I live in a 2 bedroom third floor flat just outside of London. Its located on a private estate which has another 8 blocks of flats on it. Its not my ideal home, we have 3 cats who are all sharing the living room and then there is no garden for lily to go and play outside when the weather is nice.
We didn't plan to live here, it was a last minute "its better than being homeless" decision. I was living in a 2 bedroom flat which had a little patio area and a back garden which was shared but no one used it really. So why did we move? Well when I was about 12 weeks pregnant my landlord decided he was selling the block of flats and that I had 2 months to find somewhere new to live. Not ideal! Not only was I happy in the flat I was living in, I was now pregnant and had to try and find somewhere to live.
I didn't realise how impossible it was to find somewhere to live at short notice. No one wanted to take us, firstly I had 3 cats and was about to have a baby and apparently not many landlords like cats or children and we got turned down for a few places. Then I was also not working due to leaving my part time job in a bar. I couldn't hack the late nights until 3am with morning sickness (or all day sickness as I called it)
Before we knew it we had 2 weeks left to find somewhere and so we couldn't be fussy and we found this flat. It was way above what we wanted to be spending on rent, and wasn't ideal with the fact I couldn't let my cats out and it had no garden. But it was a roof over our heads.
The estate is quite nice though with the fact that it has loads of patches of shared garden space. But the rules are really strict and in the manual it says that the area isn't for playing on. Silly really. The grassy area just sits there empty and only thing that gets used is the benches that surround it. It also has signs up saying No Ball Games, No Skating. I'm very tempted to get out a marker and add "No fun" to the end of it.
The other day the sun came out and I had a hour or so before Lily's lunch and nap time. So I decided to ignore the rules and we headed out to the grass. Lily Loved having a good run around with her ball. What harm were we doing? None! We got a funny look by a older gentleman walking around. Who was probably on the managing committee and knew we were breaking the rules. But we ignored the stares we were getting from him.
We are planning to move as soon as we can, we would love to have a house and garden for lily to play in. But in reality the dream is great but very hard to make happen.
I guess for now we will have to keep breaking the rules and next time the sun is out I think a Picnic on that patch of grass is needed.
Would love to know what you think about the restrictions on children's fun? Have you spotted any silly restrictions in your area?
There is no restrictions near me but up near my parents we have the no ball games signs x
ReplyDeleteThat sucks that they're so strict on people not really being able to use the patches of grass which are around. Living in a flat must not be ideal for you so I hope you find somewhere new soon x
ReplyDeleteI'm lucky that there aren't any restrictions like that around here, and we have plenty of space for the boys to burn off their energy. But I totally agree with you - I have very fond memories of playing in the street after school and I always wanted the boys to have the same
ReplyDeleteI keep seeing no ball games signs all over the place - I don't get it? Surely if it is an open area children should be allowed to play. x
ReplyDeletei hate how kids arent allowed to play no more if they gave them areas it wouldnt be so hard
ReplyDeleteOh that is such shame! And you wonder why tweens/teens end up having problems - boredom is a devil! H x
ReplyDeleteI don't get why they have to be so strict it's unfair to keep children indoors in lovely weather.
ReplyDeleteThere is no need to be so strict! They should ideally allow an area for children to play! Xx
ReplyDeleteOh how terrible that there are rules like that! Move to the country - it's a free for all out here. :)
ReplyDeleteI kind of see where the rules are coming from. Ball games could cause problems in the future.
ReplyDeleteUsually its the no ball games sign that I see. I have no problem with ball games personally but I can see why the rules are in place!
ReplyDeleteWhen they say no ball games, I think they mean more like not having 20 kids playing football. A little toddler with a ball isn't going to bother anyone :)
ReplyDeleteYes i agree, but with the way some of the older people are in this building I think they would be like NO BALL games at all. I can understand why they don't want them, incase they kick a ball into a car, or window, but the problem is children should learn to be gentle with the ball in a place like this rather than just not be aloud.
DeleteI see what you mean about "no fun". I can see how they wouldn't want the field used for big sporting games, but I think a child playing with a few toys is fine!
ReplyDeleteAww first of all, isn't she adorable?? Precious moments like these are important and I think you did the right thing. :) I mean you live in a city, so people can't expect it to be all quiet and no noises. If they want that, they can move to a more rural area then! Or better still, you move to the beautiful countryside if you can. I mean it's a big difference between having your little one playing with a little ball on her own, than having 10 bigger kids kicking the ball and it's fear of breaking windows etc. She doesn't do any harm to anyone and I think that you've got a lot of good arguments if they say something when you're out with her again. :) Go for a picnic when the weather allows it and share it with us. :) Have a great time with Lily. :)
ReplyDeleteMookieslife
That's such a horrible set of rules when the flats don't have gardens to play in and there's that big patch of grass just stood there empty. I don't blame you for going down and playing there on a sunny day! x
ReplyDeleteWe have no restrictions in the culd-e-sac where I live, but the old lady across the way glares at my boys if they are even outside! Kaz x
ReplyDeleteThat's a shame but pleased lily got to have a play around. With so many people moaning that children these days just stay inside and play on the computer or playstation you'd think they'd lift bans like this in public places!
ReplyDeleteSounds like the people that own these blocks are real fun sponges! I'd keep playing on that grass until someone tries to stop you - what a waste otherwise!
ReplyDeletein our area they have a small cage which is where children are supposed to have their out door fun because there are no ball games on the MASSIVE field right next to it!
ReplyDeleteI think that if someone complains about your toddler playing with a ball, you should just brazen it out and say that it is not a game, it is a developmental exercise recommended by pediatric experts to build your child's fine and gross motor skills, as well as enhance their spatial and perceptive abilities. If you say this with a serious face and give them a scientific explanation of why young children are supposed to do these types of activities, they'll probably back down and leave you alone.
ReplyDeleteWe do have signs outside our house as there is a large green space been developed for ball games
ReplyDeleteI don't think I would object to a little girl playing -it's more the older children who have no respect for our property and garden !
We do have signs outside our house as there is a large green space been developed for ball games
ReplyDeleteI don't think I would object to a little girl playing -it's more the older children who have no respect for our property and garden !
Awww surely a toddler and a ball won't make a difference! X
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