Here's the picture: 3 boys 1 girl, 8-9 years old riding bikes on the basketball court in Firmont park abound 2:30 this afternoon. They tired of riding and their attention turns to the basketball hoop. Standing on their bicycle seats, two of them grab the hoop, dangle from it and start to swing to see if they can tear it off the mount. I surprised them when I said to stop destroying park property. They dropped to the ground and started over again. I spoke to them three times with no regard on their part.

This is a very typical situation with children in our community. Little or no respect for others property. As I watched the little angles dangle and bounce from the hoop after being told not to a thought flashed in my mind. What would the parents, who have failed to teach their children respect, do if the kid fell backwards while balancing on their bike seat and smashed their head open on the concrete. They'd say, "LETS SUE THE NEGLIGENT COMMUNITY FOR CREATING A SITUATION THAT HURT/KILLED MY CHILD!" Then I thought what will those parents say when the community has to raise everyone's HOA dues because damages/repairs are out of control. They'd say, "LETS SUE THAT ROTTEN HOA FOR NOT PROTECTING OUR PARKS/EQUIPMENT AND COSTING US MONEY!"

I wonder what has happened to parenting that children find it acceptable to ignore adults and cause damage.

I can't believe you had to tell the kids 3 times to quit destroying property. That bugs! Those kids probably live on my street. We've had to tell these kids on numerous occasions to stop their destructive behavior. They practically ruined the trees in front of their neglected, weed filled yard. They were hanging on the trees (breaking limbs) and my husband had to tell them to stop. Their answer? "Oh, it's OK, we're just renters".

On another occasion I saw them tearing the lid off a trash can. I firmly asked them to stop and they just looked at me and smirked. Come on parents, teach your kids to behave properly! Don't even get me started on yard maintenance.

Unfortunately it appears there are many children in our neighborhood that aren't parented. I don't know how many times I've had to get after kids for throwing HUGE rocks at the ducks trying to hit them, or the kids breaking limbs off trees, etc. In almost every case, the parents are within 50 feet and choose to ignore what is going on. I am happy to hear that I'm not the only one speaking up since problems to often go ignored.