How to tell friend enough is enough.

[chairtosofa]

I've been friends with someone since we were at school. Problem is she expects too much from me. I now have my own family and am very busy. How can I tell her I cannot run her errands etc and really get though to her?

Stop replying/answering the phone. This person is not a friend.
Work on your boundaries and find more balanced friendships.

U less there's about to be a huge drip feed that she in fact employed you as housekeeper/chauffeur, I have no idea how it's got to this!

Say what you said here
Please stop asking me for favours, I have enough on with my family and (whatever else)

Either she'll see her arse in which case problem solved or she'll realise she's been asking far too much of you and apologise. Again, problem solved.

Imo nothing short of very blunt ever gets through to this type

@chairtosofa

I’m so sorry, I think it’s deffo due a conversation she sounds totally dependent on you which really isn’t good when the two people involved have children.

Does she have any self awareness? If you were to point out her behaviour would she agree with you?

There are 2 mums at school who are like this. One of them got me to pick up a spare set of keys from her house to deliver to her husband at his work a thiry minute drive out of my way 9and the back again) before the penny dropped for me. I She still puts messages out on the class whatsapp saying things like ; 'If anyone is going to Ikea today can you message me?'

The other one the penny also dropped when she told me she had been called into an early shift at work so could I take her DD to school, and due to road closures which emant to went a different route I saw her coming out of her [married] boyfriend's house.

You have to stop it. Some people are very good at getting other people to do things for them. Don't be a mug.

Is she a narcissist?

Say no to everything.

God she sounds like a nightmare!

Seeing as you are still saying yes to some of her requests maybe she thinks you don’t mind being asked. I would tell her you don’t like being asked for help all the time. Just be firm and clear.

@dudsville

You don't have to wait for her to understand or agree with you stopping doing those things.

exactly. this basic fact is often overlooked in these situations. people get themselves tied up in knots about how are they going to tell a so-called friend that they can't/ don't want to do something. just because she might have problems does not mean that you are obliged to solve them. rescuing type behaviour is bad for both parties, except in extreme, very rare cases of real emergencies. good luck OP.