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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To think this is asking a lot?!

159 replies

Foodfrezy · 03/09/2024 20:51

Person A works 10 hours a day and drives.

Person B works 2 hours a day but doesn’t not drive.

B would like A to come and collect them after work several times a week, visit a family member and then drop them home.

This will be a 40 mile round trip for A in the evening after work when they’re tired (not to mention the extra time and petrol costs).

A said they can’t do this several times a week after work due to the time/cost etc

B is not happy about this. Due to the countryside location, B’s only other option is a taxi which they cannot afford. B says they cannot work more due to their mental health but because they’re self employed what they can claim via universal credit is very limited.

YABU: A should do the 40 mile round trip for B a few times a week

YANBU: B needs to fit in with when A feels able to do the 40 mile round trip or make their own arrangements to see family member.

OP posts:
Galoop · 03/09/2024 23:03

MonicaWalkaway · 03/09/2024 21:00

"Person B works 2 hours a day but doesn’t not drive."

What?

Sounds like Person B has a lot of free time, perhaps they can walk

aliasname · 03/09/2024 23:02

Person A is unreasonable for writing all this A & B nonsense instead of just saying ‘my brother’ and ‘my parents’

SandrenaIsMyBloodType · 03/09/2024 23:01

AcrossThePond has nailed it really. There is no reasoning with unreasonable people. They cannot conceive of a situation in which they are not the most important factor.
why does Person B think their mental health is more important than Person A’s health? Becoming chronically overtired and resentful is not a recipe for good mental health. Person B is asking far too much. They don’t understand this because they take steps to ensure they don’t do more than they can manage. It is completely reasonable for Person A to protect themselves in the same way. Just because you can manage more, doesn’t mean you can manage everything. You are aallowed a threshold for what you can do.

Gremlins101 · 03/09/2024 22:56

Obviously it is asking too much. But if person A agrees to do it, that's their own fault. Say no!

areallmotherslikethis · 03/09/2024 22:54

Cheeky fuckers will remain cheeky fuckers as long as there are dumbass people out there allowing them to be cheeky fuckers.

Say no.

Sugarsugarahhoneyhoney · 03/09/2024 22:54

B is extremely cheeky and needs to sort their act out.

whynotwhatknot · 03/09/2024 22:53

i have mh issues i still learnt to drive beause i didnt want to beome a burden

tell them to jog on

KekseKekse · 03/09/2024 22:53

AcrossthePond55 · 03/09/2024 21:49

B needs to learn that they cease to be the golden child when the parents are no longer around to facilitate it. A doesn't have to 'carry on the tradition' and is entitled to tell B and anyone else hassling her (or him) to GTF.

A is also entitled to go LC/NC if this is affecting his/her mental health or wellbeing.

OP, are you reading and taking in this?

Starlia · 03/09/2024 22:51

No is a complete sentence. You don’t have to justify your reasons.
Look I’ve had a variety of mental health problems and I’ve had to continue to work, drive, look after my kids and get help. I didn’t have a choice.
You need to establish some boundaries and say no, it doesn’t work for me.

RawBloomers · 03/09/2024 22:49

A few reasons I can think of that might obligate A, at least in part, to help with a solution:

  • If B’s living situation (i.e. in a rural location that makes transport difficult) is down to B to any extent.
  • If A is getting accommodation from their parents and their parents request it as part of reciprocation.
  • If A is responsible to any extent for B’s inability to function to a normal extent
  • If A is responsible to any extent for B’s lack of resources

Even if any of those (or similar) held true, that wouldn’t necessarily make the request as it stands reasonable.

Absent some sort of reason that indebts A, it seems like a totally unreasonable request that treats A as a tool to fulfill B’s desires without any reciprocation or consideration of A’s needs or desires.

So the question is - Is this post just a vent at B’s audacity, or is A actually entertaining the request? And if they are considering t - why? What pressure is being applied?
(And if you are A, OP, could you just say so? It’s awkward as fuck to talk about a situation like this).

RamonaRamirez · 03/09/2024 22:45

A clearly lacks boundaries and needs to learn to stand up for herself and cut loose from
person B a bit more

Tiredofallthis101 · 03/09/2024 22:45

I would be interested to know what mental health condition limits you (one) to working 2h a day. In my experience either people are too unwell to work at all, or well enough to work full time but potentially needing chunks of time off intermittently due to poor health.

I agree with a PP there's no point giving reasons why not. Just say sorry you can't. Then suggest other options for them. Cycle to family member, move closer, get a loan from family gor driving lessons etc.

PyongyangKipperbang · 03/09/2024 22:43

@Foodfrezy

I would start again, sack this thread off.

Wording I would suggest is

My brother is a lazy workshy git who cant drive because he cant afford it as he only works 2 hours a day. Could work more but wont. He expects me to pick him up after I finish my FT job (10 hour days) and drive him a 40 mile journey to see family members, several times a week. He is certain he is being totally reasonable in asking this.

AIBU to tell him NO?

BotterMon · 03/09/2024 22:41

B needs to take responsibility for themselves. Up their hours, earn more and learn to drive.

Crumpleton · 03/09/2024 22:36

Gosh I bet you can almost see entitlement oozing out of person B.

On top of asking to much
they're taking the piss.

Manxexile · 03/09/2024 22:36

If you are siblings why does B need to visit this "family member" several times a week when you - presumably - don't need to?

What is this special relationship between B and the "family member" that you aren't a part of?

Not that it matters, but how far out of your way do you have to go to pick B up and then drop them back at their home?

What B expects is obviously unreasonable. It's up to you what sort of resolution you propose. You could stop it altogether or say you are willing to do it once or twice a month, but no more. And you decide what days those will be.

Wheresthebeach · 03/09/2024 22:35

Completely unreasonable request

Treelichen · 03/09/2024 22:24

B can totally fuck off.

SoMauveMonty · 03/09/2024 22:23

This reply has been withdrawn

This message has been withdrawn at the poster's request

SoMauveMonty · 03/09/2024 22:23

A needs to say "sod off, B" and refuse to engage further. 40 mile drive after a 10 hour shift, regularly as a favour? Blow that for a game of soldiers.
No. Absolutely non.

AcrossthePond55 · 03/09/2024 22:22

@Foodfrezy

Posters have given a plethora of reasons to give B as to why you can't do what they want. But the problem with entitled people/golden child is that a reason that does not affect them directly simply does not compute. Costs you too much in petrol does not compute because it doesn't cost B anything. You are too tired after a long hard day + commute doesn't compute because B isn't tired after working just 2 hours. Any reason/excuse you give simply will not compute, so don't bother offering any. This is the exact situation in which the MN chestnut of "No is a complete answer" 100% applies.

You say no, they say why, you say because. No Why Because, No Why Because & repeat ad infinitum. I guarantee they'll get tired of it before you do.

ttcat37 · 03/09/2024 22:16

YABU for all this A/B nonsense when it’s clear who’s who and doesn’t matter

TheBottomsOfMyTrousersAreRolled · 03/09/2024 22:15

whippetwoman · 03/09/2024 22:08

I would explain to B that the stress of working a long day and then the dread of having to drive another 40 miles is affecting YOUR mental health and you will need to step back for that reason and you are sure they will understand given their own struggles...

I bet the sibling would just say how much worse theirs are.

BettyBardMacDonald · 03/09/2024 22:13

What exactly are B's mental health issues?

How can they live on 2 hours work?

Why did they choose to live rurally?

What age are they?

EwwSprouts · 03/09/2024 22:11

The passenger does not get to dictate when the driver is available.