Couple Doesn't Want Neighbors' Kids To Play In Their Yard, Drama Ensues

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mattstaff
Nov 20, 2021 1:00 PM EST

This isn't the first time that we've come across some dauntingly entitled neighbors pitching a full-fledged fit over not being able to take advantage of someone else's property. It's just a bit discouragingly surprising. Or perhaps it's just straight-up unsurprising at this point. Honestly, what's going through these people's minds when they take it upon themselves to trouble someone else, after being barred from property that was never theirs in the first place? The moral judges of Reddit seem to be in agreement that this couple wasn't in the wrong at all. 

 

This thread was posted on Reddit's r/AmITheA**hole subreddit by u/aitakidslawn. This story also goes to show that when you make a special compromise for one person, word gets around quickly and pretty soon you're making allowances for everyone. You can only be so nice about opening up your home and your property to others. At a certain point, you have to stand your ground and let everyone know that it's not a public park, it's still your home, and your privacy means something too. Keep scrolling below for the full story!

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  • 01
    Font - 3 3 3 4 AITA for not letting kids play in our yard anymore? |(36m) and my wife(34f) recently bought our first house. We settled on this place because it has a huge backyard with an orchard at the back. The previous owners of our place were an elderly childless couple who were well known in the area for basically being grandparents to everyone and the husband had built multiple tree houses and bridges in the trees for kids to play in. The property is fully fenced but has 3 swinging gates i
    via u/aitakidslawn
  • 02
    Font - When we first moved in we were approached by the next door neighbour who very politely asked if her kids could keep using the back yard to play in. We agreed that it was ok so long as she understood that if her kids got hurt it wasn't our problem and we wouldn't be supervising kids playing or anything. She was fine with that and seemed very appreciative and brought over cookies and juice when she came over to watch her kids. Word went around and eventually we had around a dozen kids comin
    via u/aitakidslawn
  • 03
    Font - Just after Xmas my parents moved into a retirement home and offered me their 2 dogs (a Belgian Shepard 11yo and a GSD/Belgian 12yo) because they were unable to take them into the home. My wife and I jumped at the chance to take them, partly because they probably don't have many years left and we saw it as a good opportunity to get used to having dogs before getting a puppy, and also because we know these 2 dogs are super well behaved and I love both of them dearly(the GSD X was ring beare
    via u/aitakidslawn
  • 04
    Font - The problem started a fortnight ago when a lady we didn't know showed up at our house and started screaming at my wife, apparently her 6yo had come home with his friends and they had dog over their hands. She basically told my wife that if she didn't get rid of the dogs then her kids wouldn't come over anymore and she'd press charges for endangerment. My wife basically told her to eff off and that it wouldn't have happened if she'd been supervising her child. The woman left and came back
    via u/aitakidslawn
  • 05
    Font - Several of the nice neighbour's have come by to beg us to change our minds but we don't want to risk it and we don't have the time to supervise the kids so the gates stay locked we are now arguing with a couple of people who feel it's unfair that the entire neighborhood is tarred because of one person's actions. Are we TAs here? 1 2.8k 3 ↑, Share 375
    via u/aitakidslawn
  • 06
    Font - EWyatt2314 · 9h • Partassipant [3] 1 Award NTA. There is something seriously wrong with people who think it's okay to sign a petition telling other people to get rid of their well behaved, confined, senior dogs. Like beyond simple entitlement wrong. I would just explain to your good neighbors that it's a decision you had to make to protect yourselves and your dogs and it would cause way too much trouble if you let some children in and not others. Honestly just telling the parents you aren
    via u/aitakidslawn
  • 07
    Smile - False-Explanation702 · 9h · Certified Proctologist [23] NTA. One bad apple ruined the bunch. You aren't willing to risk your dog's welfare anymore, so that was the end of that. Direct all angry people to the lady and the 5 other signatures. G Reply 1 1.3k 3 ...
    via u/aitakidslawn
  • 08
    Handwriting - kuromipie · 9h NTA - It was kind enough you even let the kids play in the yard in the first place. That person sounds absolutely insane, and I feel bad for her child. G Reply 4 31 ...
    via u/aitakidslawn
  • 09
    Organism - PotentialityKnocks • 9h • Professor Emeritass [82] NTA. Unfortunately, one horrible person is all it takes. You were risking a lot of liability by having strangers in your yard, and now you have a sheet with 6 signatures on it that show how entitled people will take advantage of kindness. Reply 780 ...
    via u/aitakidslawn
  • 10
    Rectangle - uxi3888 · 6h NTA Also, l'm petty enough to put a copy of that "petition" up next to the sign explaining why you no longer accept kids to play in your yard. Put them on blast, display their names for the whole neighbourhood to see. I they had no problem signing the petition they shouldn't have a problem with you showing it off. G Reply 4 17 3 ...
    via u/aitakidslawn
  • 11
    Smile - BloodDAnna • 9h • Partassipant [1] NTA, your house so your right to shut down the free park. It doesn't sound like you have kids, might I suggest that you put a price on the play equipment and let one of the families take it off your hands? G Reply 50 3 ...
    via u/aitakidslawn
  • 12
    Font - NTA If I were you, l'd tear down the treehouses or have them remodelled for adult use. Have actual fun with your property. Really. G Reply ...
    via u/aitakidslawn
  • 13
    Font - Frostitute_85 · 8h NTA Entitled people will over reach. Best to protect yourself and not let this lady do something shady, like to claim your dogs hurt her kid, and force you to have the dogs put down or something horrible. I think you might even want to install a security camera too since your yard is a neighborhood hotspot. G Reply ...
    via u/aitakidslawn
  • 14
    Smile - vosot • 7h How does the old saying go.. oh yes, one bad apple spoils the bunch. NTA. The people who think it's unfair should take it up with the bad neighbor who ruined it for everyone. Reply 4 ...
    via u/aitakidslawn
  • 15
    Font - DemmyDemon • 5h • Partassipant [1] NTA, and the petition lady threatening that her kids won't come over anymore?! "If you don't give in to my unreasonable demand, I wll stop taking advantage of your kindness!" l'd bet good money a lot of people in the neighborhood could guess who petition lady is without knowing the name, and that this is not even close to the first good thing she has ruined with her entitled hogwash. G Reply ...
    via u/aitakidslawn
  • 16
    Font - sydneyunderfoot · 7h • Partassipant [1] NTA. This is why we can't have nice things!! G Reply 1 ...
    via u/aitakidslawn
  • 17
    Font - overrated_overstated • 5h NTA liability!!!!! Whether I or not they agree that the play area is at their own risk you're probably still liable. G Reply ...
    via u/aitakidslawn
  • 18
    Handwriting - Lamstvn • 2h NTA. But also it wasn't just one neighbor. It was at least 7 and possibly more. Instead of talking to you they should be talking to the people who signed off on the petition. G Reply 2 ... +
    via u/aitakidslawn
  • 19
    Font - ilovepancakes134 · 8h NTA. But if there are some kids interested in special permission to play you might offer them access in exchange for clean up duty. G Reply 1 -1 ...
    via u/aitakidslawn
  • 20
    Organism - luckydidi18 · 5h NTA it's almost hilarious they think they can petition your dogs away. The level of entitlement to something that isn't theirs is astounding. Unfortunately for your nice neighbors it affected them as well, but problems may have arisen there as well. E Reply 4 Vote 3 ...
    via u/aitakidslawn
  • 21
    Font - DarkySilverwing · 5h NTA: it wasn't one person's actions, that petition got signed by multiple people. If they wanna be mad at someone they should be mad at the people who ruined it for everyone. G Reply 1 Vote ...
    via u/aitakidslawn
  • 22
    Organism - AdorableDictator · 2h NTA. No good deed goes unpunished it seems. There are so many of these stories on AITA where if you do something nice to someone they feel like they're entitled to it. The obvious lesson here for a future homeowner is never agree to anything. Especially regarding kids and yards Reply Vote ...
    via u/aitakidslawn

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