'She was beyond out of line': Neighbor gets called out after grabbing child's toy

Author image for Remy Millisky
Remy Millisky • Writer and Editor
Jun 21, 2024 5:00 PM EDT

Actions have consequences… This person would do well to remember that next time she gets into a neighborly squabble. 

Having your neighbors on your side is such a blessing. Knowing that the people around you care about you, even in small ways, like grabbing your package so it doesn't get stolen, or bringing you a plate of dinner when you're sick, makes a big difference. What you put into your relationships with your neighbors gives big returns. 

This works both ways, unfortunately. If you get a reputation for being the "get off my lawn" kind of neighbor, word will get around that you're not to be trusted. This person in u/thr12owaway's story told to r/AmItheA****** is definitely going to be getting some side-eyes from the neighbors after word gets out. 

The neighbor in this person's story wasn't just impolite to the writer of this story: she decided to mess with her nephew, who's just ten years old. The memory of the incident is sure to stick in all of their heads. 

After that, read about some HOA rules that'll leave you shaking your head, like one person who shared, "They told us we couldn't use hoses in our backyard." 

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  • 01
    Cheezburger Image 10364239616
    via Craig McLachlan on Unsplash
  • 02
    AITA for being incredibly mean to my neighbor? I'm (30f) not going to go into detail but my nephew Luke (10) has very angry and aggressive behaviour. I know what's going on with him and am working on it.
    via u/thr12owaway
  • 03
    I have custody of my nephew and I know I said we're working on it, hard. I love but it's really him to bits but I think I've cried more in this past year that I ever have before.
    via u/thr12owaway
  • 04
    My neighbor is convinced that I have to be more strict and discipline him better. That's really not the case but I simply tell her that I'll keep her advice in mind and try to avoid her.
    via u/thr12owaway
  • 05
    But yesterday was one of the harder days and I had confiscated one of my nephew's toys until he calmed down. It was a superhero action figure.
    via u/thr12owaway
  • 06
    I went out on my porch for a breather while he napped and I didn't realize but I had brought the toy out with me. I was sitting on the steps and the toy was next to me.
    via u/thr12owaway
  • 07
    My neighbor pops out of nowhere and after telling me that "the kid needs more discipline" for the hundredth time, she grabbed the toy.
    via u/thr12owaway
  • 08
    I was confused and asked if I could have it back. She told me that he and I will be better off without it. After all, "actions have consequences." I told her that I don't care and I'd like for her to give the toy back. She patted me on the shoulder and said she knows it's hard but it'll work out in the end and was gonna walk away with it but I ended up yelling at her.
    via u/thr12owaway
  • 09
    I said " give it back or else I'll call the police and tell them that you, a 60 something year old lady, stole from a little kid." She gasped and was all like "I'm not 60 something I'm still in my 40s." Keep in mind, she still has the toy.
    via u/thr12owaway
  • 10
    I just went "you look 60 to me" I you not this woman starts crying and after giving (throwing) the toy back she called me incredibly house. and ran into her
    via u/thr12owaway
  • 11
    Her partner called me later to apologize but asked if I could apologize as well since what I said was pretty I told them I'd think about it. Now I'm wondering if I'm the AH for how I reacted. I did exaggerate her age to insult her which was pretty mean of me but she literally stole the toy and refused to give it back until I did. AITA?
    via u/thr12owaway
  • 12
    namesaretoohardf... NTA. What kind of grown woman tries to steal a child's toy?! The A kind, that's who. Keep doing what you're doing. Luke might not appreciate it at the time, but as an adult he'll probably be able to look back and be thankful for you.
    via u/thr12owaway
  • 13
    Mopper300 Screw her. NTA. You don't owe her a thing. Tell her to stay the out of your business and don't speak to her anymore.
    via u/thr12owaway
  • 14
    GM_Pax NTA I was all ready to vote the other way, based on your subject line, but ... you weren't "incredibly mean", you were IRATE, and there's a difference.
    via u/thr12owaway
  • 15
    The boy is in your custody, not hers. She has no right to step in at all, and absolutely no right to go beyond interminable repetitions of the same unwanted advice. But to then try and remove the toy, to STEAL it? If it were me, I wouldn't just have shouted at her. I'd've picked my hands up to her.
    via u/thr12owaway
  • 16
    pinkbutterfly87 NTA - If she would have minded her business, her feelings wouldn't have gotten hurt.
    via u/thr12owaway
  • 17
    ferretkona ΝΤΑ Her partner called me later to apologize but asked if I could apologize as well since what I said was pretty
    via u/thr12owaway
  • 18
    I am guessing she did not apologize at all, the partner did. I would bet her words were "I will apologize if OP does" If our OP apologizes this behaviour will continue.
    via u/thr12owaway
  • 19
    East-Performance... NTA. She was beyond out of line. Being supportive of you might have been constructive. What she did was awful.
    via u/thr12owaway

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Tags

action figures neighbors toys kids neighborhood neighborhood-drama neighborhood-stories terrible neighbors superheroes
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