Neighbor Kid(s) Playing Football in my Yard.... (teaching, appropriate, adult)
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I wish you the very best of luck. It's maddening, isn't it? Had same problem in my old neighborhood, including the parents that trespassed right on over along with the children. Requests, yelling, talks etc were usually met with this blank, open-mouthed stare. The front yard nonsense never really stopped since I wasn't able to fence that. These folks were just that entitled. I truly hope that your neighbors are not on that level.
OP, I had a similar issue recently, and in fact posted about it on CD. In my case, the man next door and his kids were using the basketball goal in our driveway at the house we just moved into. Perhaps the previous owners allowed this, but the noise would set my dog off and have her barking non-stop. Also, the garage doors had numerous dents in them, which we came to believe were likely from being pounded with basketballs.
It wasn't comfortable for me, but one day when they were playing basketball, I just walked out and explained that the noise bothers our dog, and that we have ordered new garage doors and don't want them to get dented. A couple days later my husband even went to their house, and told them they could have our basketball goal for free (it's a $1200 goal!) if they wanted it. The dad simply said they didn't have a place to put it.
We haven't seen or heard from these neighbors in the several weeks since these conversations took place. Even when my husband I were out taking little Christmas gifts to everyone on our street last night, only the kids (not the parents) came to the door at their house. So I don't know if they're mad at us or have just been really busy. It does make me feel awkward, but I know I had every right to expect my driveway to be our own personal space, not the neighborhood play area.
Have you asked them to stop playing in your yard yet?
When I was a kid, me and friends played in a neighbors yard too, because it was a better layout for what we wanted to do. That is, until the homeowner told us to stop. And you know what we did? We stopped.
Don't make it more complicated then it really needs to be.
Just throw one of those pesticide application signs on the front lawn and leave it up for a few weeks. (don't actually apply anything) The more warning signs and references to cancer on it, the better.
Or on a more serious note, just introduce yourself and ask politely if they could stay off the lawn.
If I'm asking a neighbor for something like a change in behavior, I always bring some cheap food to break the ice and soften the blow.
If you just go over and ask "politely" for them to change some ingrained behaviour, they're likely to be pissy about it and start a fight. This jerkoff has already made the value judgement that his enjoyment of YOUR yard trumps your property rights. It's not like he doesn't know, he just doesn't care. You have to make him want to care. To do that, you need to make him think you're a cool neighbor who brings treats, shoots the breeze, and then asks for something reasonable. Not the uptight jerk who can't lighten up about a little yard football. Catch them flys with honey.
Yes, basketball goal people, those neighbors are irrationally mad at you.
I don't like neighbors with annoying habits, but I hate feuding with annoying neighbors even more, so I feed them high fructose corn syrup and try to get them to change their habits. Then I let it go. That's how we all get along without starting stupid feuds.
Last edited by Miss Blue; 12-20-2017 at 07:59 PM..
[quote=wac_432;50453253
If I'm asking a neighbor for something like a change in behavior, I always bring some cheap food to break the ice and soften the blow.
If you just go over and ask "politely" for them to change some ingrained behaviour, they're likely to be pissy about it and start a fight. This jerkoff has already made the value judgement that his enjoyment of YOUR yard trumps your property rights. It's not like he doesn't know, he just doesn't care. You have to make him want to care. To do that, you need to make him think you're a cool neighbor who brings treats, shoots the breeze, and then asks for something reasonable. Not the uptight jerk who can't lighten up about a little yard football. Catch them flys with honey.
Yes, basketball goal people, those neighbors are irrationally mad at you.
I don't like neighbors with annoying habits, but I hate feuding with annoying neighbors even more, so I feed them high fructose corn syrup and try to get them to change their habits. Then I let it go. That's how we all get along without starting stupid feuds.[/quote]
Ironically, I just told my husband to bring donuts (or something) to a department at his work who has been helping him out, and to encourage them to be more helpful.
So yes, if it were a guy, the advice is the same.
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Last edited by Miss Blue; 12-20-2017 at 08:04 PM..
What a bunch of old grumpy people. They are more than welcome to come and play in my front yard.
Me and my buddies will be in NC in a few weeks. Can we stop by your place for some football. Will you be serving any food or drinks???
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It's maddening, isn't it? Had same problem in my old neighborhood, including the parents that trespassed right on over along with the children. 
Requests, yelling, talks etc were usually met with this blank, open-mouthed stare. The front yard nonsense never really stopped since I wasn't able to fence that. These folks were just that entitled. I truly hope that your neighbors are not on that level.
Me too.
