Cheeky Encounter

Just to add, the wall is high so another reason I was startled to see them!
Am I over thinking this?

Not the way to ask anyway.

"Do you think he might..." "Would it be possible, please...." - a totally different kettle of fish.

But still an imposition in these times, or at any time really.

If it happens again, I'd mutter something about insurance and health & safety, and that you wouldn't want to be responsible even with parental permission.

He shouldn’t have asked you

You did the right thing, you might want to say No even when the pandemic is over or you are likely to have umpteen kiddies over every time they are next door

Flipping rude, I might have mentioned chances of Covid as they obviously broke the rule of 6 in their garden. But no is a perfectly acceptable reply.

He was insolent and you handled the situation well.

I'm very good at pretending I don't know what someone is talking about, and I would've reacted just like you!

What a nerve!

If you had let him come over, they would expect it every time they visit.

Cannot believe the cheek that some people have.

I suspect alcohol had been taken! Don't let it get to you. If it happens again stick to your guns and say you're sorry but you don't want the responsibility, or ignore it and change the subject like before. You don't want a queue of tots at your door in the school holidays begging for "a go".

You did the right thing. I'd have been very cross. Stick to your guns. Your garden is not the local playpark.

Nell8 I do too. It sounded like they'd had a jolly time. I do think he wanted to go on the trampoline himself!

Definitely cheeky.! Best wishes try not to think about it anymore. (Ps I would have & have felt like you but sadly people then take advantage)

what a cheek. you did right to ignore the remark. If the child had an accident on the trampoline you would have been sued

If you had allowed it the child would want to go on the trampoline every time he visited and before you knew it you would be running some sort of play area with you in sole charge and the parents enjoying a bit of freedom next door.

Next time, look at your watch and just say-OMG I am late and go indoors if you do not feel like telling him to bog off.

Of course you did the right thing, because of covid and as a general principle. Time to let go of it now, please don’t worry about your responses.

Sounds like it could have been the drink talking,but you did the right thing anyway.

I think you handled it very well. Blooming cheek on his part!

I have started a similar post about people being cheeky.

I was brought up to wait to be invited/offered and not to ask as it was cheeky!!

Covid aside, if you said yes, you could (as another poster said) end up being an unpaid child minder every time the child was around.

Thanks for all your replies and suggestions. I will be on my guard in future as I wouldn't be surprised if will try it again next time they have a garden party.

He was being very cheeky. We have a small gym in an out building and took the decision not to let anyone else use it on liability grounds alone. I'm sure the same would apply to a trampoline in your garden.

You did the right thing. He was being a bit pushy to me, why do some people think they have the right just to use other peoples things and speak to them how they like nowadays. Manners have gone right out the window.

If the child broke its neck who would be blamed?

Goodness knows what I might have said in the heat of the moment, but I doubt I would have been as restrained as AiryFlyingFairy. (In spite of our possible shared genes). I’d like to think I would have said “Yes, I bet he would. But no he can’t. And neither can you. Goodnight.” A bit a-la Basil Fawlty …

AcornFairy. Brilliant answer..made me chuckle.! ?

I have had this a couple of times. When I had neighbours with small children, I had a couple of asks of "can the children play with your puppy (hell no) and "can the children visit your tortoises" (again hell no) In both cases I just said "sorry that's not possible goodbye" btw this was some 30 years ago, its not a new thing.