Afraid I will get evicted because of my 4-year-old's tantrums -- what are my rights?

[Anonymous]

Take her to the car. You don't need to bundle her up. You are making excuses for not dealing with your daughter. If she is cold, oh well, maybe she will think twice before she throws her next tantrum..

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m sure that OP is legally protected, but she and we all know that she isn’t in the “right” on this topic. She is polluting a shared space because you created an untenable living situation for you and your child. You need to live somewhere you can afford that has enough space for the family that YOU created.

And that might mean leaving behind your walkable lifestyle and the school you carefully picked out. But it is the morally right thing to do.

If I was the neighbor I might be annoyed but morally I would feel terrible if I got a young family kicked out.

Second the suggestion of time in.

The neighbor is not getting anyone kicked out. OP is doing it herself.

[Anonymous]

I understand your frustration, but you seem more concerned about your legal rights than addressing the behavioral/discipline issues with your daughter.

And of course a baby is going to cry - your neighbor is out of luck there. But a 4 year old is old enough to understand that she has an element of control, and it is up to you to get through to her.

[Anonymous]

Our 4.5 yo has been tantruming like a banshee at bedtime lately. We’ve been trying earlier bedtime, lots of exercise during the day, a string routine, and meditation apps to no avail. I’m constantly worried our upstairs neighbors will report us to CPS or make a noise complaint. Weve been considering driving child to sleep like when they were tiny. It’s ruining most of our evenings and likely our neighbor’s as well.

No advice, tons of empathy.

[Anonymous]

As a renter in DC, you cannot be evicted for this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I understand your frustration, but you seem more concerned about your legal rights than addressing the behavioral/discipline issues with your daughter.

And of course a baby is going to cry - your neighbor is out of luck there. But a 4 year old is old enough to understand that she has an element of control, and it is up to you to get through to her.

+1. The neighbor deserves peace and quiet too. No one wants to pay rent to hear a four year old scream.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As a renter in DC, you cannot be evicted for this.

You can’t get evicted for excess noise? I think you are wrong.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We are raising two kids in a two bedroom apartment. Our kids make different noises than yours (not too much screaming, lots of bouncing, jumping, running). We do what we can to mitigate the noise level: carpeting, mats, we don’t wear shoes, respect the building’s quiet hours, spend lots of time playing outside - but we’ve had plenty of noise complaints from our downstairs neighbors.

Because we are following the rules on floor covering and quiet hours, there’s really nothing they can do but complain. As the building tells them, noises are a part of apartment living. When they talk to me directly, I’m sympathetic but kids are kids and there are some days, like today, where we just can’t get outside to burn energy. I did give them the name of the white noise machine we use during nap time. They haven’t complained in awhile so maybe that’s helping.

Anyway, keep working with your dd. Hopefully she’ll grow out of this phase soon. And good luck with the new baby.

Wow. You're almost as obnoxious as the OP.

Do you really think your neighbors signed up to live under a trampoline park? I have three little kids (inc two boys) and there's no way I'd be living in an apartment. And when we do trips somewhere, we demand that they're quiet in the rooms. Yes, even when that means we need to waste a bunch of time taking them somewhere to run around. It's part of being a reasonable person. You should move to the burbs where you have more space. You can't just inflict your kids on everyone around you.

If you know that "kids are kids" (said by lazy, entitled parents everywhere) then why did you decide to live in an apartment? I'm so shocked at the entitlement of some people. We held off on starting a family until we could move to a house for them. Even when it was a small house, and we had to give up a lot else in life to get it. It's what decent people do. Your reproduction decisions shouldn't constitute a societal problem.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I understand your frustration, but you seem more concerned about your legal rights than addressing the behavioral/discipline issues with your daughter.

And of course a baby is going to cry - your neighbor is out of luck there. But a 4 year old is old enough to understand that she has an element of control, and it is up to you to get through to her.

+1. The neighbor deserves peace and quiet too. No one wants to pay rent to hear a four year old scream.

Yeah, in California where it's also a very liberal state, the neighbors would just keep recordings and a logbook and take it to a judge. Same for other neighbor entitlement issues like barking dogs. I'm guessing DC would be the same.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We are raising two kids in a two bedroom apartment. Our kids make different noises than yours (not too much screaming, lots of bouncing, jumping, running). We do what we can to mitigate the noise level: carpeting, mats, we don’t wear shoes, respect the building’s quiet hours, spend lots of time playing outside - but we’ve had plenty of noise complaints from our downstairs neighbors.

Because we are following the rules on floor covering and quiet hours, there’s really nothing they can do but complain. As the building tells them, noises are a part of apartment living. When they talk to me directly, I’m sympathetic but kids are kids and there are some days, like today, where we just can’t get outside to burn energy. I did give them the name of the white noise machine we use during nap time. They haven’t complained in awhile so maybe that’s helping.

Anyway, keep working with your dd. Hopefully she’ll grow out of this phase soon. And good luck with the new baby.

Wow. You're almost as obnoxious as the OP.

Do you really think your neighbors signed up to live under a trampoline park? I have three little kids (inc two boys) and there's no way I'd be living in an apartment. And when we do trips somewhere, we demand that they're quiet in the rooms. Yes, even when that means we need to waste a bunch of time taking them somewhere to run around. It's part of being a reasonable person. You should move to the burbs where you have more space. You can't just inflict your kids on everyone around you.

If you know that "kids are kids" (said by lazy, entitled parents everywhere) then why did you decide to live in an apartment? I'm so shocked at the entitlement of some people. We held off on starting a family until we could move to a house for them. Even when it was a small house, and we had to give up a lot else in life to get it. It's what decent people do. Your reproduction decisions shouldn't constitute a societal problem.

Wow some of these posts are implying that op is causing the tantrums by 'only' living in a 2 bedroom apartment and that it is entitled to live in an apartment! All over the world, and here in dc, tons of families of 4 live in 2 bedroom apartments (or smaller). Apartment living comes with noise and if the noise is not in quiet hours (or unavoidable during quiet hrs like the sound of a cane or a flushing toilet) then tough luck for others. OP get some thick rugs and mats and then document if the neighborhor is harassing you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As a renter in DC, you cannot be evicted for this.

My guess is that the owner will find someone way to make you leave if you drive away the other tenants.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We are raising two kids in a two bedroom apartment. Our kids make different noises than yours (not too much screaming, lots of bouncing, jumping, running). We do what we can to mitigate the noise level: carpeting, mats, we don’t wear shoes, respect the building’s quiet hours, spend lots of time playing outside - but we’ve had plenty of noise complaints from our downstairs neighbors.

Because we are following the rules on floor covering and quiet hours, there’s really nothing they can do but complain. As the building tells them, noises are a part of apartment living. When they talk to me directly, I’m sympathetic but kids are kids and there are some days, like today, where we just can’t get outside to burn energy. I did give them the name of the white noise machine we use during nap time. They haven’t complained in awhile so maybe that’s helping.

Anyway, keep working with your dd. Hopefully she’ll grow out of this phase soon. And good luck with the new baby.

Wow. You're almost as obnoxious as the OP.

Do you really think your neighbors signed up to live under a trampoline park? I have three little kids (inc two boys) and there's no way I'd be living in an apartment. And when we do trips somewhere, we demand that they're quiet in the rooms. Yes, even when that means we need to waste a bunch of time taking them somewhere to run around. It's part of being a reasonable person. You should move to the burbs where you have more space. You can't just inflict your kids on everyone around you.

If you know that "kids are kids" (said by lazy, entitled parents everywhere) then why did you decide to live in an apartment? I'm so shocked at the entitlement of some people. We held off on starting a family until we could move to a house for them. Even when it was a small house, and we had to give up a lot else in life to get it. It's what decent people do. Your reproduction decisions shouldn't constitute a societal problem.

Likewise, the stick up your ass does not constitute a societal problem that parents are charged with solving.

You should move to a farm in the middle of nowhere if encountering other human beings bothers you so much. Don’t forget the tin foil and bubble wrap! I have a feeling you’ll need lots of it!

[Anonymous]

You likely won't be evicted. What kind of lease do you have and when is it up for renewal?

[Anonymous]

Your neighbors have rights too, OP. I feel for them.

You need to find a different way to deal with your child’s tantrums. Do not let her scream.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We are raising two kids in a two bedroom apartment. Our kids make different noises than yours (not too much screaming, lots of bouncing, jumping, running). We do what we can to mitigate the noise level: carpeting, mats, we don’t wear shoes, respect the building’s quiet hours, spend lots of time playing outside - but we’ve had plenty of noise complaints from our downstairs neighbors.

Because we are following the rules on floor covering and quiet hours, there’s really nothing they can do but complain. As the building tells them, noises are a part of apartment living. When they talk to me directly, I’m sympathetic but kids are kids and there are some days, like today, where we just can’t get outside to burn energy. I did give them the name of the white noise machine we use during nap time. They haven’t complained in awhile so maybe that’s helping.

Anyway, keep working with your dd. Hopefully she’ll grow out of this phase soon. And good luck with the new baby.

Wow. You're almost as obnoxious as the OP.

Do you really think your neighbors signed up to live under a trampoline park? I have three little kids (inc two boys) and there's no way I'd be living in an apartment. And when we do trips somewhere, we demand that they're quiet in the rooms. Yes, even when that means we need to waste a bunch of time taking them somewhere to run around. It's part of being a reasonable person. You should move to the burbs where you have more space. You can't just inflict your kids on everyone around you.

If you know that "kids are kids" (said by lazy, entitled parents everywhere) then why did you decide to live in an apartment? I'm so shocked at the entitlement of some people. We held off on starting a family until we could move to a house for them. Even when it was a small house, and we had to give up a lot else in life to get it. It's what decent people do. Your reproduction decisions shouldn't constitute a societal problem.

They did, actually. We lived here first.

As for us living in an apartment with kids, you don’t know our resources, priorities or our situation in life so forgive me if your judgments mean nothing to me. Yes, I do feel entitled to live in the community we have chosen with the family we have. We follow the rules, pay our rent on time and are good citizens. Even with the best intentions, there are sometimes conflicts. That’s where the rules come in. All I was doing was letting OP know that she’s not alone in dealing with this situation and to wish her luck as she navigated it. You know, like a decent person.