Why do some people think it's acceptable to make someone else late?

[WilburIsSomePig]

DD had a friend for a sleepover last night. Lovely lass, no issues there at all. I offered to take her home this afternoon as DD had a hospital appointment at 2pm and it wasn't too far out of the way. Her mum said that it would be better for her if she picked her up because she was going out this morning so there would be no one home and would pick her up on her way back.

I said that was fine, but that I had to leave home at 1pm at the very latest to get to DD's hospital appt. 1.15pm would have been fine, but I thought I'd say 1 just in case she was a couple of minutes late. She turned up at 1.25 pm, saying she had bumped into a friend and they'd gone for a coffee. Who the hell does that? I had rung her just after 1 and she didn't pick up, then again 2 more times, again she didn't pick up.

Luckily, I phoned the hospital at 1.15 to explain I had a problem and the lovely receptionist said not to worry and that the clinic was running almost an hour late but this woman would have no idea about that. She knew I had to go out, yet she still went for a cuppa with her mate, leaving her DD with me. Surely this isn't normal?

I hate being late, it's the one thing I really can't cope with and it makes me so stressy and anxious!

It’s upbringing imho. I was always taught that it’s v rude to be late and I’ve taught me kids the same. It’s just manners. Barring an accident or something of course.

that's really rude! Not uncommon though in my experience.

Well that's the last time you have that child for a sleepover

That's unacceptable, OP, and the mum knew it was which is why she ignored your 'phone calls. Unfortunately some people are just this rude and inconsiderate.

You will no doubt have some people come on here and tell you that being late just can't be helped and they will have a million and one poor excuses for it.

What you've described is just out and out bad manners and an 'I care only about me' attitude.

Everybody does this and it drives me mad. My dd’s best friends parents are always hours late, they are just in the house about 5 doors down the road. It doesn’t usually matter but they don’t know that I haven’t made plans. It really completely irrationally annoys me.

I see it as them thinking they're more important than you.

I would have left at 1.15pm for the hospital with both girls having texted the mum to let her know that she could pick her DD up from the hospital waiting room. I wouldn’t have risked missing the appointment just because the mum is a self absorbed inconsiderate twat. You have to admire her honesty sense of entitlement though, most people would have made something up like bad traffic!

OP I hate this too. I used to lift share with someone to work and she always made both of us late, I'd be waiting at the end of my road for at least half hour every day. It got noticed by management and she got pulled up on it and I didn't (thankfully) but I always remember how angry I was when she came out and confronted me saying I should have been in that meeting too and then got arsey when I didn't want to share the blame. Ugh. Late people suck, they have no thought for others.

KateMcD451 Yep, this is why I no longer accept lifts to work. I walk the 45 mins instead and that way, I know I will be on time everyday.

I would have left at 1.15pm for the hospital with both girls having texted the mum to let her know that she could pick her DD up from the hospital waiting room.

I was planning on doing this when she appeared. I didn't really want to tbh because I'd promised DD that I'd take her shopping and to Costa after and I wanted some time for just to two of us. Her mum didn't even apologise, I just kind of threw her DD's stuff at her and hustled her out the door!

@fayebentos Yes I ended up preferring a half hour walk, bus into town and then one out to work every day, at least if I was late it was on me.