A Park Slope resident complained to a neighbor in an anonymous letter that the neighbor’s young kids were playing in the garden too loudly and that their parents were encouraging them.
This month, the letter was posted on the Park Slope Moms Facebook page.
‘Dear neighbors, I am an editor and writer who lives across the backyard fences from you,’ the neighbor says, sort of introducing themselves.
Most of my labor is done in my garden. I spend a big portion of my days outdoors during nice weather.
The author continues by claiming that they had spent 30 years living in affluent Park Slope, routinely rated as one of the best areas in New York to raise kids.
Apart from sporadic celebrations, they claim it has been peaceful.
“On these brownstone blocks, each of us lives within 50 feet of a dozen neighbors,” the letter reads.
The majority of the residents on this street seem to agree that we have a responsibility to show concern for our neighbors when we are in our yards.
One way we demonstrate our regard for one another is by limiting the amount of noise that is distracting.
The average household income in Park Slope, one of the wealthiest areas in New York, is $236,720 for homeowners and $129,570 for renters.
The tone of the letter rapidly becomes sarcastic: “You may not have noticed, but often frequently you are the only household within earshot generating a significant amount of noise outside.”
‘When you are in your backyard, please be conscious how readily your voices carry into your neighbors’ yards,’ the neighbor advises the family, offering useful recommendations for how they can be more considerate of people who live nearby.
Another recommendation is for parents to speak more softly to their kids when they are outside playing.
I understand that you want to encourage your children in everything they do, but please hold back on your cheers and shouts.
The parents are cautioned to monitor the volume of their own conversations.
Please limit the volume of conversations between neighbors across fences, requests the neighbor.
Near the conclusion, the complainant begins with a more considerate statement: “I know kids need to be kids, but please control your girls’ yelling and shouting.
“There are additional options you can choose from to harness your kids’ naturally raucous energy without having it echo through neighboring backyards.
Take them outside, go for a walk, or bring them to a playground or park where they can act however uninhibitedly they choose.
The poem concludes by praising Park Slope residents: “Your family is absolutely entitled to enjoy your garden; it is one of the joys of living in Park Slope.
“Let’s all recommit to doing that in a manner that strikes a balance between our own desires and those of our neighbors.
“While noise is an inescapable part of urban life, I think we can all agree that our homes are our personal havens in the city and that we’re all entitled to their quiet enjoyment,” it reads in its conclusion. With respect, your neighbors.
The mother who shared a picture of the letter in the Facebook page and identified her kids as being 2 and 4 years old insisted that she does yell at her kids to obey to the point where she feels horrible about it.
They’re telling me to quit praising them so loudly, the mother wrote. Which gave me today’s lift exactly what I needed.
I have to shout to get them to stop injuring or murdering each other, she said in jest. She then requests input from the group’s other members.
The mother added that she felt horrible right away after receiving the letter, but that she now feels conflicted because other neighbors expressed their displeasure once she shared it with them.
Additionally, she shared it on her Instagram Story, where she received at least 100 encouraging comments.
Unsurprisingly, when the statement was posted to the Park Slope Moms page, it did not go well.
It’s a nicely written letter, but screw them, one mother wrote.
The mother continued by saying that the neighbor who was complaining had the option of working somewhere else.
‘F**k them and keep whooping and chanting words of support,’ another poster added.
One mother said, “How nasty,” that the complainant had not signed the letter.
Along with that, she advised: “Go out and get your kids some musical instruments, and invite the neighbors over for band practice.”
The New York Post reported in August 2021 that one elementary school in the area lost one-third of its enrollment as a result of the Covid-19 outbreak, despite being named one of the greatest neighborhoods for families.
Parents in Park Slope even served as the inspiration for two humor pieces: “Park Slope Parents’ Fight Club” in the New Yorker and “The 20 Most Annoying Things About Being a Park Slope Parent” on Buzzfeed.