Who knew you needed a permission slip to climb a tree?

Julia Holcombe's sons Ryan and Patrick, both 12, often climb trees with their friends after school in Yardley, Pennsylvania. But last week, a buzzkill adult put a damper on their fun.

According to Ryan, the man — a stranger — approached the kids as they played, then immediately told them to get out of the tree they'd scaled.

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Ryan and Patrick in a tree.Credit: facebook/julie walsh holcombe

"I've been watching you climb this tree after school for a while, and even sent a security guard over to talk to you, but you were being evasive of the officer," the man said.

According to TODAY Parents, the man was concerned the boys would fall out of the tree, injuring themselves and putting their school at legal risk.

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But Julia thought that was a little ridiculous — so she wrote her kids a permission slip.

"My children have permission to climb any tree they so desire," she wrote. "In fact, I encourage it, whenever and wherever they can, for as long as they both shall live."

"I can think of few things better than knowing they are spending their time playing outside in the fresh air, taking advantage of the beautiful playground that nature can provide, getting exercise, using their imagination, chatting with their squad of friends, all while climbing a tree," she continued.

She also gave Ryan and Patrick permission to pick up sticks and play unsupervised sports, just in case.

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