New homeowner refuses to let entitled parent "Linda" and her kids trespass so they can play in his yard: '[But] the previous owners always let us!'

Just because something is convenient for you does not make it acceptable.

This is a lesson most people learn growing up. Sure, it would be convenient to skip the classes you don't want to take or to follow the easiest path for everything, but that's not how life works. Sometimes, you have to accept that doing things the hard way is the only option. This applies to writing essays on your own without having Chat-GPT do it for you. It applies to tidying up your room by yourself without waiting for a parent to take that on. And, in this case, it applies to the fastest route for getting to the nearby park.

These kids developed an unfortunate habit of unlocking the fence to their neighbor's backyard and trespassing so that they could get to the neighborhood park faster. Their mother, "Linda," happened to be friendly with the previous owner, who allowed her to do this. However, once he no longer lived in their suburb, Linda and her children continued to assume that this trespassing would still be permitted without confirming it with the new homeowner first.

One day, not long after getting settled into the neighborhood, this resident was taken aback when he discovered a group of children running in his backyard. Linda showed up shortly thereafter and claimed this was allowed, but the homeowner immediately pushed back. Sure, no one wants to be the neighborhood curmudgeon, but considering the fact that it would not take that much longer for these kids to go around his house and into the park, he saw no reason to permit trespassing. It made him uncomfortable and understandably so.

However, after this first encounter, Linda and the kids refused to listen…

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  • The next instance of trespassing involved the kids fully climbing over his fence. Not only does this still qualify as trespassing, but it's also straight-up dangerous. The fact that Linda still could not see his side of the story just goes to show that when something is convenient for entitled individuals like Linda, basic decency and respect might just go out the window.

  • A group of children play in a field.
    via Unsplash+ (Andy Quezada)

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

  • "My neighbor told me I’m 'stunting her children’s development' because I won't let them use my backyard as a shortcut to the park."

    I bought my first house about six months ago. It has a nice, fenced-in backyard that happens to back up to a local wooded trail that leads to a popular park.
    via edcantu9
  • If you go around the block, it's a 10- minute walk. If you go through my yard, it's about 30 seconds.
    via edcantu9
  • Enter "Linda." Linda lives two houses down and has three kids (all under 10). A few weeks after I moved in, I caught Linda and her kids unlatching my side gate and walking through my yard.
    via edcantu9
  • I went out and politely told her that I'd prefer they didn't do that, citing liability and the fact that I have a dog who isn't always fond of strangers in his space.
    via edcantu9
  • Linda's response? "Oh, the previous owners always let us! It's just easier for the kids." I told her that I'm not the previous owner and to please use the sidewalk.
    via edcantu9
  • I thought that was the end of it, but yesterday I came home early and found her kids climbing over my fence.
    via edcantu9
  • Not even using the gate-climbing. I told them to get down and go home. Five minutes later, Linda is at my front door, absolutely livid.
    via edcantu9
  • She didn't apologize. Instead, she screamed that I was being "un-neighborly" and "hostile toward children." She literally told me that by forcing them to walk the long way, I am "stunting their development" and "robbing them of outdoor time." She then demanded that I give her a copy of the key to my gate so she can "supervise" them properly while they use the shortcut.
    via edcantu9
  • I told her that if I see her or her kids in my yard again, I'm calling the police for trespassing and I'll be installing cameras.
    via edcantu9
  • She called me a "bitter, child-hating hermit" and stomped off. Now, a couple of other neighbors (who I think just don't want to deal with her) are telling me I'm being "too intense" and that "it's just a yard." They say I should just let them use it to keep the neighborhood "harmonious." AITA?
    via edcantu9
  • I mean, I know this is Entitled People, but I'm genuinely shocked that someone thinks they have a right to my property because it's "more convenient."
    via edcantu9
  • A man in a white and blue crew neck t-shirt pulls his hair in frustration.
    via Ryan Snaadt

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

  • Pantokraterix She is exactly the kind of woman who will sue you if her children are hurt in your yard. Get a paper trail.
    via edcantu9
  • edcantu9 Original Poster's Reply I can see this happening!
    via edcantu9
  • davisasian13 lol have them offer up their yard as access then
    via edcantu9
  • A group of children play in a field.
    via Unsplash+ (Andy Quezada)

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

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aita entitled parents kids neighborhood-drama bad neighbors entitled people karma backyard Parenting Fail
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