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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

to get hacked off with looking after someone elses kids

46 replies

calordan · 28/06/2007 09:37

I need help, I have a friend who has 3 kids like me, problem is she is forever dropping her kids of with me or asking me to babysit. The last couple of weeks I have been trying to pull back a little since she asked could she drop in for a coffee whilst her middle child went for a school induction and then instead dropped off her ds and didnt come back for coffee. She has asked me a couple of times since then and I have made excuses, then last night, school play I was sitting with ds saving a seat for dh who hadnt arrived when her dh took their ds over to me and left him with me without asking me, both boys are 3 and wasnt long before they kicked off, I took ds out and left them to pick up the pieces with theirs, but the problem is I am now soooo angry and I am losing my perspective on what is ok, ds is v friendly with their ds and i dont want to mess that up for him but I really feel like I am being taken for a mug, in the last few months it has been at least twice a week, and it feels like she only calls when she wants something.

OP posts:
Twiglett · 28/06/2007 18:37

why should you feel bad because she's taken it to heart

do you mean she's realised she has been being totally unfair and taking advantage of a friendship

it'll do her some good to thnk about it

Twiglett · 28/06/2007 18:38

oh and 3 year olds do not make bosom buddies for life .. don't worry about not letting them play together that often .. it'll do them good

nightowl · 28/06/2007 18:44

she's not my friend calordan, just a neighbour i try to avoid. i suppose i should be honoured, usually she just throws child out into the street. the little one has been eating her tea in the gutter since she was two years old.

calordan · 28/06/2007 18:47

I think i feel bad cos i felt panicked it was a confrontation i wasnt prepared for

OP posts:
Twiglett · 28/06/2007 18:48

you've done well though calordan .. the ball's in her court .. she owes you an apology IMO

pour yourself a glass of wine

calordan · 28/06/2007 18:51

you are so right twiglett and she has given me the apology one problem have no wine in house will call dh and get him to pick up a bottle

OP posts:
mytwopenceworth · 28/06/2007 19:02

two words

Emotional
Blackmail

Don't get sucked into feeling sorry for her because she has 'taken it to heart' (she's upset) or you will be right back to square one.

mrsboden · 28/06/2007 19:12

NO WINE IN THE HOUSE!! sod the kids tea, think of your needs!

Don't be feeling guilty for DH calling, what is worrying me is that she is using DH as scapegoat and she still seems to think she is doing nothing wrong... you could find yourself back in the same situation a months time!

HonoriaGlossop · 28/06/2007 19:46

calor, i agree - well done for raising it. And yes, she SHOULD take it to heart and don't for one minute feel bad about that. It's this sort of person who palms off their kids at any opportunity, but if (god forbid) an accident had occured either in your car or home to one of her kids you can bet your bottom dollar she would have been vitriolic and unspeakable to you and made your life a misery!

I think you are protecting you and yours and that's what you need to do.

calordan · 28/06/2007 20:31

now drinking aforementioned wine, am feeling fine about it all, I know now i have to be hard as nails and not wimp out the next time she just has to pop to the lovely little shop in the village that her kids will trash

OP posts:
agnesnitt · 29/06/2007 00:07

By 'taken it to heart' her husband could just mean she's actually thinking about the issue.

I know, I know, but I'm living in hope for you

Agnes

P.S. Well done

mylastrolo · 29/06/2007 00:44

good on ye i've been following your thread some good advice on here.well done you don't be taken advantage of. very similiar situation once older kids but she doesn't speak to me at school anymore and now it doesn't bother me for her to be that childish.

calordan · 29/06/2007 21:23

now i feel pretty crap saw her today and she looked like she had been crying forever, she tried to not notice me but i went and found her and asked was she ok, what do i do?
my resolve is crumbling

OP posts:
nightowl · 29/06/2007 21:39

no, no no...they all do this.

my neighbour did this time and time again. ok it was genuine i think. she truly cant understand why everyone "picks on her".

erm...its because she takes the piss, constantly.

DoubleBluff · 29/06/2007 21:41

She is probaly so soelf absorbedthat she cannot see waht is wrong with you looking after her ids and now she aslo has some 'drama' to make life more exciting for her.
SHe needs to grow up and realise that the wolrd doesn't revovle around her.

nightowl · 29/06/2007 21:49

crying doesn't mean she's right. (although guaranteed to make you feel awful).

people dont always cry because they feel hurt or are feeling remorse...just because they got found out/sussed!

calordan · 29/06/2007 22:39

i truly think she doesnt get it, I think she is getting more of the same from other people and cant really understand why and now i have dealt with it and taken all the resentment away i havent got the momentum to keep the whole anger thing going, and I am making excuses for her, but still i have to be strong and think of the so many times she has gone shopping and left me with them all or used me as free childcare, crap crap crap not that i dont like a good argument or a bit of drama but i dont actually want to hurt anybody

OP posts:
mylastrolo · 29/06/2007 23:42

self preservation this caused you to argue with your d/h for no other reason than her dumping kids on you. keep strong. still speak but on your terms have a nice week-end.

DoubleBluff · 30/06/2007 10:38

Be pleasant but keep her at arms length.
She quite clearly has no concept of what she ahs done.
If she had she would be apologising instead of weeping.

calordan · 02/07/2007 10:12

everthing okish, things a little strained but not all out warfare or tears, will see what happens

OP posts:
mylastrolo · 02/07/2007 12:58

cal good for you well done it will get easier but stay strong.

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