AITA for telling elementary schoolers they can’t wait for the bus on my porch?

A homeowner became frustrated when 4–5 elementary-aged children (6–11 years old) repeatedly waited on their covered porch for the school bus stop located at the corner of their property. The kids’ parents often remain in their cars until the bus arrives, yet the children still congregate on the porch—sometimes screaming—despite no permission. The homeowner has been especially protective this spring because a nest of house finches is located there; the parents already lost one baby, and the remaining chicks are nearing fledging and highly sensitive to disturbance.

During a rainy day, after discovering the children on the porch again, the homeowner calmly explained the birds’ presence, asked them to move to the sidewalk, and gave a stern look toward the waiting parents. Some neighbors and online commenters now question whether this made them the asshole for “denying shelter” to young kids.

‘AITA for telling elementary schoolers they can’t wait for the bus on my porch?’

The bus stop is public, but the porch is private.

The homeowner has a special reason for wanting them off the porch.

The interaction was calm but firm.

This situation pits private property rights against the practical realities of a public school bus stop located at the corner of someone’s yard. The homeowner has every legal and moral right to decide who may stand or sit on their porch. Trespass laws apply regardless of age—children are not exempt simply because they are waiting for a bus. The parents’ choice to remain in cars while their kids congregate on private property shifts responsibility to the adults, who should teach basic respect for others’ space.

The house finch nest provides a legitimate, non-arbitrary reason for enforcement. House finches are protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act; disturbing an active nest (even unintentionally through noise, proximity, or vibration) can cause abandonment or harm to chicks. The homeowner’s request was calm, age-appropriate (explaining the birds), and minimally disruptive—they moved the children only a few feet to the public sidewalk.

While the children are young and it was raining, the parents were present and could have supervised them properly or provided rain gear. The homeowner did not yell, threaten, or call authorities; they simply enforced a reasonable boundary to protect wildlife they care about. They are not the asshole. They protected their property and a vulnerable nest while remaining polite. The real issue lies with parents who fail to teach their children about private property lines.

Here’s how people reacted to the post:

Nearly all commenters supported the homeowner, declaring them NTA and emphasizing private property rights and parental responsibility.

Several responses focused on liability concerns and reinforced that the homeowner owes no shelter to waiting children.

A couple of comments kept it short and supportive.

Protecting private property and wildlife is reasonable when done calmly and politely. The homeowner communicated clearly, offered a valid reason (the birds), and enforced a boundary without aggression. The real issue lies with parents who allow young children to trespass while they wait in cars.

Have you dealt with kids congregating on your porch or yard during bus times? How did you handle it? Do you think parents should teach children about private property boundaries at a young age, or is it the homeowner’s responsibility to gate/fence? Share your thoughts or experiences below!