Neighborhood kids banned from family treehouse after they leave a mess and mom refuses to step in: '[Their mom] started telling everyone I ruined her kids' summer'

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    "They left a mess behind almost every time..."
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    AITA for not allowing my neighbours kids to use our treehouse? Not the I (32F) live in my suburban neighborhood where everyone knows everyone. My husband (35M) and I recently build a treehouse in our backyard for our two kids (6F and 8M). the treehouse is a hit with our children and they spend hours in it every day. However our
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    neighbours kids (7F and 7M) started comming over almost daily just to play in the treehouse. At first me and my husband allowed it because its nice seeing our kids have godd friend and a good time togehter. Their visits became more frequent and they left a mess behind almost every time. Last time i found juice boxes and candy wrappers all over the floor and our garden. I asked
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    their mother Linda to remind her kids to clean up after themselves. She responded with "Kids will be kids". After this i decided to set some boundaries and i told Linda that her kids can't come over to play unless they learn to clean up after themselves or if my kids invite them over. Linda was furious about this and she started telling everyone i ruined her kids summer. My husband supports me in my decision but i am starting to feel guilty AITA for not allowing Lindas kids to play in our treeho
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    OP has offered the following explanation for why they think they might be the a ple: 1 i should be judged on my reaction 2 not letting my neighbours kids play in our treehouse
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    Dittoheadforever You're NTA. juice boxes and candy wrappers all over the floor and our garden She responded with "Kids will be kids" Bull. My mother would have made us go next door, clean up the mess, and apologize. Kids are kids, yes. But they're only slobs if they're permitted to be slobs.
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    Linda was furious about this and she started telling everyone i ruined her kids summer. Then she can build a tree house in her back yard and let her kids trash their own nest. She's just mad because she can't send her kids to your house for free babysitting anymore.
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    ijustcant555 19 hr. ago Not to mention the liability of letting her kids play in your yard.
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    • Pretty865-Artwork 21 hr. ago NTA If the parents are already pulling the "kids will be kids" card when their brats leave a mess and refuse to train her mutts. You better believe they will sue you silly when one of them stubs their toe on your property. This is a liability for you. You did the right thing. Be sure to have a camera pointed to this treehouse so you have some form of protection. Put up no trespassing signs.
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    TemptingPenguin369 21 hr. ago NTA. If I pulled that as a kid, my parents would have marched me over to apologize and clean up. Yes, kids will be kids, but Linda seems to have forgotten that parents have to be parents. It sounds like the neighbour children are coming over uninvited; you really need to put a stop to that for liability reasons. Is there a reason why Linda doesn't put up her own treehouse for her children?
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    National Pension_110. 21 hr. ago NTA, of course. You're doing those neighbor kids a favor by telling them what it takes. to be a good guest. Obviously, the mom got defensive because it reflected poorly on her parenting skills. This didn't have to escalate. It was wrong of the neighbors to allow their kids to come over uninvited anyway. That's
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    trespassing. Continue to give the neighbor kids a chance. to redeem themselves by inviting them to come play, but make the rules clear: clean up after yourselves and don't pop in unannounced. Good luck and hope they all have a fun summer away from their computer screens!
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    Educational_Bet_4844. 21 hr. ago NTA You don't owe your neighbours' kids access to your property. You did a nice thing by letting them come over - unfortunately their parents have, in fact, "ruined their summer" by failing to teach them basic manners. Stick to your boundaries and keep the invite open if you are comfortable to.
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    SeparateProblem3029. 20 hr. ago NTA. My mum would have. been mortified if I left a mess at a friends house. ALSO a tree house is classed as an attractive nuisance, same as a pool, and if something happened to the kids when they were over you could be held liable. You don't want them coming over without you knowing about it in advance so you can keep an eye out.
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    WolfGoddess77 21 hr. ago NTA. If the treehouse is on your property, then you have every right to decide who can use it. At seven years old, kids are old enough to understand the concept of picking up the trash they leave behind. I'm guessing if other people's kids were trashing her yard, she would have a different response than 'kids will be kids'.
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    PhoeKui 20 hr. ago • NTA. BTW OP do you have an insurance rider for the treehouse? If a neighbour's child is injured in or near your treehouse your homeowners insurance may not cover it. That would mean you personally could be on the hook for all medical expenses as well as pain and suffering compensation.
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    IDKyMyUsernameWontFi⚫ 21 hr. ago NTA. Kids will be kids, but parents should parent and Linda isnt doing that
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    CinnamonBlue - 20 hr. ago Ruined her kid-free summer you mean. LOL NTA. She could have told her kids to clean up after themselves instead she chose to burn it all down.

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