Would this bother you?

[DisneyAddict_M]

I live in a first floor apartment with my 5 year old dd. There are 24 apartments in the building...so lots of apartments mean lots of kids. Early last night, I had the window open, but the shade drawn. I was laying on the couch reading a book when my dd heard some kids playing outside. She yanks open the shade the starts yelling to her friends. About 4 friends come to the window and they're talking back and forth and the kids can see RIGHT INSIDE my apartment. The second she opened the shade, I screamed like a little girl and pulled a blanket over myself, since I was in my underwear (hey, it was hot in my apartment! ).

Anyway, this happens often. It mostly annoys me because it's usually during dinner that this happens. Her friends from upstairs will come to our window and start yelling to dd to come talk to them...and she will. It's very difficult to get her back to finish her dinner.

Yesterday when this happened, I told dd to stop talking to them at the window and that we would go outside to play with them today when I get out of work (it was just about her bedtime when she was talking to them last night, so I didn't want her to go outside then).

So would it bother you to have kids yelling in your window all the time? Occasionally, one of her friends will knock on our door to ask if dd can play. I don't mind that, but I really don't like them yelling in the window.

 

[TheDisneyTraveler06]

I don't see anything wrong with someone coming to your door, like you said, but I agree with you. I would get annoyed if someone kept on yelling in the window. I would nicely tell them to stop.

 

[disneymom3]

Well, I have a two part answer. Yes, it would bother me. I would go to the window and tell them to please stop yelling as you are having dinner or whatever and DD cannot talk right now. As far as DD going to the window to talk to them when you are having dinner, she is FIVE. IMO, she doesn't get a choice about not coming back to the table.

 

[mrsv98]

We live in a house but DD loves to play in the front window and her friends live across the street. I have to constantly remind her not to yell out the window, drives me crazy! Just something about it seems like really bad manners.

OTOH, her friends (with or without a parent in tow) will come ringing the doorbell at 8.30 or 9.00p to see if she can play....umm, NO! That drives me crazier! lol

 

[DisneyAddict_M]

Well, I have a two part answer. Yes, it would bother me. I would go to the window and tell them to please stop yelling as you are having dinner or whatever and DD cannot talk right now. As far as DD going to the window to talk to them when you are having dinner, she is FIVE. IMO, she doesn't get a choice about not coming back to the table.

She's like a jack in the box. I get her back to the table and she bounces up again. Maybe if I tied her to her chair....

 

[disneymom3]

Well, I didn't say she would stay there, I said she didn't get a choice. LOL! I have 6 yo and 4 yo boys so I am very familiar with that jack in the box problem! I really think your best bet would be to talk to the kids at the window. Of course, if they are anything like one of the kids who lives up the street from us, they won't give a rip what you say.

I hope my previous comment didn't come across as rude because that is not how I meant it.

 

[DisneyAddict_M]

Well, I didn't say she would stay there, I said she didn't get a choice. LOL! I have 6 yo and 4 yo boys so I am very familiar with that jack in the box problem! I really think your best bet would be to talk to the kids at the window. Of course, if they are anything like one of the kids who lives up the street from us, they won't give a rip what you say.

I hope my previous comment didn't come across as rude because that is not how I meant it.

No worries. I understood. I talk to dd until I'm blue in the face, but it's the other kids that are the biggest problem...they just yell, "(dd's name), come to the window!" I actually haven't talked to them about it. I'll definitely do that next time.

 

[poohandwendy]

Probably wouldn't bother me every now and again, but if it were often I would say something to the kids. I think the problem is that they probably think it is ok because your DD talks to them through the window too. I would start by not allowing her to do it. Then I would speak to the kids and tell them they need to come to the front door if they want to talk to DD.

 

[Cindy's Mom]

I can see where it would bother you - but what are your options? talking to each of the children and telling them that they shouldn't shout through the window? I think that may cause problems for DD. Look at it this way.....summer is 1/2 way over, the windows will be shut; DD will be growing up soon, and she will be listening to you more and more each. I say just let it go, put some shorts on or just shut the window and crank the air.

 

[daisyduck123]

Yes, it would bother me. Your DD has been an enabler to this though. She's coming to the window to talk to them, so the other kids think it's ok. You've got to tell her that talking thru the window is not allowed. (Of course, this is easy for me to say...we NEVER open our windows ).

 

[cinmell]

So would it bother you to have kids yelling in your window all the time?

Yes, that would really bother me.

 

[Wishing on a star]

I would consider a practical/physical answer to the problem.

Is there any way you could put up some heavy blinds that can actually be fastened to the wall at the bottom. You could shorten the cord so that your DD could not reach it easily. And, reinforce right away to your DD that she is NOT TO TOUCH the blinds, under penalty of death.

As for the other kids... Instead of DD opening the blind and smiling and yelling out the window, a few times of a closed blind and a very stern 'mama voice' saying "Please go away, we are busy/eating/etc...', and that should help take care of it.

I also agree with the posters about the Jack-in-the-box problem. I have much much experience with this with my DS!!! I actually threatened (halfway joking, of course) that I would go buy him a big high-chair and strap him in. That really got his attention!!! LOL!!!

You have to take control. Your DD should know the 'rule' that you simply do not leave your seat until you are excused. Period. End of story. She should know the 'rule' that she is simply never to touch the blinds. A few times of some heavy discipline, and that should help.

Your DD is enabling her friends, and in a way, you are enabling your DD. Set rules about 'Blinds' and 'Mealtime', and be very very strict and consistant as you enforce them. Your DD will catch on.

PS: I really feel for you. Even whenever we travel, I ALWAYS request a unit on a higher floor. I too like my fresh air and my privacy. Ground Level really has it's drawbacks.

Is anyone vacating an apartment on a higher floor???

 

[Tazicket]

Having kids yell through my window would drive me nuts. I'm not sure how to deal with it, but it would slowly and surely drive me crazy.

 

[kdibattista]

Your daughter started it by yelling out the window. I would think the natural reaction would be for them to come to the window to talk to her. Now, if they were just randomly coming to the window without your daughter starting it, then yes, I would get annoyed. But in this particular instance I would not.

 

[Tigger&Belle]

Your daughter started it by yelling out the window. I would think the natural reaction would be for them to come to the window to talk to her. Now, if they were just randomly coming to the window without your daughter starting it, then yes, I would get annoyed. But in this particular instance I would not.

I agree!

It sounds like it's a bigger problem than just his one time, though.

I've never had the jack in the box problem with my kids because we sit and eat for meals as a family. When they are little and prone to jumping up, they are in a high chair and are pretty much over that stage before they move to a regular chair. Had it been just me, I would have been laxer, but my DH was strict with the sitting for meals, so the kids have always been good about it.

Our current house has s good set-up because the kitchen is in the back of the house (and we eat in the kitchen) and we can't see the front of the house when we are eating. At our last house we could and sometimes our kids would try to rush through meals to go play, so we had to establish some rules.

And you might want to be a little more dressed for when your DD does pull back the blinds. I tend to run around half the morning in my short pj's and the other morning my dogs started barking in the backyard and wouldn't come in (they never do that) and I couldn't go get them since my neighbors were out. Finally I got them to come in by offering them a doggy biscuit (the dogs, not the neighbors ), but I decided that I need to start getting dressed earlier.

This, too, shall pass, with your DD. At least you do live where there are playmates, so that is a good bright side!

 

[Cool-Beans]

If they were yelling or seeing me in my undies, Yeah, that's bug me!

But if they're just talking back and forth, probably not. Until one of them leaned on the screen and broke it.

Don't really remember a Jack-in-the-box problem.

 

[Pop Daddy]

since I was in my underwear (hey, it was hot in my apartment! ). .

, apt number please