Kids!
By ElicBxn
@ElicBxn (63643)
United States
March 15, 2011 8:14pm CST
I was coming back home and the neighborhood kids were playing football in the middle of the street.
Well, I like to back into my driveway and these darn kids were just wandering around in the street and then this one...hum...what to call him?...anyway... he just flat stopped right in the way.
I was almost at the point of actually having to honk the horn to get his butt out of my way when the across the street kid poked him and got him to move.
I really don't have a problem with them playing in the street, it is only a block long, but they really do need to move out of the way of the cars or one of them will get hurt.
Oh, they knew it was me, but I don't want to become the crazy lady like the one that was arrested last year for attacking a child across the street. I don't want them thinking they can taunt me or provoke me. And I really don't want to discover that one of the people around the corner who really DO drive too fast accidentally hit one of them.
I don't know this kid's parents like I do the kid across the street, but I will say that we did have an issue with this kid's older brother a couple of years ago making a pest of himself. But after he rang the door bell the third time, the roommate told him, very loudly, to go away or we would have words with his mother.
So, do you sometimes find the neighborhood kids get on your nerves? Have you ever had to talk to their parents?
6 people like this
20 responses
@Maggiepie (7816)
• United States
16 Mar 11
Well, I know you'll recall the problem I had with Luke when you & I were house-mates. I knew that kid would be even more trouble when he was grown. Can I call 'em, or what?
I think that tree finally stopped trying to live after his abuse...mowing over it was just the last straw. 
Maggiepie
“Honesty is the first chapter in the book of wisdom.” ~ Thomas Jefferson[/i]
Maggiepie
“Honesty is the first chapter in the book of wisdom.” ~ Thomas Jefferson[/i]@Maggiepie (7816)
• United States
16 Mar 11
Eeps! Start keeping a close watch on your yard!
Maggiepie
“Honesty is the first chapter in the book of wisdom.” ~ Thomas Jefferson[/i]
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (160952)
• United States
16 Mar 11
The only kids in the neighborhood are either too young to be pests (one little bitty girl) or the parents do not let them out to be around the common people. I do not even know how many are there or how old they are. This neighbor moved in and put up a privacy fence and refused gestures of hospitality from the guy who lives between us, and this has been at least five years ago. I have businesses across the four lane street in front. There is a parking lot across the alley in the back. My church parking lot. Now, a bazillion years ago two sons of "prominent citizens" who happened to go to my church decided that our driveway and yard were the perfect cut through to the DQ which was across the street at that time. They were showing off for two girls who were over there. I calmly stepped out, called them back to my yard and told them that if it happened again I would call their parents and if I could not reach a parent, then I would call the police. It never happened again.
2 people like this
@GardenGerty (160952)
• United States
16 Mar 11
One of the funniest things that ever happened was when I was on a back street and two kids about four years old were stepping out in front of cars and throwing stuff. I parked my car, which scared them, and went to the front door, which was open, the mom was trying to watch them. They knew what they had done wrong, and in fact, before I could get a word out, one of them said "He was doing it more." (that was the funny part to me). Mom told them that did not matter, they would both stay in, it was a wrong and not safe thing to do. She thanked me and told me to come by any time. LOL. I also tended to attract kids playing chicken or acting out when I drove Special Ed. bus in town. One time a sheriff reserve officer happened along and showed them his badge and had a few choice words. Another time a bunch of 6th grade girls were standing on a street corner just a couple of blocks from the High School and yelling at all the cute boys (spring fever). I recognized a couple, as they were the same age as my daughter. I did talk to moms, who had no idea that they were hurrying from the middle school to be there in time to see all the boys.
1 person likes this
@ElicBxn (63643)
• United States
20 Mar 11
Now, I once saw a couple of girls in swimsuits standing beside the street where a fire hydrant was open and waving for people to splash them, so I went around the block and gave them a HUGE splash. They hadn't opened the hydrant, they were just having a lot of fun on a hot summer day in the water!
@SViswan (12051)
• India
15 Apr 11
Oh my! Don't get me started on that one. We had the boys playing football INSIDE the apartment complex and they created a fuss when they were expected to stop playing when the cars had to pass. We didn't have to talk to the parents because the parents called for a meeting and said that the cars need to take a detour when the kids were playing!!! And also that the much younger kids need to moved to another area to play (which was not at all safe for them and they would be in the way if the cars took a detour). One parent (who has returned from the U.S) told me ..."Nowhere in the world do cars take precedence over kids playing"....and I went "Hunh???"....does that mean that kids in the US are allowed to play in the streets and the cars need to make way for them???
My older son who is 10 does play with them...but when we told him about the safety of people and the damage that could be caused to the apartment, he was willing to move and play in the ground right next to the complex...but the parents of the 15-16 year old boys felt it was too risky and the kids could be kidnapped!!!!
What do I say???
1 person likes this
@ElicBxn (63643)
• United States
15 Apr 11
I think "R" the dad of the boy that lives across the street told that kid that if he pulled something like that again, he'd not be playing with the rest of the kids, because I haven't had any more trouble, then again, I haven't seen the kids from down the street for a while either... no idea why...
@jillmalitz (5131)
• United States
5 Apr 11
Yes I get really irritated at kids who seem to have no idea what it is to be a good, polite neighbor. They are always loud and in the way. I have actually seen kids playing in the parking lot of a business. They rode their little toys into a car repair shop. I kept waiting for one of them to get hit or for the workers to run them off. The mother was nowhere to be found. There is no point in talking to parents cause their "little angels" would never do anything wrong.
1 person likes this
@scarlet_woman (23463)
• United States
29 Mar 11
i can top that.we had a mouthy little girl in my neighborhood that yelled "hooker" and "wh*re" every time she saw me.i really have no idea what her frickin problem was..i had to fight every urge not to punch that little foul mouth.she couldn't have been more than 8 at the most.but i had no idea where she lived in the neighborhood.
she made the mistake one day of yelling that when my husband was with me,and he chased her up the street.
it gets better..
appearently,she was a girl scout.she and her mom showed up at my door to sell(and she choked when she saw me),and i told the mother straight out "no i will not buy from your kid.and you should teach her not to goad adults before the next person gets really mad".
1 person likes this
@aprilsong (1884)
• China
16 Mar 11
Well,i can fully understand what you mean. I think it is their parents' fault. They have not taught them enough about the safety. It is because there are so many parents who don't pay attention to kids' education about safety and what they should not do. If i got the problems as you, sure i will have a talk with their parents.
@danishcanadian (28955)
• Canada
16 Mar 11
They would if there were any around. For now, all we have to deal with (even worse than kids) are idiots who get drunk and harass me when I'm trying to come in the front door. I'd almost rather have the kids, they're easier to deal with. LOL You want to trade all the kids in your neighbourhood, for my drunken superindendent?
1 person likes this
@ElicBxn (63643)
• United States
17 Mar 11
I moved in with a few kids in the area and now there are LOTS of kids! New families, and stuff! But these kids from the one house, well, I can sort of understand why the crazy lady didn't care for them, actually... but I'm not going to start anything with the kids, I'll just take it right to their mother/s and be respectful, but firm that if they want those kids to grow up, they need to get out of the street.
@bunnybon7 (50973)
• Holiday, Florida
17 Mar 11
it really hasnt happened for quite a while. ive lived in mostly neighborhoods with just elderly until now and no kids seem to bother us here either for some reason. but yrs. ago in the mobile park, my hubby and i lived in before we got our house, i often had to either speak with parents or threaten to in order to get respect. these days very few kids have respect. not like when i was a kid or when my kids were growing up, when you knew you got big trouble from your parents if you didnt show respect to elders even if your parents didnt like them
@tamarafireheart (15384)
•
16 Mar 11
Hi Elic,
I don't know what is wrong with some kids these days, they think they own the road and have no respect for others, you can't clip them round their earholes like in the old days as they would have you for abuse, and yet they can abuse you. I am very lucky where I am as we do have a few kids around but they are very quiet, sometimes I wonder where the kids are lol!some of the kids have grown up, well I have never had any problems with any kids round where I am, thank god.
Tamara
1 person likes this
@ElicBxn (63643)
• United States
17 Mar 11
So true. I'm about ready to get out of the car and tell him that regardless of what he's heard, unless he's in a cross walk, at a light, he does NOT have right of way. And if I have to go find a driver's ed book to show him, well, I have to hope that he can read!
@JenInTN (27514)
• United States
17 Mar 11
Not now..there aren't any kids that play in the road here...but at the last place I lived..oh yes. Every kid in the neighborhood cam to my house to play because my girls weren't allowed to leave the yard. I looked out the window and this little boy had his bike raised over hos head and slammed it sown..he was angry at his brother or something. He had been a little "hard to get along with" before with the other kids. I just came out and told him if I saw him acting like that again..he wouldn't be allowed to come over and play. He was pretty good after that but the older kids can be a hand full if they are trying to show their tails.
1 person likes this
@blue65packer (11826)
• United States
16 Mar 11
In my nieghborhood kids come and go. It seems like the families are here like 3 or 6 months then they are gone! 
I think what happens the families move in then can't or won't pay the rent. They either get thrown out or move out without paying rent they owe! So I don't have any problems with the kids! My biggest problem is neighbors still like to park in my parking space! I really hate that!
I think what happens the families move in then can't or won't pay the rent. They either get thrown out or move out without paying rent they owe! So I don't have any problems with the kids! My biggest problem is neighbors still like to park in my parking space! I really hate that!1 person likes this
@ElicBxn (63643)
• United States
17 Mar 11
I know what you mean, there were times when I lived in an apartment with exactly 3 extra spaces for visitors or people with extra cars. Pretty annoyingly small parking lot!
And I've seen those kind that don't pay their rent. Right after I started working with Maggiepie the complex locked out her upstairs neighbor and got rid of all the furniture! Didn't see a lot skipping on the rent, because the complex is pretty aggressive about non-payment.
@scififan43 (2434)
• United States
17 Mar 11
we do not have to worry about too much about things like that. we do not have very many neighbors. but we are plaining to move sometime soon and that could bring new changles, like the one with your niebhorhood kids. I hope I do not have too many despouites with parents. I hope we are not bothered by anyone.
@13tyates (1606)
• United States
17 Mar 11
Definitely not just a problem in your neck of the woods. It seems these days no matter what street your on there will always be some kids playing in the streets and right when you are ready to pass them they feel the need to run right in front of you! It makes me think really? What is going on in your head?!?! 
Anyway most of the kids on my street are well mannered and know to get in the grass on the side of the road when a cars coming. Thank goodness!
Anyway most of the kids on my street are well mannered and know to get in the grass on the side of the road when a cars coming. Thank goodness! 1 person likes this
@jwfarrimond (4473)
•
16 Mar 11
Oh yes. I've had trouble several times with youths kicking a football around on the street and hitting the door and windows from time to time. These are not children, they are in there early 20's so I don't waste any time talking to their parents, who probably have no control over them anyway, I called the police and made a complaint because what they where doing was anti-social behaviour and they actually caused some damage to the front of the house by hitting it with the football.
Anyway, I had a visit from an officer, and I was able to identify them and and also provide him with photographic evidence (I just love digital cameras!) And I've had no trouble of that nature since. Though come summer, it might be a different story.
1 person likes this
@dragon54u (31634)
• United States
16 Mar 11
I did have kids get on my nerves when I lived in Arizona. They would throw paper on the ground and litter the street because we had an HOA that would pick it up. They'd walk across my carefully tended flower beds, kick the tires and body of my son's car, etc. I said something to them, told them to respect the property of others. Lo and behold, my doorbell rings and a man and a woman are there to chew me out for daring to reprimand their little darling! They got an earful, believe me.
Here in the Midwest I haven't had any problems. The kids on my street are rambunctious but let an adult come along and they turn all respectful, if just barely at times. At least they try! When I was looking at this house a boy about 10 stood in the street blocking my car just for fun but his mama came out of her house shouting at him and apologized to me then pulled him out of the street by the back of his shirt.
I'm blessed to live in my neighborhood. It's not perfect but damned near!
1 person likes this
@ANTIQUELADY (36440)
• United States
16 Mar 11
I normally don't have trouble w/kids. I would probably talk to the kid first & let him know i would go to his parents if i had to. How old are these kids??
@yoyo1198 (3641)
• United States
16 Mar 11
There are a lot of kids in my neighborhood. They walk across yards, ride their bikes through the yard and even the little ones bring their little electric cars and mopeds through the yard and in the street. It hasn't been too bad this winter but now that spring is almost here, I think I'm going to be talking to some of them or their parents. They just seem to have no respect for other people's property. It wasn't that way when I was a kid. We were taught better. I wouldn't physically attack any one of them but I'll probably be labled as 'the crazy lady' and I don't really care. If I get that reputation, perhaps they'll stay away for sure. 
1 person likes this
@paula27661 (15811)
• Australia
16 Mar 11
We have very few children in our street but I have met annoying ones at the school which is across the road from us. The trick is not allow them to disrespect you or they will give you a terrible time. Sure if the parents were around they would be the ones to talk to but that is not always possible. I spoke very firmly with some kids at the school who were throwing stones too close to my car. I didn’t shout although I felt like it but I think they knew I meant business when I calmly mentioned a visit to the school’s principal. They stopped misbehaving but keep in mind this is only a primary school, had these kids being in high school I may not have had as much luck...
1 person likes this
@cerebellum (3863)
• United States
16 Mar 11
Very few of my neighbors have kids. I have never really had a problem with the ones that do. The closest I have come is the one family had kids that played in the yard all the time and they were VERY loud and used language that a truck driver wouldn't use. I heard the mother screaming at them, and she used the same language. One of them had a dirt bike and he would just ride it around their large yard time and time again. Now they are grown up and aren't outside much.
