Nudge your neighbours about noise

The following column was originally published in 2015, before the pandemic.

Dear Annie: How do I tell my neighbours that it’s annoying and frustrating to listen to their teenaged daughters shrieking and screaming as they’re having fun outside?

Often, I want to go out and play with my dog, but I can’t because these girls are behaving like five-yearolds, screaming their heads off. There are things I need to do outside, but the noise makes it impossible. And it’s horrible to have to listen to it inside, as well.

Their mother says she doesn’t like to interfere with the girls when they’re having a good time. Well, they may be enjoying themselves, but the rest of the neighbourhood is not.

I don’t want to be offensive, rude or hurt my neighbours’ feelings. These parents and their girls are sweet, good-hearted people, but it seems that the discipline and consideration for others is simply not there. I don’t want the girls to stop having fun. I’d just like them to keep other people in mind, too. But trying to tell someone else how to discipline their kids is a very delicate subject.

This has been going on since the weather has warmed up. I can’t even entertain outside because of the shrieking. Please help, Annie.

A Frustrated Neighbour

Dear Frustrated: You say your neighbours are sweet and good-hearted. Surely they would not want people to think their children are so annoying and disruptive. There is nothing rude or hurtful about saying to your neighbours, “We’re happy the girls are having such a great time outside, but we would deeply appreciate it if they could tone it down a bit. I’m sure they don’t realize how loud they are.”

Unless they are breaking some local noise ordinances, there isn’t much more you can do. But you can repeat to yourself that “this, too, shall pass.” Soon enough, those shrieking teenagers will be off to college (or adulthood) and this will no longer be a problem. Until then, you might want to invest in some noise-blocking headphones and a fan.

Dear Annie: Two of us work with a woman in our office who sleeps propped up at her desk. She snores lightly and wakes herself up numerous times.

We have spoken to her about this, to no avail. We don’t want to tell the boss and get her into trouble. But as you can imagine, it is both irritating and distracting. How should we handle it? Very Frustrated

Dear Frustrated: Your co-worker is not getting enough restful sleep at night. She may be burning the candle at both ends, or she may have a sleep disorder. Suggest to her that she see a doctor immediately because you are worried about her.

And please don’t feel guilty about reporting her to the boss. She is sleeping on the job, which affects your ability to work and the company’s bottom line. But more importantly, she may have a serious health issue that should be addressed, and that is how you should approach it — with genuine concern

Annie’s Mailbox is written by Kathy Mitchell and Marcy Sugar, longtime editors of the Ann Landers column.