Help me understand people who are consistently late

[Namechangemum100]

I'm.meeting a friend today, I have deliberately told her the meet time is 30 minutes earlier than it should be as I know for sure she will be late, she always is.

I am one of those people who is always on time, I get ridiculous anxiety if I'm running late and it's just the way I am, but I find myself constantly waiting around for other people, and I just don't understand it.

If you are the type of person who is always late (15 minutes plus and excluding unavoidable traffic etc ), whats your reasoning? I have some friends who will actually say "oh I'll be late to xyz, you know me"...what does this mean?! How?! You know the time of meeting, why is it so hard? Some people will actually let me know they are "running late" at the actual meet time...how did you not forsee this situation 10-15 minutes ago and give a heads up?!

I'm not trying to be goady, if I understand the reasons why I think I might find it less frustrating.

Oh hope she's OK lurker. Take care x

Hope your mum's okay lurker

Thanks. Caught train of course despite usual flap over ticket collection. She's broken her hip and is having an operation. Train now running late, gah.

longestlurkerever A couple of days ago I think you and I were "talking" at cross-purposes as your increasingly clear argument has shown me. You were discussing a casual fluid arrangement with some spontaneity thrown in. Being late, keeping people in the loop, even a last minute something's got-to-give cancellation: all fine.

I don't pretend to have as many commitments as you but I do have a life and am more likely to arrange a coffee with an equally busy friend for, say, next Saturday morning because that's how I roll and I would hope that she would prioritise that and be (roughly) on time.

I do stand by my argument that punctuality is a good thing but I also accept that life happens.

Wishing your mother a speedy recovery

I am always early for everything and I have to get kids, pets house, husband etc sorted before I can leave. I get really angry with childless, single friends who live at home with parents still who are always late to meet me

Fullofregrets I think people like that think it'll take them 2 minutes to get ready, so don't leave enough time. Like people who live 5 minutes from school but are consistently late.

Fullofregrets33 so if they have a kid it's OK to be late but God help the childless?? If you and others on this thread can be on time with kids how does it work that it's OK to be late if you have them but not under any other circumstance?
If they're washing their hair and painting their toenails an hour past meeting time it doesn't matter if they're a parent or childless. If they're disorganised, scatty etc than having kids doesn't make a huge difference.

Lurker I hope you got to your mum after the silly train was late

Thanks everyone for the thoughts. I'm here and the operation went well.

That's good. Wishing her a speedy recovery.

Get yourself a coffee and a sandwich.

Fab. Tell her random ears on the Internet as wishing her a speedy recovery