Neighbor in my yard: wwyd?

[Anonymous]

"Hey, it was nice seeing your granddaughter the other day. DH and I talked, though, and we're just not comfortable with others using our yard, especially when we're not home."

Then get a lock for the gate. Perfectly reasonable request, OP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You guys are really uptight. I would have no problem with the neighbors using my yard without asking. However, having a dog is a legitimate reason not to do that and I would talk to the parents

OP here. I guess the reason I find it so odd is that a playground is 2 doors down, with the same stuff we have in my backyard.

[Anonymous]

An older couple used to live next door to us, and they have a circular driveway that my son used to ride his bike in, when he had his training wheels taken off and didn't feel steady enough to go very far. When I saw he was doing that, I went over and talked to the couple and they gave their permission for him to do it. When DS #2 got a bike, he did the same thing. No problem. Then they sold the house, and another family moved in. DS went over and rode his bike in the driveway. The new owners came over the next day and told me they weren't comfortable with that. My response? "Oh, ok. Sorry!" The end. Just tell the neighbors it's not okay with you.

[Anonymous]

I'm confused. How old are his kids? How old is his granddaughter? Just ask him to ask first.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm confused. How old are his kids? How old is his granddaughter? Just ask him to ask first.

Kids in their 30s. Granddaughter 3.5.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do you have a fence? F not, then get one. ASAP. Very weird behavior.

Not 'Very weird' for an old who might have grown up when neighbors didn't spend their days in Bike retaliation, but were sociable instead, and beyond that HELPFUL.

It's trespassing without permission. And there is potentially huge tort liability. So the old fart excuse don't hunt.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you have to say anything, please decide to be polite, kind, respectful of your elders, sensitive, etc. Maybe he did not have permission to take the granddaughter to the park. Maybe he was staying close to watch a sick wife or waiting for his child to call. Maybe it is no BFD.

OP here. He is not elderly, he still works full time. I believe at FT Belvoir. And his kids were right there watching, just from their own yard. I introduced myself to them, they walked over to the fence to say hi and they seem nice.

He was weird to do this. Don't let anyone put you on the defensive about this - YOU are in the right Op. You are correct in thinking this behavior is abnormal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do you have a fence? F not, then get one. ASAP. Very weird behavior.[/quote

OP here. Fully fenced. He had to open gate to get in.

Whoa. That is unacceptable. Is this a power play? Bullying? A set up for a lawsuit?

[Anonymous]

This is really weird- especially if you have a fenced yard - which it sounds like you do.

Do you have their email? Of so, I would send a friendly follow up reiterating how nice it was to meet the granddaughter and that you'd like them to knock or text before coming over. You can word this firmly using the dog as the excuse while keeping the tone light and friendly. (Do not apologize!)

Hopefully, this is as far as this goes, but if it continues to be an issue, it'll be helpful to have the documentation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you have to say anything, please decide to be polite, kind, respectful of your elders, sensitive, etc. Maybe he did not have permission to take the granddaughter to the park. Maybe he was staying close to watch a sick wife or waiting for his child to call. Maybe it is no BFD.

OP here. He is not elderly, he still works full time. I believe at FT Belvoir. And his kids were right there watching, just from their own yard. I introduced myself to them, they walked over to the fence to say hi and they seem nice.

Have you ever talked to them before?

[Anonymous]

I'd worry about the liability aspect. He can sue you if he/kids get hurt, you know that right?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm confused. How old are his kids? How old is his granddaughter? Just ask him to ask first.

Kids in their 30s. Granddaughter 3.5.

Oh, ok. I was thinking they were other kids. Weird they didn't say anything, but maybe they had assumed you had given permission. If it is fenced in, that's bizarre. I could see it if it was just unfenced yards.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you have to say anything, please decide to be polite, kind, respectful of your elders, sensitive, etc. Maybe he did not have permission to take the granddaughter to the park. Maybe he was staying close to watch a sick wife or waiting for his child to call. Maybe it is no BFD.

OP here. He is not elderly, he still works full time. I believe at FT Belvoir. And his kids were right there watching, just from their own yard. I introduced myself to them, they walked over to the fence to say hi and they seem nice.

Have you ever talked to them before?

We have, they are our next door neighbors. We say hi, shared shovels during the blizzard this year, they came to a birthday party at our house. We aren't close--we don't have dinner together or anything--but we do talk.

[Anonymous]

Put a lock on your gate. Problem solved.

[Anonymous]

Probably a socially clueless person. I would drop it for now, and only tell them to stop coming in if you catch them at it a second time.