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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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To tell my friend I don't want to look after her DC's anymore

790 replies

evmil · 12/01/2015 13:51

I have a friend who has a full time job and quite unreliable childcare (she has aupairs but has quite a high turnover of them). She has three boys, one the same age as my DS(4) and two school age (7 and 10) and when her normal childcare falls through she asks me. Her aupair left just after christmas so since the start of term i have had her kids before school and after school Monday thru to Friday.

I looked after her kids for her yesterday as she said she needed to catch up on work. They were supposed to be here from 9 until 12ish but didn't leave until quarter past 7 last night. I was annoyed as I was supposed to be taking DSS3 somewhere but couldn't and he had to get a cab in the end and was late (DH is away so couldn't take him - i did tell her this).

Anyway, i got a text last night at about half 8 from said friend telling me she wasn't happy. I had apparently filled her kids up with junk food (we make milkshakes and biscuits and they got to try some and i sent some home with them), hadn't given them a proper dinner, they had jacket potatoes, which meant they were going to bed hungry, and I had let them play with the nerf guns and they had a go on the x-box (none of which she was happy with). She finished the text with 'i thought i could trust you to look after my boys'

I was really upset but just replied with 'perhaps it is best then if you get someone else to look after them', she didn't reply but i assumed this meant i wouldn't be having her kid anymore, but at quarter past 7 this morning she turned up at my house with them and said I'm not happy about yesterday but I am willing to give you another chance!! I didn't say anything as i didn't want to upset the boys but seriously!!

Like I said I enjoy having her kids and i know she is stuck for childcare but she doesn't pay me and i feel really under appreciated (i don't expect money, a thank you would be nice though!)

WIBU to tell her i don't want to look after her kids again because of her behaviour?

OP posts:
MaryWestmacott · 12/01/2015 17:52

Place marking.

I believe people like the OP's friend are around, people who just don't realise that other people don't need to do them favours. They get so used to it they stop noticing it.

PurpleCrazyHorse · 12/01/2015 17:53

My PIL had DD for two days a week (including overnight) and most weeks she had at least one MacDonalds including a Fruit Shoot. We did have to chat to them about the Fruit Shoots as DD ended up in A&E with bowel issues (needed to avoid sugar for a bit) but I'd never have said anything about the regular MaccyDs, they were doing us a massive favour for free!

She will beg you to have the kids 'just for tomorrow/this week' so she can find someone else and you must say no. Her childcare isn't your problem and if her au pair left at Christmas, she could easily have found a CM by now or be paying for breakfast/after school club for the oldest two. She isn't because she simply doesn't want to.

Icimoi · 12/01/2015 17:54

Yes, be ready for the knock at 7.15 tomorrow morning and the pleading face. Either don't answer, or simply say "I'm sorry, I've already told you I'm not going to look after your children any more " and close the door.

CouncilOfLadies · 12/01/2015 17:55

Is it just me who thinks this woman sounds like "Terrible Cunt" woman from a year or so ago? The one who berated her friend's nanny even though the nanny was doing her a favour?

Sallyingforth · 12/01/2015 17:57

You're a bloody nuisance OP.
I was going to give MN a miss this evening. Now I'm going to have to stay around to hear what happened!

SirChenjin · 12/01/2015 17:59

Has she picked up the kids yet??

CeliaLytton · 12/01/2015 18:00

Liftzilla's cheekier twin, definitely!

OP, in case you haven't got the message by now, agree YANBU Grin

Agree with pp who said to tell the boys as well.

SugarFreeGruffaloCrumble · 12/01/2015 18:01

Link or it didn't happen council Grin

Diabolomenthe · 12/01/2015 18:01

Prooooooouuuut

pluCaChange · 12/01/2015 18:01

It's getting late...

beautyfades · 12/01/2015 18:02

Tell her she's a cheeky c@nt and to not bother asking again. Some people!!

Kikibee · 12/01/2015 18:02

How exciting, I wa to know what the outcome is.......

Rainicorn · 12/01/2015 18:04

With an attitude like that, no wonder she goes through a lot of au pairs.

Well done to you for sending her that text, just don't back down when she comes back pleading the innocent and hurt party.

mummymummypony · 12/01/2015 18:04

What... the... actual... fuck... Shock

notonyourninny · 12/01/2015 18:04

Tell her to fuck right off.Angry

Andrewofgg · 12/01/2015 18:04

Why are we waiting, why are we waiting . . .

sparechange · 12/01/2015 18:06

I can believe this... I know someone who asked her neighbour to feed their cats while they were on holiday for a week and then went ballistic when she got home to find the cat had crapped on the carpet and the neighbour hadn't cleared it up. And she made such a fuss, the neighbour ended up apologising with a bottle of wine.

And I know another person who asked her friend's live-in nanny to babysit for a night, and then refused to pay her, because under the terms of the nanny's contract, she could be asked to babysit two nights a week and Entitled Friend knew the employing family hadn't asked her to babysit at all on that week.

Some people really are THAT rude and entitled.

WowWowSauce · 12/01/2015 18:08

I think there's going to be a dump and dash tomorrow morning. Poor kids with such an awful mother!

notonyourninny · 12/01/2015 18:11

I childminded for a bitch like this. Nothing was good enough. In the end I told her yo take dcs elsewere. And I was being paid!!!!!!

elmwoo · 12/01/2015 18:11

Well done op, I admire you for holding your tongue and not making a scene in front of her children this morning, keep us updated if she replies to the text,

PlumpingUpPartridge · 12/01/2015 18:12
notonyourninny · 12/01/2015 18:12

I can't believe you feed them as well. She has the hyde of a rhino.

ChristmasEveSteve · 12/01/2015 18:13

Outrageous!

KissMyFatArse · 12/01/2015 18:14

Keep us posted of when she comes to collect!

Shamazeballs · 12/01/2015 18:15

Blatant place marking here to see what the cheeky cow says.