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What to do about children up until 2.30?

(22 Posts)
Sharina Sun 28-Aug-22 17:57:52

I went to stay at my daughter’s house and her home backs onto housing association flats. I couldn’t sleep because of children playing. This went on until 2.30 am. Not badly behaved, just noisy. I looked out and saw one flat with candles burning so went to have a look. In case the parents had passed out etc. I couldn’t get into the building but there was a takeaway delivery and a man fetched it in. As this was the only flat with lights on, I assume he was with the children. I was too far away to ask. I went back to bed but am a bit hot under the collar. What should be done? There was no wrong doing, other than disturbing peoples sleep but it felt so odd.

SueDonim Sun 28-Aug-22 19:11:38

Doing nothing is a good option. It’s none of your business.

Doodledog Sun 28-Aug-22 19:19:34

Why does the fact that they are HA flats matter? They must be very close to your daughter's home if you can see candles burning, though.

I agree with Sue that doing nothing is the best option. Just be glad that the neighbour didn't see you looking in and call the police. I think I would have if someone was looking into my house at that time in the morning.

Fleurpepper Sun 28-Aug-22 20:16:54

SueDonim

Doing nothing is a good option. It’s none of your business.

That is not fair. If kids, or anyone, keep other people up shouting and making a din, until 2.30 am, then you can't blame those who can't sleep for complaining about it. Going round and looking onto house is just not on though.

Allsorts Sun 28-Aug-22 20:21:29

If people think it’s normal having youngsters up until 2.30 am and making a noise I give up. Of course it’s your business but I would not go creeping about looking in windows, just ring and report it if they disturb you at that time. Think of all the cases of mothers and fathers going in holiday and leaving youngsters home alone. You don’t wait to an accident to happen.

SueDonim Sun 28-Aug-22 21:10:21

The OP says she was staying at her DD’s house. The noise may have been a one-off occurrence. If anything did need to be done, the OP’s dd should call the police.

paddyann54 Mon 29-Aug-22 10:32:24

I must be the worst mother,mine were allowed to stay up when there were family parties or even just the light nights my teens would sit on the pavement with friends and chat until midnight .
Its not criminal to let people live their lives their way.Its not an every day occurence so just put some earplugs in and mind your own business .
My GC often do this during holiday time with their friends in their garden they dont send out for food though they just raid the kitchen .

VioletSky Mon 29-Aug-22 10:39:50

I have heard a lot of people have had their electricity cut off because they can't afford the bills

Maybe that's why there were candles and the children were out of a normal routine?

Glorianny Mon 29-Aug-22 10:44:12

It's the school holidays children aren't restricted to timetables. They were just enjoying themselves. Buy some earplugs.

Hithere Mon 29-Aug-22 11:06:34

OP

Not your circus, not your monkeys

I recommend reading a book, watching tv, listening to radio, if you can't sleep

Callistemon21 Mon 29-Aug-22 11:09:20

Perhaps they were having a sleepover
When mine did that, I'd still hear them giggling at 3 am.

nanna8 Mon 29-Aug-22 11:14:35

Just thank your lucky stars you don’t live there and keep quiet.

Doodledog Mon 29-Aug-22 11:15:36

Callistemon21

Perhaps they were having a sleepover
When mine did that, I'd still hear them giggling at 3 am.

Yes, there are all sorts of reasons why other people's children might be doing something. Unless I had serious concerns based on far more than a passing visit it wouldn't occur to me to get involved in any way.

JaneJudge Mon 29-Aug-22 11:19:19

oh yes the dreaded sleepovers when they fall asleep at 7am in the morning...

VioletSky Mon 29-Aug-22 11:22:10

Oh not the sleepovers!

Ìm still traumatised

Sara1954 Mon 29-Aug-22 11:23:56

Recently my twelve year old granddaughter had a party in our garden, the girls all slept outside, I wouldn’t say they were noisy, but from my open bedroom window I heard them periodically through the night.
School holidays, beautiful weather, happy girls having a lovely time

PollyDolly Mon 29-Aug-22 11:25:19

Did you mention it to your DD to determine if it was a one off or a regular occurrence?
If it is a regular occurrence chances are that it has already been reported by closer neighbours.
As others have said, it might have been a random event, sleepover or family party etc.
You don't live there permanently so why stress over it. Leave it to the neighbours.

Franbern Mon 29-Aug-22 16:25:35

Oh my - sleepovers and the absolute need on those, to have food at unearthly hours of the night. Sounds very much like this was something like that.

Even back in my youthful days, long, long before the idea of takeaway was invented, it we stayed at each others homes overnight, a 'midnight' or thereabouts feast was part of the fun.

Do not know why they are called'SLEEP overs - it is usually the last thing that actually happens

Not a good idea to go creeping around in the early hours of the morning, looking into peoples homes and attempting to get into security closed buildings.

Glorianny Mon 29-Aug-22 16:46:51

When my eldest GC first stayed with me I thought it would be great fun to introduce him to midnight feasts if he couldn't sleep. (I blame an addiction to boarding school stories when I was young) Big mistake! He expected one every time he stayed. I haven't bothered telling the younger ones!

Doodledog Mon 29-Aug-22 16:54:18

Mine used to love it when I took a breakfast tray upstairs when I went to bed and they found it in the morning. My son had a bigger room at that time, and he would go and get my daughter, and they'd have a carpet picnic of cereal yoghurt and juice. We left that house when they were 5 and 7, and it's one of the things they always remember about living there. It was a treat for them, but it gave me a bit of a lie in, as I could hear them with one ear as I dozed, and knew they were safe.

AGAA4 Mon 29-Aug-22 16:56:52

May have been a sleepover party. Horrible things. Had to endure several of them. They were all like the Duracell bunny could giggle all night.
Let it go. May be a one off.

Grammaretto Mon 29-Aug-22 17:16:50

You don't say how old the children were Sharina Like you, I would be concerned if I saw young children outside in the dark in the early hours.
I might have asked them who was looking after them and why they weren't in bed
I might have got into trouble for interfering but it would give me peace of mind.
I have twice been confronted by a Mrs Angry and accused of all manner of things for pointing out that the DC in their care, were in danger and not properly supervised. I had the police round once but when I described the situation, I was let off! shock