My friend rang last night, when it was beyond bedtime, and asked me if I would be happy to feed their cat next week. I had previously agreed to do it last month, for a weekend, but in the end she didn't go so I didn't have to.
I have two children, aged 4 and 11 mo, and am on my own and finding it pretty hard to cope at the moment - she knows this.
She is married and they have one small child.
I said it was fine, of course, but before the end of the call I asked how long they would be away and she said 12 days.
I am really afraid I won't be able to manage it as it isn't just a quick in and out, it involves emptying litter tray, letting cat out and waiting around to get him in again afterwards - he doesn't stay out at night, no flap.
I will have to get both Ds's there, synchronise their sleeping so they are both awake, and make sure they are under control while I do said cat stuff.
The problem is, Ds1 usually comes out of school and falls asleep, so we might be stuck here, and Ds2 is now crawling everywhere and I just don't want to commit to this regime for nearly 2 weeks.
I am actually a bit cross that she put me on the spot, knowing how hard things are at the moment, because I would have felt incredibly mean saying no.
Am I being really unreasonable? It might be easy, but I just have an awful feeling the cat will refuse to come in for anyone who isn't his mummy, and I'll be stuck there for hours with the children.
She showed me how to make the 'calling' noise last time, I don't think I can get it right!
I would hate to let her down as she hasn't been very well. Just am sooooo tired, my house is a tip and I sometimes can't even get dressed.
Hope this doesn't sound too pathetic.