to not go back to school

[gettinfatter]

I'm a childminder

Just gone to school pick up to find one of the kids doesn't get back from school trip till half five. Mum never mentioned this. His sister said she had the letter but mum must have lost it. I've just 'phoned mum to say I can't go back at that time to get him and she seemed really stuck as she couldn't leave work early etc.
If I really made an effort I could do it, but TBH realy don't want to interrupt dinner time and get all the kids in car again then out etc. especially as it's bang on the time one f them gets picked up.
Am I being mean 'cos I'm annoyed she never mentioned he'd be 2 hours late back to school.

Well everyone makes mistakes

But having said that, I don't think you can do it really because coaches are rarely on time.

Wouldn't that mean leaving a parent standing on your doorstep?

YANBU. If you had been given fair warning then fair enough but not like this. Also, if you zip off to school trip child then it's hardly fair to make the other parents wait who are expecting to collect their child at 5.30pm.

I would go back, but if you are due to have a mindee picked up st that time, then you can't, can you? if it didn't clash them sure, but it does. Not much you can do unless you call the patent of the one to be picked up at that time and explain saying you will be out for an extra ten minutes?

I would be really annoyed too but I would do it as it sounds as though she is unable to get there and you can, and you surely wouldn't want the child stranded there not knowing what was happening would you?

Totally agree that it's outrageous and you are well within your rights to let rip and point out the situation she put you in with all the other kids etc. but personally (and professionally) I would have to go.

Bollocks she "can't" leave work early! No-one's tying her down, are they? She can, but it would clearly be inconvenient for her. So what are the options then? She leaves her job early to pick up her son as a result of her error or you, who can't just leave your job behind, are inconvenienced and have to break from carrying out your job and take it with you so to speak, in order to pick up her kid because of her mistake.

I don't think there's much contest, putting it like that, do you?

Well put Graham.
She's just 'phoned to say her friend will pick him up as she's picking up from the same trip anyway!

Exactly Graham!

Cheeky cow! So she could have done that anyway (or left work herself) but she tried to get you to do the pick up first knowing that you had other mindees to care for and parents who would be knocking on your door? Clearly her job is soooooo much more important and valid than yours, gettinfatter.