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Should I have my colleague’s four-year-old twins for an overnight stay?

203 replies

RoseMember · 29/05/2026 19:39

My friend (and co-worker) recently asked me if I’d be able to have her twin girls over night whilst she is at a wedding. They are 4 and currently in nursery/pre-school. Their parents have split and their father is sadly not very involved, has them when he feels like it, cancels a lot and most recently cancelled when he said he’d have them whilst she was on a girls trip away so she had to cancel her trip. She doesn’t have any close family/friends. We aren’t massively close but we do chat everyday, have lunch everyday at work and meet up occasionally outside of work.

Realistically it doesn’t sound like I’d struggle. I’d collect them from nursery after work which is a 3 minute drive from the office, go home and play/bath/bed. They have dinner at nursery.

My main concern is that the following day I am working from home (only a half day) and am not really sure how they’d do with that. It’s a Friday and I only have one meeting which I think will be cancelled anyway as the person who hosts it will also be at the wedding.

I haven’t said yes or no yet, just that I would have a think about it.

They are lovely girls and very bright, I have met them a few times and they know who I am so that isn’t a concern, but I don’t (yet) have any children of my own so am a bit dubious of saying yes.

anyone have any thoughts/advice? I’m trying not to let myself just say yes so she doesn’t miss the wedding.

OP posts:
pineapplesundae · 04/06/2026 22:14

As a single parent I vote yes, do it. The kids will go to sleep early but will get up early. Be an angel and say yes.

Squirrelblanket · 05/06/2026 07:18

My husband looked after our friends two daughters one night (while me and the friend went on a spa trip😂).

We have no kids and they were about 6&7 at the time. It was totally fine, obviously routine went out of the window. He took them to McDonald's and a petting farm and they had pizza and a movie in the evening, let them stay up late listening to Taylor Swift. Apart from one hairy moment when one had a tantrum because he wouldn't buy her a £20 toy at the gift shop it passed without incident. The girls loved it and still talk about it now.

We were much more relaxed than him the next morning though. 😂

Browbeeton · 05/06/2026 07:45

You sound lovely OP, and clearly have your head screwed on.
I think all the options you are considering sound workable.

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