Disgruntled neighbor has enough of the kids next door throwing toys into her backyard, so she stops returning them until their parents notice: 'These kids won't learn their lesson'

Author image for Ben Weiss
Ben Weiss • Writer and Editor
Nov 13, 2025 2:00 PM EST

This lady's actions in the neighborhood yielded a divisive response, both from other residents in the area but also from folks online.

It all started when she was in her backyard and noticed some children's toys sitting there on her side of the fence. She knew immediately that they belonged to the kids next door, who often played outside in their neighboring backyard at all hours of the day while their parents worked remotely inside. At first, she returned the items and didn't think much of it. Accidents happen, and it probably wouldn't happen again.

Then it did happen again. And again. And again.

Finally, the neighbor wondered if these kids were throwing their toys over the fence on purpose. Every time she returned the toys, she made sure to subtly communicate that she was becoming increasingly annoyed, but the kids didn't seem to care. Neither did the parents, who seemed to embody the phrase "in absentia."

At a certain point, it became clear that this author was going to need to take matters into her own hands. If these kids weren't very precious with their toys and didn't mind throwing them over the fence almost daily, then perhaps they wouldn't mind if those toys disappeared altogether.

Add as a preferred
source on Google
Advertisement
  • String lights illuminate the backyard of two neighboring houses.
    via Shaun Montero

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • The author's steadfast determination to get even was met with a divisive response from the other neighbors and even within this online community. Some folks even accused this lady of exhibiting full-blown Karen behavior, which she denies. In fact, we can't help but feel empathy for her. It's not that she needed to step in to parent those kids. That wouldn't be her business were it not for the fact that they were repeatedly disturbing her own living experience. What do you think of her actions?

  • "Neighbors kids keep throwing toys and shoes over our backyard, I began to toss out their stuff"

    This has been happening since the summer. They have tossed toys, a dirty shoe and other stuff.
    via animalcrossinglifeee
  • Btw my mom has a garden in the backyard and there was about 2-times that the children's toys would end up in the herbs.
    via animalcrossinglifeee
  • I began to toss it out. My mom is more nice and will throw it back to them.
    via animalcrossinglifeee
  • One or two times, it's fine but after awhile it feels like it's on purpose. I started to throw stuff out after it was the 6th time I believe.
    via animalcrossinglifeee
  • Well my mom left for work. I saw a dinosaur toy, I scooped it and threw it in the trash.
    via animalcrossinglifeee
  • These kids won't learn their lesson. Their parents are barely outside so it's difficult to get ahold of them.
    via animalcrossinglifeee
  • These neighbors live behind me so our backyards are close together. There's about 3-4 kids and they all like to scream and sometimes will cry.
    via animalcrossinglifeee
  • They play outside the whole day from 9am-8pm. Meanwhile their parents are inside doing work. You know how I know?
    via animalcrossinglifeee
  • Because the dad will use a machine to cut wood. So that's how I know. Others have told me to Just toss out the toys and stuff they throw into our backyard cuz they don't learn their lesson.
    via animalcrossinglifeee
  • I'm really tired of it so this is the only solution I know. I hope the parents also learn and watch their kids when they go outside.
    via animalcrossinglifeee
  • Lastly, a few times I saw the mother picking up her kid so he could look into our backyard.
    via animalcrossinglifeee
  • It's another case of bad parenting. Edit: ppl being like "omg they're just kids". I do not care.
    via animalcrossinglifeee
  • I was a kid once and I never threw stuff over people's backyards. But then again I had decent parents.
    via animalcrossinglifeee
  • I think it is a parental issue and I'm not gonna blame the kids. But if they do continue this behavior until they're teens then it's gonna be their fault if they can't understand what they're doing.
    via animalcrossinglifeee
  • A woman with dark hair gives a "thumbs down" gesture at the camera against an outdoor background.
    via Daniele La Rosa Messina

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • OP animalcrossinglifeee Damn sorry to hear that your plants were destroyed. That is awful and exhausting. The snow thing is annoying tooo and them stealing your flag. Thank you.
    via animalcrossinglifeee
  • StyxtheCat18 Throw them out. We had a self involved mom move in and she had her semi senile father watch the kids. He would allow them to go on the balcony and toss action figures into our garden ... breaking and killing some plants and flowers .. no apologies and nothing was replaced. At first I would gently place the action figures on her property but then just started tossing them out as everyone living there is extremely rude to us. Her b/f even blocks our garage in with snow after I shovel
    via animalcrossinglifeee
  • OP animalcrossinglifeee That's what I'm thinking but other two people were trying to make me feel bad. Tbh I don't feel bad. They have been throwing stuff for months.
    via animalcrossinglifeee
  • Happydruidess Throw the items in the trash. Don't feel bad about it either. They need to be parenting their kids.
    via animalcrossinglifeee
  • OP animalcrossinglifeee Yeah and they know we grow herbs cuz one of their kids peers into our yard. It's really annoying
    via animalcrossinglifeee
  • Lewd-Awakening People underestimate how much work it takes to grow herbs or plants, and then someone's brat throws a toy in there like it's a game. Not cool at all.
    via animalcrossinglifeee
  • OP animalcrossinglifeee Thank you so much for sharing. I read everything, I think you meant well and tried your best to be respectful but things happen. I felt like your husband was frustrated and he was busy with work. But I'm glad nothing else has happened since.
    via animalcrossinglifeee
  • noOuOon We had this exact problem a while ago... I'd just throw them back over, my husband was very fed up with it and asked me to stop as he thought it was encouraging them and at very least we should let the parents be inconvenienced with having to ask for the items. We had the mother knock at the door a few times and ask for things after I stopped and every time we would both tell her "sure I'll go get it/throw it over but please can you try to prevent this from happening" or something to tha
    via animalcrossinglifeee
  • OP animalcrossinglifeee That's what I'm thinking. They don't seem like bad ppl, just bad parents. Sometimes, the kids will go in the backyard to play and then some will fight then cry, it's so bad. I'm glad they're not iPad kids but their parents don't watch them not even one
    via animalcrossinglifeee
  • Useless890 These people seemed to be the type who wanted kids, but once they have them, they want the kids to stay out of their way. I feel sorry for the kids. Their parents don't seem to be training them.
    via animalcrossinglifeee
  • OP animalcrossinglifeee That would be a good idea to get a camera. The netting is also a good idea. Thank you.
    via animalcrossinglifeee
  • LibraryMouse4321 Put some netting over your herb garden using poles. Water and sun gets in, but not the toys. Maybe get a security camera or two in your yard.
    via animalcrossinglifeee
  • OP animalcrossinglifeee Thank you, other people made me feel crazy and like a grinch or something. I just felt irritated after the 6th time it has happened.
    via animalcrossinglifeee
  • FloridianAbyss27 You're doing morning wrong and you're literally picking up items ON YOUR PROPERTY. Everything the kids throw over should be thrown in the garbage, absolutely no exceptions.
    via animalcrossinglifeee
  • OP animalcrossinglifeee Thank you for sharing I might consider doing that.
    via animalcrossinglifeee
  • CiscoLupe I had this problem. I propped 8 foot lattice against my 6 foot fence. Made it harder for kids to throw stuff. My neighbor kids were throwing trash. not toys and stuff.
    via animalcrossinglifeee
  • OP animalcrossinglifeee That's good, I'm glad it worked out for you. I heard many stories of kids doing this. If they ask for it back then that's fine but if they climb over then it's annoying.
    via animalcrossinglifeee
  • Independent Fun7603 Kid Nextdoor lacrosse always practicing always threw the balls back over the fence and it just dawned on me. He's being ignorant fuck it. I started throwing them in the trash. They stopped coming over the fence
    via animalcrossinglifeee
  • OP animalcrossinglifeee Did they stop doing all of that though? Did It help?
    via animalcrossinglifeee
  • smile_saurus We had a family move in next door, about 5 years ago. The boy (late elementary school age) would throw candy wrappers, empty water bottles and more over the fence into our yard. A good amount of basketballs and soccer balls made it over too but not like a 'whoops this ball bounced too far' but in a 'how far can I punt this ball' kind of way. We would throw everything back over. For a time. Then we 'accidentally' let our dog grab the basketball and deflate it. Then the soccer balls '
    via animalcrossinglifeee

Want More? Follow Us and Add Us as a Preferred Source on Google.

Tags

neighbors kids neighborhood neighborhood-drama bad neighbors neighborhood-stories parenting entitled people karma Parenting Fail karen entitled people
Scroll Down For The Next Article