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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Lift sharing

34 replies

theredhen · 24/09/2012 13:51

I live in a rural area and DS goes to a school outside catchment. It means that DP and I are responsible for getting DS to and from the bus stop each morning and evening.

Our neighbour has a DS who has started at the same school this year and they approached us about lift sharing, as it seemed to make sense.

My DS is in year 10 and attends a club one evening per week where I pick him up on my way home from work, so I thought it would be fair for me to offer to do the morning lift sharing as there would be one night per week, that I wouldn't be able to pick up. I made this clear from the beginning.

With hindsight I was too quick to volunteer the mornings as it seems the neighbour is only able to do a maximum pick up of 2 or 3 nights per week. So we are doing 5 mornings and getting 2 or 3 evenings.

The other issue, is that the neighbour has only been telling us in the morning whether she can pick up or not that evening, leaving DP and I having to frantically arrange alternative pick ups or alter our work around.

So, I specifically asked neighbour by text if she will be doing pick up on a certain day this week, as DP and I can't do it without arranging an alternative, she replied that yes, she can, but she can't do 2 other days at all from now on.

I therefore suggested that she do 1 morning per week, as that seems fair to me that we are both doing 4 runs each.

She has just text me back and said that mornings are not good for her. Confused

So am I being unreasonable to go back and say that I only think it's fair that she does her share? Lift sharing is supposed to be just that, and that 2/3 lifts per week are not helpful (especially if I have no idea when they will be) and we are gaining very little as we are still having to be on standby in case she lets us down, whilst giving her 5 mornings a week to still be in a dressing gown whilst she waves her DS off.

OP posts:
QuintessentialShadows · 24/09/2012 15:23

If she could only pick up two evenings per week, she should do two mornings also, making 4 lifts. Just saying "mornings does not work for me" is really cheeky.

honeytea · 24/09/2012 15:33

Could you buy your ds a bike? 5 miles isn't much on a bike.

AsparagusJones · 24/09/2012 16:29

Ha ha, I was trying to be generous minded and think, ah, maybe neighbour has to be at work for a set time in morning with no flexibility- difficult situation, it's nice to be nice- and I was thinking maybe help for petrol money. But if she's waving child off in dressing gown with nowhere to go herself- tell her to sort her lazy self out! Cheeky!

theredhen · 24/09/2012 19:33

I wouldn't mind but I have to drop ds at bus stop, come home, then go back out 45 mins later for work, so mornings don't work for me either!

She's text back a response to my "I think it would be fairer if we did an equal share of the lifts" by saying "she will sort something out".

I shall wait and see. I've got nothing to lose though. Grin

OP posts:
maytheoddsbeeverinyourfavour · 24/09/2012 19:38

YANBU

I know lift sharing is the sensible thing to do but everytime I've tried it it has been such a pain in the arse

I either ended up seething with resentment that people were letting me down and taking the piss or stressing myself out that I was letting people down and taking the piss Grin

If she starts to share the lifts evenly then great, everybody wins, but if not I'd knock it on the head

clam · 24/09/2012 20:22

Hmm, the cynic in me is wondering if by "sorting something out," she means 'finding another mug?'

theredhen · 24/09/2012 21:16

No other mugs out here. I'm the only one! Angry

OP posts:
amck5700 · 24/09/2012 23:01

We are in a similar situation but not quite as far a distance. My son and his best friend both go to a non-catchment school. It's probably about a half hour walk to the bus stop for the school bus. We would have to pay to use it, it is a public bus, it just happens to go to the school. The friends sister has been going to the school for three years, her mum would run her in the morning to catch the bus but would expect her to walk back most afternoons. This is more awkward for her to do now that her son is going to the school as she would have left him in the house to keep an eye on his little brother rather than drag them both out the house at just after 8. I am a soft touch and always intended to drive my son to and from school as although it is not directly on my route to work, it is not that far out and it fits in fine with my working hours.

As I am going anyway, I take both boys and the sister to and from school every day. I didn't ask for any contribution but made it clear that if ever I feel like my son getting the bus instead, I didn't want any grudges. She has however given me a good contribution to petrol as she is saving 80 pound per half term in bus fares.

It is working pretty well so far, the daughter in particular appreciates it as she gets home about 40 minutes earlier and get a bit longer in bed in the morning.

The mum has also said that she will be back up in case I can't do it and the weather is too bad for them to walk.

The parents of another of the boys friends who went to a different primary and lives much nearer the bus stop have asked to get in on the deal, but I have said no. I don't think they are very reliable and I will also need the extra space in my car for my own son from next year so it wouldn't be fair to start something I'm not prepared to carry on with.

Maybe you could do a similar financial arrangement then you wont feel so aggrieved?

MidniteScribbler · 25/09/2012 00:42

Why not suggest that you share the mornings (1 week you drive, the next she drives) and you each sort your own kids out in the afternoons?

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