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?

She's definitely a CF. But I'd reply in case she assumes you'll do it & the poor kid will be on his own.

Nearly fractured my jaw from it hitting the floor, after reading the first post! I’m shocked that a) she’s not bothered about being there to greet her child off his flight, and b) she’s so entitled that she thinks she can make her child someone else’s responsibility, by trying to tug on their heartstrings.

Op, please do not allow her any loopholes to make you responsible. Message her & refuse to cover your own back, just in case the airport involve any authorities.

I’m furious on your behalf!

I wouldn't respond to a message like that. I mean, how would one respond? Ffs. Blank her.

Reply "No I cannot collect and babysit your child".

Then block.

To social services? Why? A child can fly alone as long as someone is there to meet them etc. YABU

@Chloemol

In this case, as a child is involved, I would pick up the child

I would hate for the child to be stuck at the airport on his own

But I would, once she has collected, be letting her have it both guns blazing, and would tell her to no longer contact you

He won't be stuck on his own. The airline won't let him wander off without someone to collect him.

I think you should respond but don’t reference the airport pickup and just ask if she will sponsor you for some random challenge you’ve just made up.

Should be refuse, to cover your own back, sorry.

I can totally understand your reluctance to text back but as there's a child involved and she maybe that cheeky to think the silence means yes, please just text and say no. Don't even give a reason or get into a conversation but just to make it clear that it's a no! Poor kid xxx

@Franca123 yes, total liability. I refuse to be drawn in. Anything I do say can and will be used against me. There’s no ambiguity in silence !!!

@GreenFingersWouldBeHandy thanks for seeing the perspective that no reply is necessary- now or ever in her case. Lol. This really takes the biscuit.

As for people suggesting social services, I’m not sure what that constitutes. It’s selfish alright and it potentially puts the child in danger, but at the same time, these interventions can do harm to the situation too and I don’t want to cause the child any upset. Or even her for that matter- I just don’t want involved.

Just for the hell of it, reply asking if she'll sponsor you for a charity event.

This is Mumsnet. There will always be a "but think of the children" element.
This is not your circus, not your monkeys.

@EineReiseDurchDieZeit

In my experience with User Friends, there is always a "moment". It might be major or it might be trivial but its like a Tipping Point from which there is no return because all affection for them has died.

had this exact moment literally 2 weeks ago. In one fell swoop all sense of attachment, friendship and good will just vanished. To the point I honestly cannot see how I ever felt otherwise (and am kicking myself for being such a mug for now 18 years).

@AlexDrake1981 can you explain to me why I have to ‘cover my own back’?

@2Two

Just for the hell of it, reply asking if she'll sponsor you for a charity event.

If she takes OPs silence as a yes, then she is an idiot and it is still not any fault of the OP.

If the child is left stranded at the airport with no-one to pick him up, then I'd hope they'd call children's services. Maybe the best thing all round

No I would not do it. Personally I would reply saying I could not meet him as that is easy to do and she knows then that she has to find someone else or catch an earlier flight. That is up to you though and I agree you are not obliged to do that. I also would not dress the text up with anything and just respond No, I cannot meet your son off the plane.

Wow!!! I'm speechless! She must have known about the flight times sooner than 3 days before asking you...it's heartbreaking she thinks so little of her lovely son, but it's not your fault or responsibility

You do not need to reply.

You have no need to cover your own back - this is all on her.

@CatandFiddleForestGin yup, that’s how I read the situation.

To be fair, I'd be mentioning Social Services, to put a rocket up the bitches arse.

Delete her message and block her! Obsoletely no need to reply as you will only open a dialogue and give her the opportunity to guilt you into doing the pick up. Her child is her and her exs problem. Not yours.

You really should respond, that doesn't make you the bad guy you just say sorry there is no way I can do it.

But then, that child isn't turning up with her thinking you will do it & that he is safe in your care so she has a chance to sort out someone who will take him.

If you don't respond & she assumes you're doing it, you could be the cause of a child being left alone in the airport at that age so make it clear then ignore her all you like.

Oh jeeze. What an awful woman

I cannot understand posters on here saying you need to respond/cover your back etc.

I wonder if they would just message someone about anything and expect a lack of response to mean yes? Only idiots or other CFs think like that.

I think I'll message some of my mates and ask them to give me all their money. If they ignore me it's ok, the money is mine . After all, I did message them.