AIBU to not want to watch three random Aussie kids?

[RandomBabysitting]

An acquaintance who is a good friend of a friend will be visiting the local area in September. My friend has helpfully volunteered me to look after her 3 kids when they visit. I know her but we're really more acquaintances than friends. We're from the same area and have worked together but she moved to Queensland almost years ago. They've been planning a big meetup which and I've been kindly volunteered to babysit her kids. I'm happy to babysit for friends sometimes but I don't know these kids beyond the occasional photo.

AIBU to say no to babysitting three random Aussie kids?

Guilt? For what? Someone else’s kids are not your responsibility, just say NO.

I would just laugh in her face (your 'friend's) and say No. Its not difficult.

I'd have just replied "hahaha absolutely not"

She’s helpfully volunteered you. You helpfully say no as you did not volunteer!

Just don't respond to any guilt trip comments or messages. You've given your answer which was no. That's the end of it. If she keeps going on, be short with her and say 'look, I've said no and I'm not going to change my mind. Stop asking me, it's really irritating and rude'. Don't worry about insulating her or falling out -she doesn't with you!

I just can't picture this sort of conversation! When your friend told you she had volunteered you couldn't you just say "you must be joking/taking the piss", "why on earth would you do that? Of course I won't"" "no chance" or similar.

Let her crack on with her guilt trips. Don't let her make this your problem, a friend of a friend is absolutely nothing to do with you.If you give this another 5 minutes thought you are bonkers!

Don’t even concede and say , “No, unless she’s stuck/there’s an emergency…”, because that’s her get out clause for asking you. She doesn’t need to ask anyone else, because you’ve said out can step in.

How can someone 'volunteer' you to look after three children? How did the conversation go? Is your 'friend' going to be there too?

Your friend isn’t much of a friend if she’s making you feel guilty about saying no to such a big ask.

Send her the link to sitters.co.uk

She volunteered you? We call that voluntold here and while it can be a family joke for some, it is widely unacceptable.

She did not volunteer you. She told you to and that would be a huge hit to a friendship for me and the guilt trip for refusing would definitely hurt the friendship in ways difficult to recover from. If you give in, you’re opening an awful door to be walked on in the future too.

Use your words. Say no.

What are you expecting posters to say 🤷🏻‍♀️

Sorry?! What?! That's crazy, I'd definitely be busy that day.

Tell her 2 her face it won't be happening. If she ends up with egg on her face, having to backtrack to the parent of the aussie kids, tough titty. She had no right to volunteer you for anything. And end by saying you won't discuss it again.

It’s pretty impertinent, volunteering someone for something without their say so. I think it allows you to not get involved with the child-care thing. You must know this.

You need to helpfully volunteer the acquaintance to look after her own kids.

(Curious as to the specification of the children's nationality - are Aussie kids particularly nightmarish ? 😁 )

Are you a teacher OP or is your job child related? Not that that makes it ok, I am just trying to work how this came about or what made your friend think this up?

"I'd love to but I can't because I don't want to? "

'That doesn't work for me, sorry'

Standard MN response but highly effective.

I wonder if her friend's eyebrow is also raised at this idea. No parent I've ever met would cheerfully leave their kids with some rando, on the other side of the world no less. (I'm Australian, and can't speak for the entire population but we're not that relaxed).

Thanks all. I feel less guilty about saying no now.

Are you a teacher OP or is your job child related?

I used to work in a child related job.

Curious as to the specification of the children's nationality - are Aussie kids particularly nightmarish ? 😁 )

I don't think so. I find the accent incredibly grating but I don't think they're any worse than your average British child. I just meant that they're traveling across the world so will be exhausted hence why I felt guilty.