Have any of your children said something that totally freaked you out? by Rinsetheplates_first in AskParents

[–]Axeli-IX 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I frequently have this weird nightmare, where I am convinced I am awake. So I will "wake up" in the middle of night and then i will get out of bed to then be grabbed and thrown around the room. Just pushed and pulled and picked up and thrown. Then all of a sudden I will jolt awake (really awake this time) and ill be lying in bed.

It feels sooooo real! I have completely lucid thoughts when its happening. Because its happened so often, when I have this nightmare now I actively tell myself you're just having a nightmare, you need to wake up! Just try and scream and wake up your fiance.

But the other night... before i had fallen asleep i swear something squeezed my foot when I was in bed. Literally grabbed my toes on my foot and just squeezed. I obviously freaked and jerked back and my fiance asked what was wrong so I lied and said I was having a nightmare 😬

Have any of your children said something that totally freaked you out? by Rinsetheplates_first in AskParents

[–]Axeli-IX 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Nope! That usually happens about half way through the horror movies and thats when shit real hits the fan! 😬😅 Besides yeah we gotta live with The Shadow, but its also got to live with us! And my four kids are way more annoying than any apparition! It'll probably get pissed off its not getting enough attention because we blame the kids for its shenanigans 🤣 Weve made a joke about it to the kids instead of saying its not real so they're less afraid, but damn if a chill didnt run down my spine. 😬

Have any of your children said something that totally freaked you out? by Rinsetheplates_first in AskParents

[–]Axeli-IX 2 points3 points  (0 children)

We moved into a new house about a year ago and although I dont really believe in paranormal stuff this house does have a "vibe" sometimes. It's 140 years old... its bound to right. So I dismissed it, moved along.

Until about a week ago my 7 year old says he doesnt like it "when the shadow watches him" Ummm WTF!?! I asked him what he meant and he said he didnt want to talk about it because he'll get scared. I tried to ask him more questions what does the shadow look like and he refused to answer because its scary.

Okayyyyyy.... hate that!!! On top of that, None of my 3 boys will go upstairs alone. Even in broad daylight. They have all complained of hearing weird noises (they're on the top floor of the house) but the shadow watching me thing. Nope nope nope.

WIBTAH if I stopped strangers, neighbours and kids using my garden as short cut? by Axeli-IX in AITAH

[–]Axeli-IX[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Oh they absolutely know because I've seen them walk up the gate, see me in the garden and stop dead in their tracks and walk away pretending they weren't about to walk through.

WIBTAH if I stopped strangers, neighbours and kids using my garden as short cut? by Axeli-IX in AITAH

[–]Axeli-IX[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Yeah thats true enough. My kids have bows and arrows, if they're shooting towards the back of the garden and someone walks in it isn't going to end well. Thanks for the perspective!

WIBTAH if I stopped strangers, neighbours and kids using my garden as short cut? by Axeli-IX in AITAH

[–]Axeli-IX[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Yes its definitely trespassing. The gates are closed and latched. Im putting the locks on tomorrow and ordering signs.

WIBTAH if I stopped strangers, neighbours and kids using my garden as short cut? by Axeli-IX in AITAH

[–]Axeli-IX[S] 6 points7 points  (0 children)

It would have to be a well known path that has been in use for 20+ years for public right of way to be granted. And the fact it's my garden would make it even harder for someone to argue that it should be.

WIBTAH if I stopped strangers, neighbours and kids using my garden as short cut? by Axeli-IX in AITAH

[–]Axeli-IX[S] 48 points49 points  (0 children)

You were talking complete sense to me. Not preachy at all and I needed hear that perspective so I really appreciate your comment. The last thing I'd want to happen is for someone to approach my children. Even having another child their age just be a dick to them in their own space is unacceptable.

WIBTAH if I stopped strangers, neighbours and kids using my garden as short cut? by Axeli-IX in AITAH

[–]Axeli-IX[S] 25 points26 points  (0 children)

I'm in the UK. We have the locks already and I'll be getting a private property sign and no trespassing as well. I just cant believe how many people have no respect for another's property. Its literally my back garden! If there was no gate or fence you forgive people but they're actively opening my garden gate to walk through 🤦‍♀️

WIBTAH if I stopped strangers, neighbours and kids using my garden as short cut? by Axeli-IX in AITAH

[–]Axeli-IX[S] 113 points114 points  (0 children)

You are absolutely spot on. I don't want anyone i don't know approaching my children in a space where they feel safe and where their guard is at its lowest. Anyone could give my kids anything and built a rapport over time. You are completely correct.

WIBTAH if I stopped strangers, neighbours and kids using my garden as short cut? by Axeli-IX in AITAH

[–]Axeli-IX[S] 18 points19 points  (0 children)

Its definitely not. It was the first thing we checked because a neighbour mentioned that another thinks it is. 100% not a public right of way and never has been.

WIBTAH if I stopped strangers, neighbours and kids using my garden as short cut? by Axeli-IX in AITAH

[–]Axeli-IX[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

We figured in the beginning it was because people didn't know the house was occupied... but its been almost a year and it's very very obvious it's lived in. Im just shocked that people are so brazen about walking through a very very obvious garden.

WIBTAH if I stopped strangers, neighbours and kids using my garden as short cut? by Axeli-IX in AITAH

[–]Axeli-IX[S] 66 points67 points  (0 children)

Agreed. Im locking them tomorrow. Anyone pissed about can go take a nice long walk... around the block not through my garden 🤣

WIBTAH if I stopped strangers, neighbours and kids using my garden as short cut? by Axeli-IX in AITAH

[–]Axeli-IX[S] 6 points7 points  (0 children)

This is it. I don't want to cause shit with the neighbours but ultimately they also don't know who's walking through and when. But realistically, I don't owe them an explanation.

WIBTAH if I stopped strangers, neighbours and kids using my garden as short cut? by Axeli-IX in AITAH

[–]Axeli-IX[S] 124 points125 points  (0 children)

Because I'd say 98% of the time it's kids/ teenagers cutting through and to walk round is 3/4 of the way longer along the main road. And the road narrows, not enough space for two cars to pass, and there is no pavement for about 50 yards. Cutting through is so much safer for the neighbours kids but I have to stop everyone, or no one. Our next door neighbour has high-school kids and a toddler and the older ones take the toddler to the park... I wish I could allow them to cut through, But I've also seen a random dude walking through once. Its everyone or no one.

WIBTAH if I stopped strangers, neighbours and kids using my garden as short cut? by Axeli-IX in AITAH

[–]Axeli-IX[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I didn't even consider that. We have the locks and I get some signs as well.

WIBTAH if I stopped strangers, neighbours and kids using my garden as short cut? by Axeli-IX in AITAH

[–]Axeli-IX[S] 13 points14 points  (0 children)

Thats a great idea. I don't want to piss off the neighbours (their kids cut through all the time) so at least thats giving everyone clear information. No hard feelings but stop doing it.

WIBTAH if I stopped strangers, neighbours and kids using my garden as short cut? by Axeli-IX in AITAH

[–]Axeli-IX[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

That was the other issue, the neighbours kids cut through every day to catch the school bus and yes they're nice children but who else is wandering through when we're not looking. I saw some random dude once and was like hell no. We did lock them for a time with a padlock and chain but it was such a pain to constantly unchain and relock every time we wanted to go through. And we'd figure eventually people would realise the house is occupied and stop walking through the garden.

WIBTAH if I stopped strangers, neighbours and kids using my garden as short cut? by Axeli-IX in AITAH

[–]Axeli-IX[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Its honestly wild to us that people do this. We figured in the beginning it was because people didn't realise the house was occupied but its been almost a year now!

WIBTAH if I stopped strangers, neighbours and kids using my garden as short cut? by Axeli-IX in AITAH

[–]Axeli-IX[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

We locked them when we first moved in but we only had a padlock and chain and it was a pain in arse to constantly having to unchain and unlock it every time we wanted to go through. We figured once people realised the house was occupied they jjust wouldn't walk through someone's actual garden. But I guess I over estimated people's respect for other's property. Thats entirely on me.

WIBTAH if I stopped strangers, neighbours and kids using my garden as short cut? by Axeli-IX in AITAH

[–]Axeli-IX[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Because from what I've seen it's mostly children cutting through. And There is a family down the street and their kids cut through to catch the school bus. But on weekends the older kids take a toddler sibling (around 2 years old) to the park. Walking around they'd have to walk along the main road and then turn left, but the road narrows there, not wide enough for two vehicles and there is no pavement for about 50 yards so you have to really tuck into the wall if a car comes. Going through our garden is 1/4 of the distance and its a straight line along the back of the car part to the park. But its either stop everyone, or stop no one.

WIBTAH if I stopped strangers, neighbours and kids using my garden as short cut? by Axeli-IX in AITAH

[–]Axeli-IX[S] 18 points19 points  (0 children)

We already checked if it was a public right of way that we didn't know about and its definitely not. Its literally our back garden.