saturday morning, our lovely upstairs neighbor came downstairs complaining that our kids were too loud. well, yes, isaac hit me. and what did i do about it? put him in time out since that is one of our family rules. he screams in time out. i think most NORMAL 2 year olds do. so there he sat, screaming his head off. it was 8:30 AM on a saturday morning. sorry neighbor, but i'm not going to stop disciplining my kids because you are trying to sleep. it's 8:30. it's not 5 AM or 6 AM. 8:30. suck it up. i was mad. tyler was nice (i was in the back room) and said he was sorry and that we'd try to keep it down. well, monday, i got a call from our managers office saying the people upstairs complained that our kids screamed and yelled too much and our neighbors below us (yes, we are cursed to be on the MIDDLE floor! UGH!) were complaining that our kids were running up and down the hallway and jumping. um, okay. are my kids weird or does anyone else's kids (ESPECIALLY BOYS) run and jump and skip and hop everywhere. i was livid. i told the manager that i had three kids, under the age of 5. i said it's loud sometimes (should have said all the time). i told her that the neighbor earlier that morning had been stomping all over the floor when my kids had a friend over (and they were being loud). but it was 11 AM! her response, "well, we all have different schedules. it could be the middle of the day for you, but someone else's middle of the night." i said, "that's true. i understand that." but comon! do i have to cater to every walking person and live their schedule too???? i can't keep my kids mouths duct taped and strap them to a chair... or maybe i could...? IF I WANTED CPS TO STEAL THEM!
tyler went upstairs a few nights ago to ask the neighbor what their schedule was so we could try to be more quiet while they were home. he said, "well, it's mostly just the weekends. we try to sleep til 9 and we can hear everything in your apartment going on." 9:00? ARE YOU FREEKIN KIDDING ME? okay, i can totally understand they want to sleep. but why does our apartment complex have quiet hours from 10 PM til 8 AM if i HAVE TO KEEP MY KIDS QUIET ALL DAY LONG! he tried to talk to the neighbors downstairs (who, by the way watch movies and listen to loud music at all times of the day and night). they refused to answer their door. he could hear them inside, and they were watching a really loud movie. even bigger UGH!
i am already a nazi mom. i feel like i'm on my kids back ALL THE TIME for EVERYTHING. well, now i'm the biggest, most annoying nazi mother that exists! SERIOUSLY! i am realizing how much my kids run, jump, yell, stomp... i am CONSANTLY telling them not to do these things. i am mean. i am turning meaner! (i know it's not a word). and mostly, i am STRESSED! i am stressed i'm going to get another call from the manager. stressed that i'm bothering the people upstairs or downstairs. stressed that i have to live in this dang apartment complex ON THE MIDDLE FLOOR. curse it all! i am so mad.
so i know this is the longest post on creation, and if you've made it this far... please!!!! some advice!!!! i am begging you... what do i do? i am seriously going to lose it here... and i'm losing it on my kids all day long now (when it only used to be 3/4 of the day). so if you have any advice... please. enlighten me! and if i'm being much too rude about my neighbors and insensitive to their needs, i guess you can say something in a really nice way about it. but watch out. you might get your head chopped off if you aren't super nice about it.
okay. i'm out. gotta go grab a birthday present for a birthday party today... oh, and do the dishes that are up to my ceiling in the next room. :) i swear i'll post pictures soon of what we've been doing.
15 comments:
I totally understand because we were in that wretched apartment in Arizona with the thinnest walls, floors and cielings ever. I say, let your kids be kids. They can't kick you out for letting your kids play. If they insist, tell them you can hear their music and movies all the time. I know it's stressful, but everyone will be happier if you get to stick to your own schedule. Your kids are in bed early, you and Tyler are quiet, don't worry about it. I know it's a stinky situation, but it will get better. Like I said, they can't kick you out for having kids who get up early and have to go on time out at 8:30. I've put Mikey on time out at 6:30 before. Your neighbors should be glad we don't live there. Good luck!
I think your neighbors are being a little dramatic. Part of living in an apartment is knowing that there are lots of neighbors within close distance, so your neighbors have nothing to really complain about. I say let your kids keep doing everything that normal kids do! Good luck!
well since they allow couples with children to live in the middle and top floors then they really cannot say too much. Yes children are loud and you do not realize how often they do run to different rooms than walk until you have one of your own. Sorry I have no good advice cause i would not wanting to be telling them all day long to walk and be quiet cause that would drive me crazy and then they cannot play. Try moving girl. Do you plan on staying there the whole time you live in washington?
Ugh. I feel for the neighbors. I really do. I'm sure it's frustrating for them. But realistically, they have another option. MOVE SOMEWHERE ELSE. It drives me crazy when people who live in APARTMENTS complain about noise. If you don't want to hear your neighbors kids on occasion, or hear their footsteps, or hear their cupboard doors open and close every now and then...THEN DON'T LIVE IN AN APARTMENT!!! Buy a house! Or rent a house! But you have to expect to HEAR things and have complaints if you rent an apartment. My advice? Treat your kids the way you would if you lived in a home. Teach them to be courteous of others and as quiet as kids can be. But let them be kids and keep your sanity. Take the added frustration out on your neighbors. Let them know you are honestly and sincerely doing everything you can, but under the circumstances, it's not going to resolve the noise issue and you need them to be understanding. They can buy earplugs to sleep in until nine. In fact, go buy them some yourself! Ha ha ha!! That would be great!! Best of luck with the lame neighbors. :(
P.S. Remember back in the day at University Courtyard in Rexburg when we all got that message about young newly married couples having "healthy relationships" and we were all asked to keep it down in the bedroom?? Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!! That was awesome.
P.S.S. My comment is about as long as your post. Nice.
9 AM, come on! I'm so sorry that you are dealing with that. I HATE apartment living. We were downstairs and heard the neighbors (we called them rats because that's what they sounded like) all the time. We never complained because we knew that that's just the way it goes when you live in apartments. Really, you can try to keep it down, but don't change just because your neighbors want to sleep in until 9 AM. Tell them to get a noise-making fan if they really can hear everything. Some people are retarted... (not you of course, just your neighbors)
I am sorry! My son is 2 and a half and TRUST ME, I know how you feel. It is almost impossible to keep kids around that age from yelling, jumping, screaming, throwing fits.....You can only do so much when you discipline. Boys will be boys! Hopefully you dont have to be in an apartment too long. Your neighbors sound a little hypocritical because I bet they make a good amount of noise too. Bottom line, it's an apartment and you are bound to hear our neighbors!
Id have to say...
"So let them be little, 'Cause they're only that way for a while.
Give 'em hope, give them praise,
Give them love every day.
Let 'em cry, let 'em giggle,
Let 'em sleep in the middle,
Oh, but let them be little."
I think that you should keep your sanity...let your neighbors loose theirs instead! Kids are Kids only for a short while...THey make noise,cry,scream,jump and play... let them...During the day. At night between the 10-8 quiet times of the complex keep em quiet.
If your neighbors want a complex that has quiet time til 9...then they can go find one!
i think your neighbors are CRAZY. kids are kids.... if they like it or not!! i don't blame you for being mad, I would be too! good luck!
I think you should bake some cookies and have the kids deliver them so your crapy neighbors can see how adorable they are and then tell them to GET A LIFE! They obviously don't have children, and I pitty the kids when they do have them-they will not be perfect angels that is for sure. Kids that have to sit still and not make any noise are not real kids! Good Luck.
Hey Tiff! (yes i read your blog from time to time!) So we live in an apartment, no kids...but our neighbors are always loud...loud music, loud movies...and guess what...we NEVER complain because IT'S AN APARTMENT! Noise comes with the territory. Your neighbors need to suck it up. My only suggestion would be to kill them with kindness?! I think giving them earplugs, and maybe a batch of cookies MIGHT go a long way! Hey, Christmas is right around the corner! Try not to let it bother you too much...You have every right to LIVING as they do! Kids will be kids...Good to see you're doing well (otherwise)!
Hey LOL!! Dan even read the entire story! I hear your voice and it is great! Don't have much advice...I think the duck tape would be a bad idea! Good luck and sorry you got such lame anti-family neighbors!
tell them to get a freakin sound machine....seriously...we had neighbors below us with a baby that cried non-stop...but we never heard a thing while we slept thanks to the sound machine.
I know it's probably hard to not worry about it but really what is the worst possible thing that can happen? Your neighbors move? That's not so bad!
Hello I'm a lurker so I hope you don't mind me commenting.
I think all this advice is great but I would also keep note of the dates and times you hear loud music / movies from the other neighbours. Just a quick notation so you can rationally state (and have times and dates to back it up) to the Manager that the noise is a two way thing. Good luck with it all.
Post a Comment