To never speak to her again- CF!

[Peanutbuttermandms]

I have a long term school ‘friend’, let’s call her S. I hear from her very sporadically and most recently, when she wants something: sponsorship money from me for one of her ‘challenges’ to stay in my central city home (!)… but folks, I give you the best one to date today…

Text out of the blue.. not even a ‘how are you’.. can I pick her son up from the airport (!) on Wednesday as he’s flying in alone (he is 10) from his dad’s abroad. You’re thinking wtaf, right?

The text goes on.. she can’t and her new DP are holidaying in the south of France and their flight doesn’t get in to airport until 5pm.. so the wee mite is alone for 4 hours after travelling alone. At 10. Jesus!

It ends ‘would obviously be great to see you too!!’

AIBU to think cheeky fucker and never speak to the self centred cow again?

Here the thing @Peanutbuttermandms some on mn spend all their time composing useless,contrived,overly florid responses to dilemma and hell they expect you to use their daft response and be grateful too.

Sugggestions like Well Hi there, I would pick up your child if I were so inclined, it’s just that you see I’m dreadfully busy being obtuse online and no is not a complete sentence. Did you mean to be so rude?. Tinkly laugh and head tilt. Must dash the 1950s is calling….

You being silent has denied someone the opportunity of being scriptwriter to a strangers life

@sessell

OP I've read your opener again and you say that you have been long term friends since school. Much more than an acquaintance. She has started to take you for granted more recently. She's asked you a huge favour. It may be her ex has messed up and she's in a bind. Almost everyone here agrees it's not your responsibility - of course not. But we are begging you to let her know. Because we care about a child caught in the middle who may be harmed. My daughter was delivered through security by DH as an accompanied minor. When he'd left the airport they decided some part of her paperwork was wrong and they held her there for hours until it was sorted out and she could get the next plane - on her own as already through security.. She was about 10. She now has huge anxiety about travelling, it affected her deeply. I don't understand what you're trying to prove by not texted No and giving her more time to possibly make other plans. Please think about the child in the middle of this and get past your own narrow biligerance. You were friends for a long time, the least you can do is send a bloody text.

I agree with this.

I posted earlier about my own experience, decades ago, of arriving at an airport as a 16 year old and no one there to collect me. It was awful, even though it did work out.

All you have to do, OP, is text NO!

[quote Peanutbuttermandms]**@Blondeshavemorefun did you rtft?![/quote]
If you don’t reply she may as she’s a cf, think that’s a yes

I'd say from this comment, yes @Blondeshavemorefun did...

Apparently if op doesn’t reply she will somehow be imbued with psychic powers about plane arrivals etc

Not necessarily; the way CFs work, she could easily text OP all the details on the day, hoping to rely on the fact that many wouldn't want to see a child stranded at an airport so would step in anyway

That's why my suggestion of texting no and blocking wasn't for the CF's sake or even for he child's ... it was for OP's own sake, to remove herself from this completely

Yes I’ve read the thread

Just don’t see the issue in a simple no - I’m busy

Rather then ignore

But that’s me

That's not true @YoungGiftedPlump

BA don't accept them but most other airlines do.

Just checked. No airlines fly 10 year olds. The youngest unaccompanied age is 12

Are you sure? According to this they can fly alone between 5 and 11, but between 12 and 16 you can still request an UM arrangement:

www.flightcentre.co.uk/before-you-fly/travel-advice/unaccompanied-minors

I havent read the full thread but most parents (with this amount of notice) would just take an earlier flight home, its not like she's cutting a week off her holiday, it would be a day max. I wondered if there was something else? Maybe she's tested positive for covid while abroad for example and hoping to line you up as a babysitter before springing her 10 day isolation on you before she's able to fly home.

Well done @Peanutbuttermandms 🤣

Never has a thread gotten so many Posters frothing at the mouth 😂🤣

You are doing the right thing for you 🌸

@Peanutbuttermandms

Yes *@TurquoiseDragon*. I happen to live in the city the airport is in (about 2 hours drive from where she lives). I suspect many people are being asked. I find the whole audacity of it mind blowing!

I'm confused @Peanutbuttermandms you love in the same city as the airport and I think in one of your later posts you say it's a 10 hour round drive to the airport and you don't have a car??

I'll confess to only reading the OP's posts, but I think responding with a simple 'no' is easiest all round. Not answering continues the stress and drama, and it's far better for you to simply cut off the request and gives her more time to find someone else.

If she's cheeky enough to ask this
She's cheeky enough to take for granted that no response means yes.

She's clearly is not putting her child first so...
Who will ?

She sounds like she's living her best life
Poor kid.

I personally would text "no I can't" just to be sure she started making other plans for the child.

I'd imagine she is desperately trying to find somebody who can help and texting loads of people, hence the lack of customised, detailed, personal message.

I’ve read the full thread, @Peanutbuttermandms, and it’s typical Mumsnet - judgy, critical and overly dramatic. Very little actual support.
Your silence speaks volumes, and the reason you haven’t had a follow up text from CF mum is because she probably instantly went on to text 10 other “friends” until she found a sucker who’d pick her kid up.
I hope you didn’t block her, because you know you’ll hear from her some day down the line in the future, with some other ridiculous ask.
Being the smartass that I am, I hope you’ll someday answer her with this:🖕
You hang in there.

You should at least tell her no. It’s not very fair on the child, she’ll probably tell him to call you and then what will you do? Tell her she’s got plenty of time to change her flight.

Just say no OP. Cut the drama.

This thread is bonkers. Good for you OP for calling out the nutters on here.

Ignore, block, breathe.

Don't reply block her, let her sort her own mess out. X

I agree that you should reply saying no and then block.

I agree with you op.
You don't need to do anything nor feel guilty or bad.
This is all in her doing. She's a cheeky fucker indeed!

Too many pages to read OP but I would want to inform the police.

Say an acquaintance I haven’t seen in some time has told me she won’t be there to collect her child from the airport for an extended period of time. His name is x and he will be at y at z o’clock.

Detestable woman!

The poor child has TWO parents. Surely once the CF realised the timing she could have contacted the child's dad and explain so he could rebook his flight for when she was home from France/ hang onto him a bit longer? She clearly managed to communicate with the dad to arrange him going. Why try and drag op and no doubt others into her mess? And if that isn't possible doesn't this child have other family, grandparents etc who could step in? Her family her problem.

Text Cant and Wont

@QuestionNumberOne

Too many pages to read OP but I would want to inform the police.

Say an acquaintance I haven’t seen in some time has told me she won’t be there to collect her child from the airport for an extended period of time. His name is x and he will be at y at z o’clock.

Detestable woman!

Well firstly, the OP has no idea what tie the flight arrives as she hasn't been told details. Secondly, she hasn't been told the child will be uncollected as the CF friend is seemingly trying to organise something. And thirdly, this isn't really a police matter.