More backyard drama...

[Heidict]

Let's see...insulting someone's sanity, insulting someone else's grammar, and a mean comment towards me....I guess you and I have very different opinions on what is rude.

I think it's more that some people have thicker skin then others and some people are more sensitive.

You can't expect people to all agree with you or to answer in the manner that you approve. You are going to get all kinds of responses and nothing says that they have to give them to you with a spoonful of sugar.

In regards to the OP, I would just keep a watch on things. See if they come back in the yard again and speak to them if they do. If they are destructive or disrespectful towards you or ignore you and continue to come into your yard or dock then I would go speak with the parents.

Hopefully, you will be able to get a fence soon so that you don't have to deal with this.

Growing up in the 70's and 80's I couldn't imagine going into a neighbors yard without being invited. Even for a short cut. My parents would have killed me.

 

[doxdogy]

OP you have several choices; next time they are in your yard either throw open the window and yell at them to get out of your yard and stay out! Go outside and tell them to stay out or go talk to the parents and tell them to keep their little heathens out of your yard. You have stated you don't want to build a fence, so these are your only options.

 

[klacey1]

Its not about playing tag, its about people feeling entitled to do whatever they want because they feel they have the right. Its the OP's property. She paid for it. Her property, her rules. END OF STORY. she shouldn't have to put up a fence jus because a 13 year old girl doesn't have any respect for private property.She has asked the girl not to go in her yard once before. She didn't listen. I wonder where she got that from..maybe someone should have taught her to respect private property...

What she said. It doesn't matter if all of the posters here who disagree with the OP (and the ones who are being incredibly rude) wouldn't mind if a kid ran through their yard. If the OP doesn't want strangers in her backyard, she is COMPLETELY within her right to be upset about it. Her backyard is just much her property as her house, and if this was a thread about children running through her HOUSE uninvited, I bet people wouldn't think she was being ridiculous. Your property is your property and YOU have the right to say who can and cannot go on it. OP, if I saw them again, I'd just call out "Hey guys, can you stay off my lawn? Thanks!" Not meanly, just so they know you mean it. If it becomes more of an issue, THEN bring the parents into it. Just my suggestion!

 

[Scurvy]

OP, even though a fence probably would be the easiest way to stop the behavior with the least amount of conflict, another option might be to plant shrubs or something thorny around the edges of your yard. I know some people who have had good luck dissuading trespassers by planting rose bushes. (And as an added bonus, they are pretty!)

Southerngirl71 - It makes me so angry when people do that! I found a solution that worked on the person who kept walking her dog through my yard. I told her we were going to treat the yard with chemicals to kill all the weeds and that I was afraid it might not be safe for her dog, so she probably ought to keep him out off of our lawn. It was true, but we still haven't gotten around to actually doing it yet. I'm sure she wonders why the weeds are still the only thing growing in the yard, but she doesn't let her dog set foot on our property any more!

I'm going to have to check out Anguished English. Is that by Lynne Truss as well?

No, it's by Richard Lederer. He has several books, but that is the only one I've read so far.

 

[SundaeAfternoon]

What she said. It doesn't matter if all of the posters here who disagree with the OP (and the ones who are being incredibly rude) wouldn't mind if a kid ran through their yard. If the OP doesn't want strangers in her backyard, she is COMPLETELY within her right to be upset about it. Her backyard is just much her property as her house, and if this was a thread about children running through her HOUSE uninvited, I bet people wouldn't think she was being ridiculous. Your property is your property and YOU have the right to say who can and cannot go on it. OP, if I saw them again, I'd just call out "Hey guys, can you stay off my lawn? Thanks!" Not meanly, just so they know you mean it. If it becomes more of an issue, THEN bring the parents into it. Just my suggestion!

Thanks, I appreciate that.

And BTW - I love the ignore feature!

 

[AshleyW]

People complain that kids don't play enough these days, and then people complain when they play.

I remember playing hide and seek and other peoples' yards all the time when I was younger. And yes, my mama did teach me respect, thank you very much.

 

[SundaeAfternoon]

OP, even though a fence probably would be the easiest way to stop the behavior with the least amount of conflict, another option might be to plant shrubs or something thorny around the edges of your yard. I know some people who have had good luck dissuading trespassers by planting rose bushes. (And as an added bonus, they are pretty!

Good idea!

 

[Scurvy]

People complain that kids don't play enough these days, and then people complain when they play.

I remember playing hide and seek and other peoples' yards all the time when I was younger. And yes, my mama did teach me respect, thank you very much.

I played hide and seek in lots of yards when I was growing up. . . just not in yards where I wasn't welcome. My mom taught me about respecting personal property and about how it's not polite to go into someone else's yard unless you are invited. I always assumed all good parents taught their kids those things. Seriously, there's a big difference between someone saying that kids shouldn't play outside and someone saying they don't want uninvited kids in their yard. Kids can play in their own yards, in their friend's yards, in parks or on playgrounds. There's no reason they need to be in a strangers yard or in a yard where they don't have permission to be. It isn't an either/or proposition. Playing tag and staying out of the OP's yard are not mutually exclusive.

 

[lillygator]

She said it was the same girl that there in last thread,

she thought.....

People complain that kids don't play enough these days, and then people complain when they play.

you can't win.

 

[chicagodisneyfan]

I'm going to guess this parents don't care. I would call the police

This is the worst advice ever - oh no officers kids are playing - arrest them.

 

[MaumeeMom]

People complain that kids don't play enough these days, and then people complain when they play.

I remember playing hide and seek and other peoples' yards all the time when I was younger. And yes, my mama did teach me respect, thank you very much.

12 yo boys and 13 yo girls don't play hide and seek anymore. It is more than likely that they would be doing something else like smoking or worse. I would not want my dock or backyard to be the place for kids to hang out.

As a young child we played hide and seek but not in yards that were not our own.

I played hide and seek in lots of yards when I was growing up. . . just not in yards where I wasn't welcome. My mom taught me about respecting personal property and about how it's not polite to go into someone else's yard unless you are invited. I always assumed all good parents taught their kids those things. Seriously, there's a big difference between someone saying that kids shouldn't play outside and someone saying they don't want uninvited kids in their yard. Kids can play in their own yards, in their friend's yards, in parks or on playgrounds. There's no reason they need to be in a strangers yard or in a yard where they don't have permission to be. It isn't an either/or proposition. Playing tag and staying out of the OP's yard are not mutually exclusive.

Exactly. ITA

This is the worst advice ever - oh no officers kids are playing - arrest them.

The kids are not playing - they are trespassing - there is a difference. While I would attempt to talk to the kids and then the parents first, if the OP doesn't get anywhere with them she has every right to call the police to report trespassing in her yard. However, I would suggest that this is an absolutely last resort option.

 

[lifenthetropics]

I think the OP should just get a gun and be done with those pesky trespassers once and for all. Dam those kids acting like um well acting like kids.

 

[luvsJack]

12 yo boys and 13 yo girls don't play hide and seek anymore. It is more than likely that they would be doing something else like smoking or worse. I would not want my dock or backyard to be the place for kids to hang out.




The kids are not playing - they are trespassing - there is a difference. While I would attempt to talk to the kids and then the parents first, if the OP doesn't get anywhere with them she has every right to call the police to report trespassing in her yard. However, I would suggest that this is an absolutely last resort option.

WHAT? Yes they do play hide and seek . All 12 and 13 year olds are not out "smoking or worse" that is ridiculous. Kids that age do still play. What a sad, sad place you must live in if kids this age don't play anymore. Heck older teens still can get a kick out of playing silly little games. These two probably had a bit of flirting going on but there is absolutely nothing to tell us this wasn't two completely innocent kids just playing around.

She has every right to call the police and they have every right to laugh at her too.

 

[manning]

Haven't read everything.

Post your property "no trespassing"

We had an issue of kids trespassing. We talked to parents and they could have cared less.

The next time we called the cops. They talked to the parents and the parents had the same attitude....until it was explained to them the property was posted "no trespassing" which means the owner has the right to press charges which means the kids would be taken into custody. It was also pointed out the owner didn't wish that to happen and was giving them a chance to stop.

The kids never trespassed again.

 

[LunchladyDoris]

I'm going to guess this parents don't care. I would call the police

No offense but can you imagine the tattling phone call that would be? I can imagine some ticked off Dis'ser coming on the board and posting " My well-behaved yet lively child (with a 3.0 no doubt!) was running freely throughout the safe neighborhood and some crazy lady called the cops on them!"

Guess what, Op there is a saying that maybe you ought to look into, Good fences make good neighbors. If this is bothering you to have people running through the backyard (I am sure those pesky children are doing it on purpose to see the vein in your forehead throbbing. Darn that childhood!) Then perhaps you could invest in a fence or better yet, some bushes that will insure that no one will run through the hallowed grass that is yours. If you cannot have that fence in your backward, bushes or a sign.

 

[chicagodisneyfan]

Why can't you just put up a fence? Seems like the easiest solution?

 

[LunchladyDoris]

12 yo boys and 13 yo girls don't play hide and seek anymore. It is more than likely that they would be doing something else like smoking or worse. I would not want my dock or backyard to be the place for kids to hang out.

What kind of 12 and 13 year old kids do you know?

 

[SundaeAfternoon]

No offense but can you imagine the tattling phone call that would be? I can imagine some ticked off Dis'ser coming on the board and posting " My well-behaved yet lively child (with a 3.0 no doubt!) was running freely throughout the safe neighborhood and some crazy lady called the cops on them!"

Guess what, Op there is a saying that maybe you ought to look into, Good fences make good neighbors. If this is bothering you to have people running through the backyard (I am sure those pesky children are doing it on purpose to see the vein in your forehead throbbing. Darn that childhood!) Then perhaps you could invest in a fence or better yet, some bushes that will insure that no one will run through the hallowed grass that is yours. If you cannot have that fence in your backward, bushes or a sign.

Really??

Quite a few pages back I stated that I would let it go for the time being, unless the situation got out of hand. So I really don't understand why the sarcastic comments and berating from some of you continues. Do you folks honestly think you've never had a viewpoint or a concern or a pet peeve in your entire life that someone else hasn't found stupid or pointless, or thought to themselves, "Gee, get over it already?"

 

[Bluestars]

Why can't you just put up a fence? Seems like the easiest solution?

That's what I was thinking. If people cutting through my yard upset me, I would build a fence and never have to worry about it again. Another poster suggested putting up bushes. I think that's a good alternative. The only way to keep people out is to put up some type of barrier. Since this obviously bothers the OP greatly, I think it's pretty much the only solution.

 

[SundaeAfternoon]

Why can't you just put up a fence? Seems like the easiest solution?

Because it's not in the budget right now.