Childcare

[Bramblesheep]

I'm a SAHM by choice.

Friend that lives close wants to go back to work part time and has asked if I'd have her three daughters in the mornings and take to school. Same school as my DS. I drop at school first then drive my DD to preschool.

Am I really mean to say no? I don't need the money and two of the girls are quite a handful.

We have fairly chilled mornings which is one of the benefits of me not working. Sometimes my kids don't get up til 745 and she wants to drop off at 715am.

She's not a close friend more of a kids at the same school and lives near friend.

I just feel bad for saying no for no reason other than I don't actually want to! AIBU to say no?

She has picked on you cause she knows you have the inability to say no.
I would text her and tell her no you cant do it.Dont say sorry and dont offer" emergencies".Cause everday will be an emergency.And then you will be saddled all summer.And it will be harder to end the arrangement.

Say no.Apart from the fact it dosent work for you you risk being sucked into holiday care and being the school emergency contact if they are sick.

Just tell her it doesn't work for you - and keep the polite refusal as concise as possible.

The less explanation the better.

I'm in a similar position and have had a couple of 'aquantance' mums ask me to do stuff like this, it's bloody annoying! Just because you are a SAHM it doesn't mean you are available to be other parents childcare! Say no, and practice saying no, you'll be asked again by others.

You don’t need any more reason than “I don’t want to”, and there are plenty of very good reasons anyway.

Not your circus, not your monkeys. The only childcare that is your responsibility to sort out is for your own kids, and you’ve done that by being a SAHP.

Although you may be willing to help in emergencies, I wouldn’t say so upfront as you may quickly find that she has very regular “emergencies” if she’s a chancer