Sorry, this is a long one! Our established school routine is that I drive my 2 DDs and a friend of the younger one - A - to secondary school in the mornings, and they bus home. DD2 and A have been really good friends since first days at primary, although my 2 moved to a different primary when youngest was in Y2. Current arrangement works perfectly well, never any issues, if I can't do school run for any reason then A's mum takes them - means they get in very early though, which is why I usually take A. So far so good.
At DD2's new primary she became best friends with B. A bit of a rocky friendship, B was possessive of DD2 and jealous of her having other friends. When they went their separate ways to diff secondary schools it was a bit of a relief to be honest - although I do like B, have had her here loads, nice kid etc.
B has now moved to our school, on a 'managed move' following exclusion from her previous school for general poor behaviour and fighting - they've just gone into Y8, so she must have been pretty difficult to get permanently excluded within a year. She's had 6 weeks out of school, so this is her first week at our school. B's mum is a single parent, and from primary school I know they struggle desperately for money. Sunday night we got a call - from B - saying could we give her a lift in on Monday because her Mum didnt have the bus money. Fine I said. this morning at 7am another call from B - can she come with us this morning. Umm, OK I said.
This is where I get to the dilemma:
On the one hand I dont really want to get dragged into having another child in the car every morning, having to wait around if she's late (she gets the bus to ours), just a different dynamic to the one I am used to. Plus, I am a bit concerned about A latching on to DD2 as her best friend again, given that DD2 has made lots of new friends since being at secondary school, has a nice group etc. I'm also concerned that if A's behaviour worsens again it could either encourage DD2 to behave badly or just rub off on her by association - this is worst case scenario I suppose.
On the other hand, it could be very helpful to B - the bus she would otherwise get to school is the one my kids don't get, basically because it is 'rough' - smoking, swearing, chucking stuff etc. My 2 categorically refuse to go on it, hence the driving. B could well get herself into a whole set of new trouble by going on that bus; instead she's in the car with a 'nice' mummy and 'nice' girls, no opportunity for aggro and guaranteed arrival at school on time every day.
So it works for B; it doesnt necessarily cause me a problem - at the moment - but I do feel slightly as if it is becoming a fait accompli, and I dont like that the child (rather than mum) phones to ask for the lift - because I cant really say 'no' to a 12 year old who I know has had a hard time at one school and needs to get herself sorted at the new one.
Arrgh! AIBU to be worried, or do I just suck it up until something goes wrong?