Babies cry – it’s a fact of life, and something that most people can get on board with. Unfortunately, for US parents Jessica and Karl Ronnevik, their neighbour isn’t one of these people.
The couple – who are parents to one-year-old Peter, and are expecting again – have gone public with their story, after receiving a slew of complaints from their neighbour. And why? Because Peter cries!
The neighbour – whose name has not been released to the public – has not only complained the family to the Home Owner’s Association for noise violation; he also recently left a rather inflammatory note on their doorstep.
The Ronneviks decided to go public with their story, and shared the details of the horrible note with local news station Fox 8.
The note read:
“Please consider buying a parenting book, or consult with a childcare expert.
Your baby should not be crying that loudly and for that long.
Try more calming techniques, music, turn on a vacuum, rocking chair, go for a walk…anything!
Also, you might consider switching bedrooms. I have lived in The Mill for 15 years and never had neighbours as loud or disruptive.
If you don’t make changes immediately, you risk being fined by the association.”
You may think that being approached by the media would have made the neighbour reconsider his sentiments – but, in fact, the opposite happened. When asked for comment, he shared a powerful and cutting statement to Fox 8.
“It is unfortunate when parents are unable to calm their children. The impact of a baby who continually screams can be stressful not just for the parents, but also for the community near them,” the neighbour said, applying his ‘policy’ to restaurants and churches.
“After being awakened each morning and each night for the last several months (despite wearing earplugs), I was simply reminding the young couple of this, and encouraging them to take the matter more seriously.”
He went on to remind readers that there are ‘many different strategies’ that can be employed to ‘minimise the negative effects of a child’s meltdown’. Really? How helpful of him to share!
He also highlighted the fact that, while the note was an expression of his personal concerns, it also served as a reminder that ‘excessive noise’ is in breach of the House Owner’s Association’s rules and regulations.
“I stand by the note and its contents. I rang the doorbell several times before leaving it. Since no one came to the door, I signed it in case the young couple wanted to discuss the matter in person,” he added, branding their decision to approach the media as ‘immature’.
The Ronneviks, in response, have decided to move house as they prepare to welcome a new baby.
This is a very unfortunate situation, and we’re sure this couple are not the first ones to find themselves in it.
Has something like this ever happened to you? How did you handle it? Let us know.
