To charge DD and her friends for a round trip into town

[NoMoreFreeRides]

DD thinks I am, so we've agreed to ask MN!

Now and again, I drive DD(13) and her friends into town. They go shopping for a couple of hours whilst I park my backside in Costa.

They want to go shopping this Saturday and were going to take the train but want to watch the Royal Wedding "live" first. We live fairly rurally so train service won't accommodate their plans.

I've told DD I'll drive them but they all need to give me £2 each (including DD) to cover my parking and Costa (I'll chuck the petrol, wear & tear on car and witty repartee in for free).

DD thinks I'm being tight and embarrassing

Who's right me obviously

Seems fair enough. They want to do more things than they can fit in, you'll help out, but that's not free. If they can manage the juice bar they can buy you a Costa card, and if they won't do that on their own, well.

I think that the OP has triggered several Millenial parents.

Which is deliciously hilarious.

I think it's incredibly mean, personally!

@bridgetjonesmassivepants

RTFT!!

Why can't they come back by train?

All for 8 pissing quid

I know. Do you think I should charge more?

"the train times don't allow them to watch Meghan get married and go shopping"

Well then they either change their plans or accept your offer imo.

Do you charge her friends if they stay over for dinner too? What about sleepovers? You could charge airbnb rates.

@Nomorefreerides how far away is town?

My mum used to drop me in and then go home until I was ready to be picked up. I called and she told me she'd come get me in 20 minutes/an hour/whatever.

Also, why is it you that has to do the dropping? Couldn't one of the other parents take them in?

Public transport from where we live is non-existent. I spend my life driving the DC around. Half an hour each way to anywhere.

I lived within walking distance of town & there were trains/buses to everywhere from my childhood home.
I'd have hated to live out in the sticks when I was a teenager & I felt sorry for friends who were stuck without transport. So now that mine are in that position, I am taxi and I don't resent it one bit.

Please don't do that, my Mum used to charge me petrol money if I asked for a lift anywhere. It was embarrassing.

Rather than teaching them "the value of money", why not just teach them that the royal wedding is a load of boring shit and tell them to forget about it and get the train into town.

I grew up a 30 min drive from town and my mum used to have to drive me and would go shopping etc she certainly never charged me...isn’t that the point of being a parent ferrying your kids about who can’t drive yet,

I don’t agree that not charging for lifts will somehow turn them into entitled brats, who don’t understand tha value for money! I’m absolutely not one of these “my bubbas my life” types, but lifts to their activities and enhancing and enabling enjoyment of activities etc etc is part and parcel of having kids and the various stages they go through. My kids are really well behaved, thoughtful and respectful and don’t expect anything at all. My kids are missing out on something really cool next weekend because I’m away, my husband is WFH, my mum has plans and they’ve accepted it without issue. I don’t drop everything to run them around, but if we lived rurally then I would be giving them lifts to help them to socialise and to give them a nice day out with their friends. I’d find something to do other that mooching in Costa though.

We lived rurally growing up and when possible, my parents always gave me and my friends lifts. I’m in my 30’s now and perfectly aware of the value of money . I also really appreciate everything my parents did for me. Maybe one day I’ll be need to repay them when they can no longer drive and need lifts to places.

But you’ve made your mind up that you’re right so commenting is pointless

I don't agree transporting children is part of parenting. My parents never drove me anywhere and neither did my friends parents drive them around. BUT we lived with incredible transport links. I think if you choose to live rurally it is something which comes with that - which is why i would never live somewhere like that and i wont be having to drive my kids around.

YABU to charge. Either do it or don't. Bil charges my sister the cost of bus fare to drive her to work. The tight twat.

Tightness is such an unattractive trait OP. Either agree to it or don't but it's not fair to charge her.

Look just drop them there, hand them a bus or train timetable, and tell them to make their own way back like we used to do. Or money for taxi.

Yanbu but only if its only you that ever does it. If the other parents reciprocate yabu.

You can't take money from others people's children.

You do realise that all the other girls will tell their parents, who will promptly beetle off to share the story with all the other parents? Do you mind being known around the school as "that mother who's tighter than a gnat's chuff and takes pocket money from children for giving them a lift?" If not, fill your boots! Otherwise you might possibly want to rethink this brilliant plan...

I think it's more than a bit mortifying. I'd consider the example of generosity and kindness more important than cold hard cash. Sorry.

Do you already take it in turns with the other parents? If so, does anyone else charge?

If not, we'll, why not?

Ahahahah, thanks OP, I had a good laugh, I needed it!

On the off chance this is for for real can't be, no one is so batshit, you're being tight as a duck's arse and will forever be known as that parent.

I'm in my 30s. When the occasion arises, my DDad still absolutely insists on driving me to the airport and picking me up. I could easily take public transport and I wouldn't dream of asking him, but you know what OP? He offers and won't take no for a answer, because it's a nice thing to do for your loved ones and it's his way of showing he loves me.

I hope your DD will ask you for money to ferry you to the shops when you're old and unable to drive.