/window. I don't like shouting a little kids, as Jojo says, it's the parents' responsibility, but I did once go out after nearly jumping out of my skin when a brat banged on my window and said "Do you mind?" to a woman, who half-heartedly apologised and said to her kid "Come on, the lady doesn't like children"....bloody cheek, I've got nothing against kids (I had one myself then!) but ignorant parents, I can well do without. :mad:

ibizafan_2

Not a garden thing, but I work part time in a well known chain restaurant and I never fail to be amazed at some parents. They think it is fine to let a toddler shriek at the top of their voice continually while fondly looking at said toddler and making no attempt to hush it although it is ear splitting to everyone else. It's just the lack of general consideration for anyone else that gets me, and I think it is worse these days. I won't elaborate on the mess all over the floor and on high chairs that some parents don't even attempt to just tidy up a bit. I'm not expecting anything excessive as they are there to have a nice meal, just a token clean up would be nice, and thankfully there are people that do. It is also refreshing when you hear children say please and thank you, and I am very impressed when you get the occasional "Please may I have" from children. Going back to the shrieking, when did that all start? Neither of mine did it, and I can imagine what my parents would have said back in the fifties if we'd have tried it!

ceecee1

Whilst we are on the subject of prickly plants - can I ask advice please. I live on an open plan estate and sick to death of people walking in front of my window because they are too damn lazy to walk around my driveway and small garden.
I have a very small (about 20 inches wide/ 3 foot long) under the window which I have decided to plant so that when I am home the car will be up to the plants and will block the way through.

I want some plants which will grow quickly, be bushy enough but not too tall. Easy to look after and maybe a bit prickly

London_Town

ceecee1 wrote: »

Whilst we are on the subject of prickly plants - can I ask advice please. I live on an open plan estate and sick to death of people walking in front of my window because they are too damn lazy to walk around my driveway and small garden.
I have a very small (about 20 inches wide/ 3 foot long) under the window which I have decided to plant so that when I am home the car will be up to the plants and will block the way through.

I want some plants which will grow quickly, be bushy enough but not too tall. Easy to look after and maybe a bit prickly

You have my sympathy on this. People walk across my small lawn, in front of my front window to get to my neighbours door. Not everyone maybe, but most do. It's really disconcerting to have a strange figure loom past the window when your mean't to be enjoying the peace of your own living room.

I've enlarged the front bed under my window. It faces west so gets lots of afternoon sun. I've put a lavender hedge in which has grown very large. In the summer at least, it swarms with bees visiting the flower heads which stops people walking too close.

maman

ibizafan wrote: »

Not a garden thing, but I work part time in a well known chain restaurant and I never fail to be amazed at some parents. They think it is fine to let a toddler shriek at the top of their voice continually while fondly looking at said toddler and making no attempt to hush it although it is ear splitting to everyone else. It's just the lack of general consideration for anyone else that gets me, and I think it is worse these days. I won't elaborate on the mess all over the floor and on high chairs that some parents don't even attempt to just tidy up a bit. I'm not expecting anything excessive as they are there to have a nice meal, just a token clean up would be nice, and thankfully there are people that do. It is also refreshing when you hear children say please and thank you, and I am very impressed when you get the occasional "Please may I have" from children. Going back to the shrieking, when did that all start? Neither of mine did it, and I can imagine what my parents would have said back in the fifties if we'd have tried it!

I admire that too and often say 'what lovely manners' to the child. It costs nothing and it's good for the child (and parents) to get some praise for doing the right thing.

oystercatcher

Leave a couple of teddies and a few bunches of flowers on the wall like they do where there's been a fatal accident. Maybe that will give people the idea?

karcher

oystercatcher wrote: »

Leave a couple of teddies and a few bunches of flowers on the wall like they do where there's been a fatal accident. Maybe that will give people the idea?

Unfortunately, there may very well be one so long as the parents continue to be irresponsible and encourage their kids to walk on the wall

Imagine the outrage then!

rach_k

Some fake 'crime scene' tape along the wall and a chalked outline of a small human on the path outside would be my choice. Either that or some joke shop poos.

hazyjo

Stinging nettles Even drying them on the wall for your 'nettle tea' later that day

tyllwyd

I don't think there is any need to plant something with prickles to stop children - as long as it managed to get established, any plant that came over the top (even something like ivy) would put people off walking along the wall.


Or if planning would allow, even laying triangular coping stone along the top of the wall would make it more difficult to balance and put off most children. And it would help stop getting bricks dislodged and protect the rest of the wall as well.