A mother is facing a hefty fine for her inability to keep her 19-month-old silent.
Let’s face it, toddlers can be little rascals. Anyone who’s ever had to deal with one knows the struggles: getting them to nap is like trying to catch smoke with your bare hands, meal times can turn into a battlefield, and they seem to cry over absolutely nothing. The “terrible twos” exist for a reason, and if you’re navigating that stage, consider yourself lucky that you’re not in the shoes of this mom threatened with a $550 penalty if she can’t hush her little one.
In an astonishing turn of events, an Australian mother named Lisa Johnson took to social media to express her frustration over a letter she received from her apartment complex, or “strata” as it’s called down under. The 33-year-old feels “harassed” by the strata company, which has warned her that unless she can rein in the volume of her toddler, legal action will be taken against her.
The letter detailed complaints from neighbors about the “shouting and screaming” coming from her apartment from sunrise to sunset. “It has been reported that excessive noise, specifically your child shouting and screaming, is emanating from your apartment at all hours. This is disturbing to other residents, and you are in violation of the strata scheme by-laws,” it stated.
The letter went on to demand that she “immediately” control her child’s noise levels, as if toddlers come with a mute button that can be activated at will. If only it were that simple! If Lisa could bottle up a method to quiet a 19-month-old, she’d probably be a millionaire living in blissful solitude, far from the complaining neighbors.
Adding to her stress, Lisa is expecting her second child in just a few weeks. Anyone who’s been pregnant while wrangling a toddler knows it can be a unique challenge. “We’re mindful of the fact that we live in a city with neighbors. We keep the windows closed. I don’t know what else to do,” she explained to News.AU. “It’s not like we’re throwing parties or letting him run wild in the common areas. He’s just a toddler, and there are other kids in the building who are older.”
Yes, noisy toddlers can be a handful. But so can that one neighbor who blasts their morning game shows, the dog that won’t stop barking down the hall, and the person who thinks their at-home Zumba class is a public performance. Living in the city means dealing with noise from all sides, and expecting a mother to completely silence her toddler is a bit much.
Stressing out a woman who is nine months pregnant because her child is loud is simply unreasonable. While some noise is undoubtedly annoying, it doesn’t make Lisa a bad mother, and it certainly shouldn’t warrant a court case or a fine.
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In summary, a mother in Australia is facing a potential $550 fine from her apartment complex for her inability to silence her rambunctious toddler. The situation highlights the challenges of living in close quarters with others, especially while raising young children. It’s a reminder that parenting is tough enough without added pressure from neighbors.