To be annoyed at people who can't be arsed to learn to drive but then expect me to give them lifts all the time?????

[Twoplus3]

I know in the grand scheme of things this isn't very important but I'm seriously fed up of people in mine and dh's fsmily and dorm friends thinking they can use us as a taxi service. I cannot understand (medical reasons aside) why anyone would not want to learn to drive, especially when they ha e young children and it would offer them independence and allow them to go practically anywhere.

So as it stands me and dh now have a car each, we'd always managed with one car until dh got a new job miles away, and as I need mine for the school run we had to buy another. One of my sister in laws doesn't drive, she's nonincentive to learn either as my Mil, Dh and myself seem to ferry her everywhere, and she openly admits that lessons are too expensive (yeah right) more likes she's knows she'll get a free ride with us!

Now I'm not a nasty person, I'm not unreasonable and will usually do anything to help anybody but i feel like she is taking the piss. Every time she suggests that we get the family together for a meal or something I always get a text asking can one of us pick her kids up as they wont all fit in my Mil's car. And last week it dawned on me why she wanted both me and my dh to go to my neice's 10th birthday party (all the other parties were local and we've always dropped our kids off and then gone back to pick them up) well this time she has booked this extravagant party about 20 miles away. She asked could my eldest two go to which I said yes. I said I'd just drop them off if that was ok and then head to the shopping outlet that is round the corner as my youngest needed some new glasses so I thought it would be a good opportunity to get it sorted. She then goes on to say oh well I'd like it if both you and Ste (dh) could come, I said right ok. Then an hour later dh texts saying oh whilst you and Ste are coming do you think you could take some of the kids in your car!!! I was fuming, as it suddenly dawned on me this is why she wanted us to come. Both me and dh have 7 seats in our car so she's knows we can easily fit our 5 in plus her and her 3 kids plus a few of her kids friends! Am I seriously being unreasonable to feel pretty fooking annoyed?

If she can afford to learn to drive ( and has admitted this) she can at the very least give you petrol money. Or go on public transport!

Not being able to afford a car is one of the reasons why DH & I live where we do - I walk to work & he walks to the train station daily. We walk to the supermarket for the shopping & carry it back. It's totally doable with a toddler (DD is 3), you just need to decide you're going to make it work & not sponge off other people.

Oh, and dh can't help her out as you and he like to spend time together at the weekends, when one or the other of you isn't busy doing your own domestic doodah and running your own errands (which will always be in the opposite direction to her house)

Tell her straight that you cannot afford to run a free taxi service for all and sundry so you won't be doing it.

You are, however, being rather unreasonable about the reasons some people don't drive or don't learn.

Not everyone takes naturally to things like driving, and the cost of lessons, fuel, insurance, road tax and car maintenance are very high.

I drive because I have to and because I was largely taught by my Dad (a whole other thread), who virtually made me do it as soon as I turned 17. I don't drive because I like it and if there is any possibility of wriggling out of it then I do that.

I don't go around assuming others will always give me lifts though. Often it is that I would simply rather not go out anyway.

Say no, an send her the number for a good cab service.