To have asked my friend to do this?

[annikin]

I was already feeling bad about this, but now having read another thread I feel worse, but I still don't have another solution, so I'm wondering whether this comes under 'really cheeky' or 'a helping hand from a friend'.

Basically I should be able to collect my dd (11) from school before school closes (5pm), if all goes well. Unfortunately on the journey I do, about once a month/6 weeks there is a crash or something so I am delayed. My dd has SN so can't walk home by herself (as well as too far and too dark), so I at that point turn to friends to see if one can collect her and keep her for me for 30 mins/1 hour until I get there. Is this incredibly cheeky? (I try to ask a different one each time, so no-one gets too fed up with it if that helps...).

I have no help from family, we never go out as we don't have babysitters. I've never asked anyone for help before and am rubbish at doing so, and I feel awful about it. They do say they don't mind, but are they just being polite? Would everyone actually mind this and be getting annoyed, or are there some people out there who genuinely don't mind helping out occasionally?

Not cheeky at all imo, friends are usually happy to help each other out. Could you do the shared lift to the activity every week, then only use that friend for emergencies/late days? Apologies if this was suggested already or if it doesn't suit.

Wouldn't bother me in the slightest, I'd be annoyed if someone was stuck and didn't feel they could ask

This is absolutely normal and fine everywhere but on Mumsnet.

If I was your friend I would pick your kid up even if she was at a different school to mine

If you only contacted them when you need something then you would be a cf'er and I wouldn't do it.
Actual friends? As long as it didn't clash with something else, of course, I don't mind.

I get asked at least 2/3 times a week by the same person.

Being asked once a month would be fine, you're trying your best :)

I wouldn’t wait to be asked to return the favour.

I wonder would it be possible for you to offer to look after the children one weekend so the parents could have a weekend away?

This is absolutely normal and fine everywhere but on Mumsnet.

Everyone on this thread is saying it's fine.

Thanks everyone. Sorry to be late back to the thread - busy day! I do feel a lot better about it, and reassured, thank you. Having said that, I think I will definitely offer to do the next shared lift (it's quite a distance, so it will help her out), as it'll make me feel better to show her how much I appreciate it!

A few answers - yes, I do try the people who I think might be at the school anyway first, but a couple of times it has been someone making a special trip, so it is inconvenient for them, which I am very aware of.

@becles (have I worked out how to tag you correctly?) - no I don't mean I can't be bothered to find a babysitter unfortunately. Due to dd's issues, we can't just pay anyone to look after her for an evening. The people we could leave her with I could count on one hand, and as they either live a long way away or there is not really any way of me repaying them, I don't feel comfortable asking them. If it was just a case of paying someone, we would be doing it regularly.