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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To wonder where all the cheeky parents wanting free holiday childcare are?!

71 replies

rollonthesummer · 26/07/2017 09:49

Come on, it's day 3 of the holidays and I have time to sit and read mumsnet and there are NO current 'real time' stories of cheeky fuckers wanting to drop children off with some poor woman (usually with a newborn and three others of her own) at 7am until 7pm. Has everyone actually now sorted their own appropriate paid childcare?!

Do I need to get off my backside and do housework instead?! Grin

OP posts:
StupidSlimyGit · 26/07/2017 09:54

I've had one! Cheeky thing doesn't work either but she's still trying to palm the poor lad off on everyone. Hmm Although it isn't very exciting I'm afraid because I've taken the mumsnet advice "no is a full sentence" Grin

Tofutti · 26/07/2017 09:57

Well stupidslimy as you're the only taker so far, you'll have to give us the deets.

How did she approach you? Did she try to ingratiate herself firstly? What was her reaction to refusal?

Original poster
rollonthesummer · 26/07/2017 09:57

Ooh, they are still around, then! Well done for saying no!!

OP posts:
christinarossetti · 26/07/2017 10:00

I had a 'let's do some swaps for childcare' emails a few weeks ago. Person who sent is working full time, so as I guessed she wasn't offering to take my children into work with her, I politely declined.

aaaaargghhhhelpme · 26/07/2017 10:00

I deliberately chose to work from home just so I could say no piss takers. But nada

Well one crazy mum but that's a whole different story...!

Other than that everyone's quite nice and lovely. sooooo disappointing I know

Gran22 · 26/07/2017 10:06

I do some random days with different grandchildren, not too many as their parents take them away on holiday; they juggle days off; they use holiday clubs. As I'm retired I'm pleased to help but wouldn't be if it was too regular and taken for granted.

BrieAndChilli · 26/07/2017 10:09

Ooh I have one!!!

I had arranged a couple of months ago with my sister to have my niece and nephew for the weekend while she went to a wedding, I then said I would have them a day or two either side while she worked to help her out with some childcare.
Bear in mind she lives 2 hour drive away....
Then 4 days before the summer holidays starts she messages me to say her friend was going to have them for the wedding now so instead could I help her with the days she didn't have childcare for, attached was a picture - there were 3-4 days of EVERY week of the holidays she needs childcare for!!!

I just don't get how he can have got to a few days before the holidays start without sorting ANY childcare out! I'd booked holiday club for mine back at easter and me and DH had sorted who was going to be off when months ago!

I've said I will have them for a week while I am off but can't do any of the other dates, not sure what she is going to do!

She does this every year and it's not like the summer holidays are a great big surprise!!

Also she takes a whole week off for her birthday (which is in term time) to celebrate and do various things so I have less sympathy for her lack of holidays to use seeing as me and DH split all of our holidays to cover childcare and only have 1 week off together.

Original poster
rollonthesummer · 26/07/2017 10:16

Did you agree to have her kids, Brie?!

OP posts:
Original poster
rollonthesummer · 26/07/2017 10:16

Oops, scrap that-have read your post properly!

OP posts:
ParadiseCity · 26/07/2017 10:21

Does my DH count??!! Everything was sorted for every day of the holidays then his fucking work fuckmuppets changed some things and now it is all crumbling around us Angry

StupidSlimyGit · 26/07/2017 10:23

Bit of background, I have some health issues, a nine month old, live in not a great situation and am returning to work this month 3 days a week off Mat leave.
Friend text me on Friday night (having just posted on FB how exhausted she was because school had finished early) saying that her 11 year old adores my DD and could I have him two days a week so he can spend time with her. What time of the morning on two days I don't work could I meet him at the crossing because obviously she doesn't expect me to walk all the way to collect him but she's nervous of him crossing on his own (she drives and lives a ten minute walk away but on the other side of a main road). I don't need to worry though, he'll eat absolutely anything so I can just give him whatever I'm making for myself.
She has three kids, him a 7 year old and a 4 year old, they're lovely but he has ADHD and can get very aggressive when things aren't exactly how he wants them. He also already goes to stay at his nans house 3 days/2 nights a week. I actually feel quite sorry for him but I simply cannot have him here particularly not for two days a week. If nothing else he'll be bored stiff with noone but me and DD for company!

kaytee87 · 26/07/2017 10:26

My friend has 4 children (7mo,3yo,5yo&9yo) and her friend has asked her to look after her 4yo a couple of days Shock like she doesn't have enough to do!

RoseAndRose · 26/07/2017 10:30

There's already been an epic thread this year.

Search 'Workzilla'

lmer · 26/07/2017 10:33

I have 2 children (one in and out of hospital) and a friend asked me to look after her, 5yo, 8yo and 10yo, for a "few hours a day" during the holidays- umm nope

ilovewelshrarebit123 · 26/07/2017 10:42

I'm term time only and this is my first summer holidays off. My brother told everyone and presumed I'd be having his kids for the whole hols.

I told him I'd do a week and a few days here and there as I thought he was taking advantage.

Him and his wife have chucked their toys out and haven't asked me to help with anything Wink

This is the bloke that refuses to use his own leave to look after his own kids, and takes it when they are in school!

I don't feel guilty at all, I offered to help but what I offered didn't suit.

TheSnowFairy · 26/07/2017 10:45

I offered to have my friend's daughter as she mentioned she had to take a day off work to look after her.

And I have offered to have her next week when they move house.

This is the opposite of cheeky fuckery though as she didn't even ask Grin

FittonTower · 26/07/2017 10:45

I do childcare swaps christinarossettie and I work full time - as do my friends - we just take annual leave and i have other kids when I'm off and they have mine when I'm working.

kissmethere · 26/07/2017 10:51

I've got a sulky SIL and a moody DB who have asked me for help in childcare next week. I said I can manage 2 days around my work schedule and she's sulking and he's ok with it. They do this every year. I've told them to look into holiday clubs and they never do! It's infuriating.
She's been on the phone with a sob story and that really is a whole other thread which could be too outing!

SparklyLeprechaun · 26/07/2017 10:52

What's the problem with childcare swaps if you're working? I take a week off, my friend takes a week off and we both save a week of leave. Works perfectly.

BadTasteFlump · 26/07/2017 10:56

I do childcare swaps - if they really are swaps then it's all good, surely.

I suppose if you're a mother living in Famous Five land, spending your days wafting around the house and making every day perfect for your DC, you do have the time to sneer at working mums who may be struggling a bit...

BadTasteFlump · 26/07/2017 10:56

Sorry about that - feeling a bit shit today Sad

aaaaargghhhhelpme · 26/07/2017 10:58

It's ok flump. Let it out Flowers

BadTasteFlump · 26/07/2017 10:59

Thanks aaaaargh Smile

tireddotcom72 · 26/07/2017 11:04

I'm a teacher and usually quite happy to look after friends children during holidays - we go away next and 1 friend looked horrified when she found out and said but who will look after my children! Apparently I should have checked dates she was working first!

christinarossetti · 26/07/2017 11:10

I am a working mum btw.