'My neighbour's disrespectful kids stop me from enjoying garden – parents don't care'

Living with can be an exhausting experience.

Most of us want to build civil relationships with our neighbours. Even if you're not the best of friends, being respectful to those living alongside you should be the bare minimum that we expect. However, some people truly don't think about others and just want to do what's best for themselves – without caring how it impacts those around them.

This is the exact situation one woman has found herself in, as her neighbours don't seem to care that their actions are making it impossible for her to . She said she lives in a cul-de-sac, and because the road around her property doesn't have the same amount of traffic as a regular street, her neighbours' children often play outside.

READ MORE:

READ MORE:

However, the kids don't stick to their own property. She said they regularly come into her garden to play without asking and have come dangerously close to kicking footballs at her family's vehicles.

Their loud and "obnoxious" behaviour means she hasn't been able to enjoy her own garden since this began happening, and even though she's spoken to their parents about their behaviour, nothing has changed so far.

In a post on , she fumed: "I live at the end of a dead-end street – practically a cul-de-sac – which, unfortunately, has turned parts of my property and the street in front of me into a makeshift playground for the neighbourhood kids. These aren't adorable toddlers; they're middle schoolers with foul mouths and zero regard for boundaries, especially when it comes to my home.

"They draw all over my driveway. I get that chalk is temporary, but I don't want to see ugly dragons and misshapen cats greeting me every time I pull in. It's hideous.

"They play football dangerously close to parked cars. I've seen the ball bounce off a neighbour's vehicle, and while mine hasn't been hit yet, I feel like it's only a matter of time.

"They leave trash and sports equipment scattered across my lawn - I've even spoken to their parents, but nothing's changed."

The woman then asked commenters for advice on how to handle the situation. She said she'd rather do it anonymously as she doesn't want to "escalate things directly" but wants to "protect her property and sanity."

Commenters were quick to offer their insight, but many told her she wouldn't be able to handle this anonymously. They pointed out that if one of the children gets hurt on her property, then she could be liable for it, even if she didn't give them permission to be there.

One person said: "You're way beyond the point of [doing things] anonymously. Put up cameras and call the cops. It's no one's problem until one of those kids gets hurt on your property, then you're going to wish you had made it a fine line in the sand."

Another added: "Cameras, no trespassing and video surveillance signs. Report, press charges, restraining order. The liability is on you in case of any injury or worse."

A third wrote: "They are going to continue their behaviour if you do not go out and tell them it is unwanted. How would they know some person made a passive-aggressive comment and wants them to stop?

"It was your fault for allowing it in the first place. They are kids. Tell them."