Mom Banning Neighbors' Kids From Playing Outside After 7 P.M. Slammed

A mom who banned her neighbors' kids from playing outside after 7 p.m. because it woke up her baby has been dragged online.

The parent took to Mumsnet for advice, posting under username neighbourcrazy, asking if she's being "unreasonable."

The post, which can be read here, has racked up nearly 200 responses since being posted Monday.

The mom, thought to be in the U.K., claimed in the post that she lives on a cul-de-sac, saying the family on one side owned, while the other rented.

Initially the mom, who has a baby under 2, "got on well" with all her neighbors, but trouble reared its head over summer.

Communities have changed considerably over the decades, with many people admitting to not knowing their closest neighbors in the fast-paced modern world.

Pew Research looked at community relationships in 2019, publishing key findings which revealed the majority of Americans (57 percent) admitted to only knowing some of their neighbors, and only 26 percent claimed to know all of them.

A generational difference was evident, with 34 percent of those over 65 claiming they know most of their neighbors, compared to just 20 percent of people aged 18 to 29, while 23 percent of the younger cohort admitted to not knowing any of their neighbors, which shrunk to just 4 percent of the older generation.

Interestingly, the study noted: "Having children at home isn't related to stronger ties with neighbors: Parents are just as likely as non-parents to say they know most of their neighbors (26% for each group)."

One factor that did matter was location, with rural dwellers much more likely to know their neighbors compared with their urban counterparts.

"Four-in-ten rural residents say they know all or most of their neighbors, compared with 24% of urban residents and 28% of suburban residents," the site added.

The mom explained in her post that friction occurred after the local kids put up a basketball hoop "on the public space." The parent claims it was in an "awkward" place, but she graciously decided to "let it go."

She continued: "However, the basketball was being played day and late into evening. My little girl needs to have her naps and I work from home.

"I asked the neighbors (the 2 different parents of the kids who were playing basketball (aged between 10-16) could they ask kids to not play after 7 pm in evening due to sleep time for my baby.

"I am the only one with a baby. I was received with bitterness and intimidation by one set of parents, nothing said but extremely intimidating behaviour like staring in my window while walking past etc.

"I don't usually let things get to me as I do believe their behaviour is more about them than me. So I let it slide."

In the aftermath, one set of parents who obliged with her demand stopped bringing her bins in from the street, despite taking in everyone else's.

She feared it was due to her request, as the mom asked: "Was I really being unreasonable asking for the noise to stop at 7pm? It was non stop all day which I didn't mind but night time for my baby is important. I'd like to hear opinions please."

The internet didn't hold back sharing their opinion, telling the mom she was out of line with her request, while pointing out her neighbors weren't obligated to bring her bins in.

MiltonRoad thought: "7 is really early particularly when the evenings are light. I would be annoyed too if you told mine to stop playing."

HappyHamsters replied: "You bring in your own bins, you let other children play outside while the weather is good, you put your baby in a room furthest away from the street."

TulipsTwoLips commented: "That's really early to ask for quiet. I'm surprised they've stopped tbh. Many people would pleasantly but firmly say no to such a request."

Azerothi added: "All the other nonsense aside, why don't you want your child playing outside when she is old enough and past 7 pm?"

The mom continued to defend herself, claiming she was within her rights to "report it to the police as an obstruction to public roadway!!", referring to the basketball hoop.

She added the kids should have "respect" for other neighbors, saying: "Why should basketballs come into my garden and bang off windows and doors be ok when my baby is getting to sleep?"

And the mom snapped back in another comment: "You all think it is ok that kids can do what they want when they want and not respect any neighbors gardens/property/other people living in the area.

"So, it is all ok for the kids to do what they want (and their parents) but I am to just 'put up' with it. That's not very neighborly now is it."

Newsweek was not able to verify the details of the case.