To have said no to my neighbour? Re looking after her son

[MrsOverTheRoad]

We're not close or anything...my DD and her DS are both 9 and have played together a few times last year but not for about 10 months now.

There's a day off school here (we're in Oz) as it's teacher parent meetings and they do them all day...my appointment is at 5.

It's currently almost 3 and neighbour just knocked on door out of the blue and had her son in tow.

She said "Oh hello! Can you have X whilst I go for my parent teacher meeting?"

And I said "Oh...no, sorry...we've got our own soon..."

I now realise I COULD have had him...she'll only be about 45 minutes..but to be honest I didn't want to!

I'd have to tie our dog up as her son is afraid of dogs...and he then barks for ages...and DD and I were just having a nice bit of time together.

As she left the neigbbour said "Might see you at school then"

Obviously presuming my appointment was soon.

It's not for 2 hours though! WIBU?

Also, when you ask a favour you have got to be prepared for a "no". I want my friends to be able to say no to me. If I ask "can you look after the DC" and they say "that evening's a bit awkward" then I'm glad, I don't want to make things awkward. That's useful information then I can ask someone else.

Or am I looking for reasons to not like her?

If I was a psychiatrist I might be able to help unravel what's going on in your own head OP. But you'd have to pay me

Hi OP - i think you are looking for reasons not to like her, or you already don't like her which is why you said no to her when she asked for the favour. The drip feed just confirmed that and the backing of your husband with his experience with said lady cemented it for me.

I don't think she'll ask again to be honest, so i would just move on.

It's fine. You didn't want to, so you said no. Her child is not your responsibility, I wouldn't give it another thought

I teach in Victoria, in a government school, and they close all day for PT interviews. They start at 2.00 and go on until 8.00., twice a year. Teachers get the morning off on the PT day to compensate for the evening.

I'm in Victoria and the kids have specialists all day and we do appointments between 8:30 and 5:00.

I would have helped her, you were a bit mean.