The young couple living above me has two boys under the age of 5. They’re adorable but expend considerable amounts of energy running around the apartment. Is there anything I can do to halt the traffic over my head? —Carey H., Battery Park
First, the good news: With better weather right around the corner, these cooped-up kids will soon be exerting energy outside. Now the bad: Spring also means showers, and my guess is these tykes are not the MoMA-going sort. Rain or shine, the next time the upstairs Olympics begin, take a deep breath, put yourself in an empathetic state of mind and knock on their door. Be delicate — no parent likes to be scolded about a child. If your polite yet repeated requests fail to resolve the matter, you might need to suggest that they install a well-padded carpet. Frame that request not just as a measure for your own sanity, but also for the children’s own safety.
I feel like a grouch even bringing this up, but neighbors of mine often have friends over who leave their children’s strollers in the hall, making passage difficult. Am I wrong to be annoyed? —Ryan F., Upper West Side
Baby buggies should not be left unattended in a hallway where others must get by. End of story. Not only are the strollers a nuisance, but also a tripping risk and a fire hazard. I suggest you contact your building’s superintendent, doorman or managing agent. This does not need to be your battle. It is a matter of safety for you and all other residents in the building.
My daughter is taking piano lessons and — amazingly — is pretty disciplined about practicing. Problem is, we have neighbors who claim the scales emanating from our apartment are inducing headaches. How do I maintain good next-door relations while at the same time encourage my fourth-grader to keep up the good work? —Lauren J., Murray Hill
So your young pianist’s arpeggios are giving your neighbors agita? If this were an electronic keyboard, she could play while wearing headphones. Or, if she were learning to play the trumpet or sax, she could bring her instrument into a park. But a piano is not easily silenced, and it certainly can’t be taken into the more-forgiving great outdoors. Which means you’ll need to work out a schedule that respects both your neighbors’ concerns and your daughter’s excitement for tickling the ivories. Establishing a set practice time will help her form a routine, and will let migraine-prone building residents know when to grab their earplugs — or run errands. All that said, once your daughter has graduated from “Mary Had a Little Lamb” to “Rhapsody in Blue,” you might just find that her playing is met with a far more harmonious reception.
Next up: Garden variety: Planter boxes, ugly vines and ratty wreaths. Got a question? E-mail me at testingthemarketnyc@gmail.com or Tweet me @MisterManners.