WIBTA for spraying some kid with my garden hose daily after he walks all over our lawn?

A homeowner found an unusual way to deal with a kid who repeatedly trampled his lawn: hosing him down. What started as an act of frustration turned into an unexpected bonding ritual, but now his wife insists the practice makes them look ridiculous. Would continuing this playful routine make him a bad neighbor, or has it become harmless fun? Read the story below.

‘ WIBTA for spraying some kid with my garden hose daily after he walks all over our lawn?’

I (37M) live with my wife (37F) and son and daughter ( 9 and 11 respectively). Recently, there has been this kid who comes by our house after playing soccer and either rides his bike or walks over the lawn with his cleats on his way home.
It started out as me giving him stern looks whenever I saw him, then it slowly progressed to me asking him to just go around.

The last time I asked him to stop he made a point to stomp extra hard and twist his feet in to the grass to p**s me off. Since then Ive just been hosing him. The first time I sprayed him with the hose he ran off, but then for some reason he just started standing there while I hose him like he enjoys it. Its now progressed to me sitting on my lawn chair pointing my hose at him, and him just staring at me while he does so. Sometimes we even make small talk.

Im ngl, it started off as a really bitter relationship, but Ive actually gotten to know the kid quite well, we talk for maybe 15-20 mins everyday, and he doesnt seem to mind being hosed down after sweating hard playing soccer. He comes by daily and we just shoot the s**t while I hose him and he stands there for a bit. Wife told me I need to stop, even after I explained it to her she said Im making us look like childish idiots. I guess I could stop, but honestly its really funny waiting for him to come by and I see no harm in it. WIBTA?

Take a look at the comments from fellow users:

DearDorothy −  Ok this is hilarious. I was going to say you were the a**hole and get a fence, but I see nothing wrong with what’s going on now. NAH.

[Reddit User] −  I mean the kid sounds like kind of an AH. But I guess NAH haha. Kid is obviously deprived of attention and is weirdly getting something bizarrely meaningful from this incredibly strange relationship haha. Has he stopped trying to damage your lawn?

MagixTurtle −  Get another chair, ask the kid to come sit with you. That kid rather gets hosed down by a stranger than go home, something’s up.

OverAllTheThings −  NTA. He’s stopped stomping on your lawn but is still seeking you out as someone who will genuinely listen to him whilst you cool him off after training. The kid is showing his gratitude and you’re feeding that gratitude. It’s a sweet relationship and your wife should stop worrying about what everyone else is thinking and see it for what it is.

ShottySHD −  NAH. Still a better love story than Twilight.

darkstormchaser −  At the last place I rented we had a huge issue with stray/free roaming cats, in particular this huge ginger tom. He used to sit on the footpath at all hours and howl, setting off every nearby cat and dog. I started spraying him with the garden hose to make him leave, but the damn thing seemed to like it. I swear he even started coming by more often just to get a hosing. OP – are you sure this is a kid, and not a large ginger cat??

D_OShae −  NTA, and this is actually kind of sweet. When I was in my teens, I used to visit a small greasy spoon (diner) where my friend was a waitress. This old guy (late 70s) came in every day at the same time and sat in the same booth. He would order one of three meals. One time I sat in “his” booth doing some homework (and drinking a ton of coffee refills).

The man came in and told me — not asked — that I needed to move. I did. It happened again a couple of weeks later. He called me a little b**tard for sitting his both. A couple of days later, I did it again on purpose. He called me a little b**tard and told me to move. I moved my books. The man grumbled and sat down.

Over the course of about two months this scenario got repeated. Somewhere along the line I asked him about a ring he wore. The stories started to come out. I learned he and his late wife came to that restaurant for over 20 years to have dinner. I was sitting in her place. However, I kept asking questions, and he kept relaying his stories. This man lead an AMAZING life, and I listened to any tale he wanted to share. This went on for two years.

When he died at the age of 81, I went to his memorial. I met his children and grandchildren. When they asked how I knew him, I told them my tale. His children laughed because he called everyone a little b**tard, male and female alike. Then I began to recount some of the stories he told me. His children verified some, but then they heard stories he never told them. I ended up meeting with his children several times to tell them everything he told me. Mr. Banhke, I am not a believer, like I told you many times, but I still think of you and your incredible life. You are not forgotten.

passingbackwards −  What a wholesome, inter-generational friendship. I genuinely love this. NTA.

Shellbone23 −  This is ducking hilarious. NTA it sounds like you made a new buddy though, maybe try offering him something to drink? You know other than hose water while you give him a shower.. Soccer kid asked about bob: “Oh yeah bob he’s cool, always there to chat with and give me a shower after a hard practice. closest thing I’ve ever had to a dad”.

bluemercutio −  NTA I think that kid is probably lonely and enjoys your friendship. You could invite him to play another game on the lawn with you (frisbee or whatever)