AIBU to think sort out your own childcare!

[FrankWelker]

Half- term and I am using annual leave to look after DC. So far this week I have had 5 phone calls from 2 different parents who ( unfortunately) know I'm off to see if I can have their kids from 7.30-6.40 pm. I'm perfectly happy to help out in an emergency but both parents have said they forgot it was half term. The same ones who forgot the Easter holidays were for 3 weeks. As I said I will always try and help if someone is in a tight spot but am I being unreasonable with this? I don't particularly want to wake up for 7.30 am on my time off and when I do would rather do play dates with kids who my children want to see- and these kids aren't even my kids ages that
they can play easily. We get the school term dates well in advance! Does anyone else get this (and get hacked off like me!)

Absolutely shocking!

Is it just me or are people becoming more 'entitled' and brass necked these days?

Seriously who calls at that time and expects you just to jump for them? Night shift workers, yep who needs sleep?

Who forgets kids are on holiday? dont think so, cheeky gits.

Wonder what they will do when you all say 'feck off'?

My alarm doesn't go off until 06:30 even on the days I am working. If someone calls me at 06:15 I automatically assume it's terrible news.

Inability to sort childcare does not count as terrible news and I would have gone from being asleep -> awake and terrified -> awake and angry as hell in about 0-60s.

YANBU (unless you said yes, in which case VVVVU!)

I would be furious. When DH and I both worked we had military precision around holiday and inset cover. It would only be a dire emergency that I would call someone on the day and certainly not that early.

The only time we've had a 7am childcare message was when our CM was shut due to her son going into hospital and she's had no sleep all night.

6.15???? She can sod right off. Yanbu at all

Wow! That is unbelievable cheek. No wonder you lost it.

Unbelievably cheeky. I am a SAHM (albeit I do some part time work eves and weekends) and we make financial sacrifices as a family so I can stay home with the kids. I've never encountered someone who has tried this with me. Well done for losing it with her!

What a cheek. I am a SAHM and have had comments over the years. I did it first but toughened up. I am a SAHM for the benefit of MY family. It always amazes me the people who think it's acceptable to ask you to have their children for free while they are earning good money. How can you forget it's half term? Most schools give out the term dates in September.

I have a 'friend' who does the same. Takes their annual leave at other times and expects myself and other parents who take their leave on school holidays to help provide their childcare for free! I have put my foot down now though.

6:15???

I work from home, and am quite willing to have a friend or two around if asked.
But I would say no immediately to anyone who called at 6:15!

I remember a crisis, where I sat and worried about whether or not I could call close friend at 6 am to ask her help. That was very close friend and crisis AND I know she gets up early. I didn't phone, and when I asked her later she said I should have, due to situation.

I can't believe parents would do this! How can you 'forget' it's school holidays? My eldest starts school in September. I work 3 days a week (with an hour commute each way) I have already sorted out her after school club, and child care for the October and February half term. People laugh at me for being so hyper-organised, but honestly it is your child and you have to be.

So very cheeky. My circumstance were different, but In all my time as a teacher with a child, in the hols, no-one ever approached me about this.

Possibly due to my patented death stare.:o

School clubs, childminders etc round here are so busy that most parents I know have already booked for NEXT years holidays for childcare. She's a selfish idiot and well done OP on telling her where to get off! Absolutely ridiculous - doesn't want to pay for club - tough! What does she think everybody does???

Wow she really is a piss taker!
I bet she thought you would give in.

The only time you should be asking for favours like this is in an emergency...

There are always some like these! We both work and sorting out half term and inset days is a priority and not that difficult if you are a bit organised. Both are families are in other countries so we don't have any family support.

My experience is that you learn who your allies are, I have a few mums that I can call in an emergency and them me, then there is the other one that tries to take the piss constantly and subsequently no one will take her kids anymore. So stupid!

I work at home (but lots of people seem to think I am a SAHM). I was always happy for DD to have friends round for inset days and the like if we had no other plans. They amused each other, I got on with some work.

Then DD went to a different high school from her friend, with different inset days. Friend's Mum didn't get why I wasn't happy for DD's friend to hang out at our house while DD was at school.

They are taking the piss - just charge them the going rate then you will find out if they really are up a gum tree or just taking advantage of your good nature!!

we had DS little mate from 9am to 7pm yesterday

Its so blatant it not as playdate but actually free childcare

if that was me I would take a present of some kind of thanks to be honest

No. Just NO! Very cheeky!

I have called to ask for help at6.15.
but that was because I was in labour!

So essentially what this hag woman is saying is that HER time and money is more important than yours. As you say, mucking in for an emergency situation is one thing, and overall it tends to even out with doing other favours in return, but to just expect you to tug your forelock and do her bidding is bizarrely entitled.

Totally shocked by the 6.15am phone call.

Unbelievable. She must have got to 6.15 and thought right I'm desperate I'll have to start phoning people or pull a sicky. Hopefully this will be enough of a lesson to her to sort things out.

I once took a friend's dd following an emergency phonecall at 4.30am but only because friend had been taken to hospital by ambulance and had asked neighbour to call me to come and get her dd (actually dp went because I don't drive) but that was different.

6.15 phone call to discuss childcare in anything other than dire emergency is major cheek

Oh my god this thread gives me the rage! You're being put in such an awkward position OP - no way should too agree to be a free nanny but is this parent going to be all funny with you now you've said no?
Some people have absolutely no shame .

I have a massive 'fuck off' face so am thankfully spared from this! I sometimes offer to have friends children for a few days in summer but I OFFER because I am fond of the children and I know it saves my mate a few quid here and there. Anyone phoning me at 6.15am would get a short shrift

DP is having our nieces for 2 days this week to help SIL out but it is arranged in advance and there is no recrimination if we cannot help for any reason. good for you for giving her a bollocking