A mother is confronted with a hefty fee due to her inability to keep her 19-month-old son quiet. It’s no secret that toddlers can be quite challenging; they resist sleep, make mealtimes a struggle, and often express their emotions loudly. The “terrible twos” are a well-known phenomenon, but one Australian mom, Lisa Thompson, is experiencing additional stress as she grapples with a potential $550 fine from her apartment complex if she cannot manage her child’s noise levels.
Lisa took to social media to share her frustration over a notice she received from her building’s management, which serves as the governing body for a multi-unit residence. The 33-year-old mother expressed feelings of being “harassed” by the apartment management, which threatened legal action due to complaints from neighbors about the noise coming from her unit. The letter indicated that her child’s shouting and screaming were disruptive, occurring from early morning until late at night.
The correspondence stated, “We have received reports of excessive noise, including your child’s shouting and crying, coming from your apartment regularly. This is disturbing other residents, and you are in violation of the building’s noise regulations.” The management urged her to “immediately and continuously” limit noise levels, disregarding the reality of caring for a toddler.
It’s amusing to think that someone could reasonably expect a 19-month-old to be silent. If there were a way to achieve that, Lisa would likely be a wealthy innovator living far from the prying ears of neighbors who seem unaware of how children behave at that age.
As Lisa anticipates the arrival of her second child in just over a month, she navigates the challenges of pregnancy while managing a toddler. “We are conscious of our neighbors and try to keep it down. We shut the windows, but what else can we do?” she explained. “We’re not throwing parties or making noise in common areas. Kids make noise; that’s just their nature. There are older children in the building too.”
While noisy toddlers can be bothersome, so can other disturbances, such as loud neighbors watching television or pets barking incessantly. Living in an urban setting comes with its own set of noise-related challenges, and expecting complete silence from a young child is unrealistic. It is unreasonable to penalize a pregnant woman because her toddler is naturally loud; this does not reflect her parenting abilities.
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In summary, a mother is facing a significant fine for her toddler’s natural noise level, unfairly pressured by her apartment complex. Living in close quarters can lead to conflicts over noise, but it is crucial to recognize that toddlers will be toddlers.