So I (24F) live in an apartment building that has a mix of families and grad students. My apartment is right by the door to the parking garage so I’m used to a lot of noise. However recently a young boy has been practicing kicking his soccer ball into the wall next to my apartment door (it shares the wall of my bathroom). When he first started I could hear the shelves of my bathroom shaking and it scared the crap out of my cat (not to mention making me jump everytime cause I have PTSD). At the time I didn’t know what to do because I’ve already had some issues with this family.
These kids play out in the hallway daily and most of the time it’s totally harmless. Last year the same boy and his sister were playing ding dong ditch on our floor but just knocking really loudly. At first I got up to check, but could hear there giggles as they fled. I chocked it up to harmless fun at first cause they’re kids! But then they came back like five minutes later and tried to open my door. It was unlocked at the time because I was getting ready to leave so they started to open it but then freaked out and ran away. That was sort of my breaking point where I then went to where they live and told there parents that they were running around knocking on doors and trying to open them. The mom freaked out and said something along the lines of not again! So obviously they’ve done something similar in the past.
But anyway I didn’t want to say anything about the soccer at first to the kid because I felt bad. my whole family told me I should but I didn’t want to be a cranky Caren .
But today he did the same thing and I realized I do need to say something because something could fall off the shelf in my bathroom, it’s so loud, it scares my cat and me. I opened my door and he started to back up and I just asked him if he could stop kicking his ball into the wall. He nodded and ran away but now I just feel bad because he is just a kid living in an apartment building without a lot of greenery or a playground nearby.
So AITA?
NAH
“It takes a village” means that you are an adult who is responsible for helping a child learn how to live in a community with consideration for the needs of those sharing their space. You are not only right to say something but it is basically your civic duty to help him learn. Communicate with children with respect, kindness and authority.
NAH. I don’t blame the kid because his parents clearly suck, but someone needs to teach this kid I’d also complain to the landlord.
suggest the mom buy him a rebounder net…he could kick it into that
Or at least kick it into his own apartment wall instead of someone else’s!
NAH. There’s nothing wrong with communicating. I’m not going to call the kid an AH either because he listened after you told him no.
NTA. Hallways are not playgrounds and he is interfering with your ability to enjoy the apartment.
NTA. I don’t think the kid is TA either but his parents might be.
Yeah they frequently just send their kids out into the hallway like almost daily without supervision
NTA. I’ve done the same when kids were kicking a ball on the wall & making my shelves shake.
NTA no ball in the house is a pretty universal rule lol at least it should be
NAH I’m sure he’s just looking for a safe place to play but his parents shouldn’t have sent him to the hallway. You have a right to want peace and quiet in your own home. Maybe leave a note first. If that doesn’t work, address it directly.
NTA
Not your problem that there is no park.
His parents can take him to whereever one is – or to a gym.
Report him to management and to his parents.