... to think this couple are extracting the urine?

[PreviouslyonLost]

I work mainly part-time, DH works off-shore. Two DC, no family nearby to help out but we manage. Our eldest DC is due to start Primary School and will only be in until noon for several weeks. To accommodate this I have used the majority of my annual leave or ensured that DH is home. Another couple who live locally and whose eldest DC will be starting school at the same time are now dropping heavy hints that we should help them out by collecting and looking after their child (This would be from noon until @5pm/or 3.30pm until @5pm when going in for full-days).

There has been no direct request (yet) but lots of 'it'll all work itself out' and 'we're all in the same boat' type comments . The DW of the couple has also commented to me that they could 'drop off their DC in the mornings' at another neighbour's house - a neighbour that otherwise they do not associate with or even speak to but who is a friend of mine.

The other couple are both Primary School teachers and have been off for the Summer Holidays (47 days) ...... so .... AIBU to think that the week before school term resumes in NOT the time to start thinking about childcare, far less make assumptions that other people should take up the slack?

Well done!!!!!!

Hope all is still well OP!

Hey, are you sure it's a good idea to get a doorbell ? They will probably take to ringing it you see and a ringing doorbell is very hard to ignore/deny.

Wheras if you have no doorbell, you can deny hearing their entry attempts!?

I have no working doorbell and it's very handy.

OMG (yes- I'm so shocked I've reverted to text speak). I cannot believe anyone would actually haul their child around the street on the first day of school to find a lift. That, in itself, beggars belief. I mean, I know not all parents can be at the school gate. People work. Fine. But to be relying on press ganging a soft hearted neighbour?????? You were hardly going to say no with tremble lipped 4 year old standing there? Emotional blackmail and taking the piss in one morning. That is some shameless shit

I would go one further than the doorbell and consider land mines

Anyway, OP, glad it worked out and thanks for the entertainment.

Yay!

Just done a dance of glee round the kitchen. Well done POL! As you say, it's only the start but you've made MN very proud. Stay strong ....... and don't get a doorbell.

That poor child though, I hope it's fairly emotionally robust?

Oh well done indeed, PreviouslyOnLost. I've been reading your thread with baited breath - great ending, what a victory! I've put in a request for this thread to go to 'Classics'.

Your post saying "I never realised how much this affected by family" rings very true for me too. You put up with one thing, then another and drip-by-drip you're suckered in to so much more. It's insidious...

Be alert though, don't let your guard down for a minute, but for now enjoy your 'fly by'.

Have followed this thread as well- congratulations on those big shiny balls!!

Looks like ODW/ODH have asked just about everyone in the village to look after ODC.
Poor kid

Oh, and dont get a doorbell, when it rings kids are attracted to it like flies around s*!
Guaranteed you LO will go zooming to door in all states of half undress/toothbrush/toast hanging from mouth!
Even at nearly 13 the quickest my DD moves is when the doorbell rings!!

Fantastic news, and NO I am NOT ODW!!!

Great stuff.

Im still totally amazed at them though, the nerve of some people! I dont get it, I really dont.

be on your guard - the emotional blackmail will start big time this weekend if and when the other mum grows a pair...

"Oh pol, would you mind, its just that other mum has been sooo kind, but she cant do it any more and thats really let us down and we haven't had time to organise an alternative and the childminder cant do it and we are really in a tight spot...it will only be for a couple of weeks until we get something sorterd yada yada yada"

The only answer can be "No, sorry, I can't help you."

Well done you, hooray!

Lock that door and install a very squeaky gate to give you plenty of warning.

Well done POL

I am another one in shock at the ODW, poor kids

And also agree with everyone who is telling you not to get a doorbell, I disconnected one of ours, it is so true that you can't ignore it and the person ringing it can also hear it!! Much easier to ignore a knock at the door

Keep polishing those balls to stay strong for the rest of this week and keep us posted xx

Can we put in a request for a popcorn emoticon for just such threads as these? I've lost almost a whole morning's work catching up!

Excellent news. ODW may have to get sorted now, but I do feel sorry for a child being raised that way.

How did your eldest enjoy school anyway OP?

I just asked for this to go into Classics too. I've been lurking and can't believe the gall of ODW. Hip hip hooray for OP.

BTW I hope your DC enjoys school.

WEll doen POL! But please keep us updated on any subsequent antics of this couple!

Late home (again...but gotta keep punching in those hours to cover future childcare....and ONLY 170 miles today!).

Thank you for still keeping up with this. DC1 is LOVING school, champing at the bit to get there this morning .

If I haven't done this post to death, there's more...can you cope? It's really a more fitting ending than yesterday's desperate last gasp attempt.

We take DC1 to school, DW of Mr fizz/door...again appears with her DC and other couples' DC. Don't think she has the energy to even roll her eyes today, looks grumpy and slightly put upon. I'm not gloating, poor sod .

I'm a long way from home and DH (who has been given little credit to date, trust me he's a KEEPER!) collects DC1 at 12. Here comes the realpay-off.

ODW is there to collect her DC, quickly zooms in on DH and conversation goes as follows...

ODW - 'Oh, I don't know what we're going to do when it's a 3.30pm pick-up'.

DH - 'Hmmm' (MN coaching had been drummed in, can you tell?!).

ODW - ' I tell you what, if X (ME!!!!) can pick up our DC at 3.30pm from after the October break (therefore committing to forever and ever) I can collect your DC1 at 12 noon as I'm coming in to take DC to Childminder anyway'.

DH - 'and take her where?....long pause and even longer wait for a reply!

Only problem with this display of (real) balls is that she is now aware that either DH or I will be around for all the 12 pick-ups, and knows that we have the 3.30's covered too!!!

This one may run and run, sorry.

I still have lots of previous posts to read and acknowledge.

stillfrazzled a MN flag is a FAB concept! What would it look like? There's a comp with a MN badge as a prize in that idea .

I'm still struggling with the incidence of reverse Karma tho', if that is the case, I'm doomed!

But if I can grow a pair, anyone can.

(Strokes balls thoughtfully, and Gawd blesses T'internet and MN).

NettleTea

Phew

I really don't think it's reverse karma. Think of it as your neighbour's opportunity to grow her own shiny pair of balls and say NO (or fuck off or whatever phrase comes to mind). And you're not doomed. You sound just lovely (I would love to have you for a friend) - you've done lots of things for lots of people and there is not a thing wrong with refusing to be taken advantage of by a pair of spongers. It is not your fault that they don't want to use a childminder.

Repeat: this is not my problem.

I'm confused, so she's coming at 12 noon everyday to pick up her DC but then taking them to the Child Minder, why doesn't the child minder just pick them up?

Honestly, if she's got a Child minder sorted, it's not even like she's got a child care issue, she just wants to save money. Why would you do it for free? Stick with this, it's not even that she's got a problem now, she now just wants to get something for free.

Yay POL. I doff my hat to your DH.

Let us know tomorrow what her approach 3rd time round.

Now I love the idea that neighbours help each other out when they can, and I live in a lovely neighbourhood where this happens. "Can you feed our cat this weekend/yes, we are taking job students this year and can take your teenage dd on for a couple of weeks) etc etc

This couple, on the other hand, are taking the piss. No need to worry about bad karma here.

Oooh be careful... entering into the realms of 'childcare' dialogue with this woman could be fatal, they're experts at reeling people in. If she's sorted, then why is this other neighbour being put upon?

I think in your position, I'd be saying "Sorry, we have our plans down to a fine art now and that's the routine we've needed to do to make it work for our family. I hope you get sorted soon. Goodbye."

Why do you have to do so many miles a day, OP? Frightening!

Oh... and MN Towers say that this thread didn't pass muster for Classics... :(

lyingWitch - what are the criteria for a classic then?

I've no idea, MakesCakes, I nominated it because I thought it was fab and had a reply back saying it didn't pass.

Perhaps we can appeal!