Mum receives petty letter from her neighbour complaining about daughter's voice

09 January 2024 , 13:54

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Mum Allison shared a screenshot of the text (Image: Facebook)

Disputes between neighbours are common enough - but what do you do when a person takes issue with the sound of your child's voice?

That's the dilemma facing one woman, who has asked the internet for help about receiving a text message regarding a noise complaint. Sydney mum Allison has lived in her home in Australia with her family for the past five years - and for all that time, she says, she has been 'harassed' by her neighbour.

"We've had enough of her now," Allison said in a post to a local Facebook group, via kidspot, sharing a screenshot of the latest text message complaint she received.

The neighbour mentioned her daughter (Facebook)

The text from the neighbour reads: "Hello, I just wish to say your daughter woke me up last night. I saw through my window your father getting into the vehicle very late last night. Her voice is high and loud. I hear her a lot. It would be appreciated if after 9pm she could be quiet as i go to bed around then."

Admittedly she had "lost her cool", the mum took to the group to ask for advice. "What would you do?" she said. "How can I complain about my neighbour? We live in a townhouse and share a wall."

'I don't want children staying up late at weekends - I really need adult time'

Fellow parents were quick to show their support and offer up their own suggestions for a reply. "Thanks for your message. I'll let my child know they are inconsiderate and carry on being a good mum," one said.

A second added: "Hello, I just wish to say, your constant nagging via messages is starting to frustrate me. As I'm sure you can appreciate, my daughter is four and is just being a normal child. It would be appreciated if you would stop messaging me, as a mum with a loud child I am very tired (as I'm sure you can imagine) and don't have the time or energy to care," one person suggested, adding, "If she doesn't get the hint after that, she never will."

Others suggested a passive-aggressive approach. "Purchase her a pair of earplugs and a box of chocolates with a note that says, 'I'm very sorry for the disturbance, this is one consideration that people shall take into account when deciding to live in adjoining premises, you mightn't be aware that children under five don’t have impulse control, so please accept these earplugs with kindest regards as I am sure as you are an adult, you are far more considerate than my impulsive four-year-old and are capable of plugging them in."

Another reader thought she should keep things short. "I would reply, 'k', then continue living my life. Seriously, what a waste of space."

Do you agree? Let us know what you think in the comments.

Gemma Strong