New neighbor rant.

[Gidney N Cloyd]

So I find I have new neighbors in the house next door. I think they may be relatives of the elderly lady who was living there because I never saw a For Sale sign go up.
It's a couple in their mid- to late 30's and a 9 year old or so boy.
The kid hasn't made any local friends yet so he's been spending a lot of time in his backyard hitting a ball around-- specifically hitting a league hardball around with an aluminum bat in a neighborhood with modest-sized yards. 1+1+1=ball leaves the yard pretty regularly.

Over the weekend the ball landed in my yard or on my deck many times and the kid would climb the fence and retrieve it. Sometimes if he saw me he'd ask permission. Sometimes I would get the ball myself and toss it back. The parents were out there at one point and said jokingly "Guess we need a bigger yard" and I said "or a taller fence." Some lame exchange like that. I thought maybe now they might stop the kid since I tried to act slightly put out.

Next day, Saturday am, the kid's at it again. One flew a few feet in front of me as I walked into the yard. It rolls under the deck and I tell him it's out of my reach and his under there and he just lost a ball. Short time later, with a new ball and with my back to him at the far side of the yard one comes bouncing near me. I pick it up, walk it back to him and say "I can't have you hitting balls into my yard anymore. I'm worried you're going to bean me or my dog. Why don't you hit in the other direction for a while?"

I suspect he'll hit them my way again before long and I'll have to say something again. How do I go about that without looking like the neighborhood crank? And why don't his dopey parents do something? I really don't have a problem with him fetching his ball out of my yard once in a while but this is beyond the pale. And the hardball thing is just beyond stupid.

[AngryAmish]

1. I have to side with the kid there

Baseballs are meant for hitting. Lighten up and try to remember what is was like to be a kid.

[Darth_Kitten]

5. Kid doesn't pay property taxes.....

I remember what it's like to be a kid.....I played in a park.

Baseballs landing on human beings, pets could hurt. Plus, they can break windows, cause property damage.

I side with the adult. :)

[Gidney N Cloyd]

8. I remember what it was like to be a kid. In fact, I was just his age

at just about this time of the school year when I was a new kid.

The problems I have are with the frequency of the balls landing in my yard and the fact that it's a hardball coming off an aluminum bat in a fairly confined area.

[LynneSin]

10. Perhaps the kid should get a wiffle ball and bat

Because hardballs can cause damage to living beings and property. Perhaps the poster did not want any of that to happen and has every right to suggest something be done

[rustydog]

12. That is why er invented parks...

You don't continue hitting baseballs in a too small yard unless you don't give a crap about ruining others peoperty.

[MissB]

2. "Welcome to the neighborhood"

Instead of a basket of muffins, bring a basket of softballs or tennis balls or something like that. Include info on the nearest parks.

Let his parents know that you have a dog, and it is necessary for their child's protection and the dogs that the child not enter your yard without your permission. Let his parents know that their son could hit the ball in the opposite direction (away from your yard) as well.

[Darth_Kitten]

3. Why don't parents encourage their kids...

to go to a park or something?

Baseballs and people's personal space/property/etc never mix. :(

[BigMcLargehuge]

4. why not ask the kid to play catch with you

at least then you can control some of the ball direction, and it will keep him from thinking your a cranky neighbor.

[YellowRubberDuckie]

9. This is a good idea...

Pay attention to a kid whose parents are pretty much making him entertain himself.
Duckie

[Bunny]

6. Set up claymore mines around the perimeter of your yard.

That should take care of the problem soon enough.
















:hide:
Just kidding, of course.

[Blue Diadem]

7. Good luck my friend, I've had the same thing through the years

Real hockey pucks going through my garage window..dents from baseballs in my aluminum siding..basketball imprint on a newly painted hood of a car..ducking rocks, baseballs, and even a few golfballs.

I hope your situation doesn't get to the point of property damage because chances are if the parents don't care enough to teach their children respect, they aren't going to care if your place gets damaged.

[LynneSin]

11. Perhaps you should give the child a housewarming present

and do it in front of the parents too.



Give the kid a whiffle ball & bat and then explain to the parents your concerns about the small yards and potential damage to your property. Then get the phone number of where they kid can sign up for little league baseball for the summer. Seems the kid can hit a ball and he could make new friends playing some baseball.

[slide to the left]

13. Or a htting net

Or just an add to give the parents/ I played softball, my mom played and was a coach and I will be coaching next year. They make nets that you can hit into that are curved and tall. Tell the parents that they need to get one. To avoide being seen as a cranky neighbor, give them cheap seat tix to a bball game, even a aaa team.

[Gidney N Cloyd]

15. He has one of those tall, curved nets.

We called them pitch-backs when I was a kid.

[Shell Beau]

14. Well, I guess it could be annoying, but come on, the kid could

be up to a lot worse things. I'd let is slide for a while. He'll make friends and be out of your hair soon, I am sure.

[Gidney N Cloyd]

16. I plan to avoid making a big deal of it as long as I can.