When you do a favour for a friend how often does it get stretched...

[Twiglett]

like .. can you have DS 9 till 3 .. becomes 9 till 3.30 becomes 9 till 6

taking the piss

I don't mind btw .. just interested

i think these things have to be reciprocal, even if you are v close friends

Not everyone seems to get the GIVE bit of "give and take" though do they. My friend is always giving me her kids to look after. Ive done tea for the ones at school and baby sat the one who isnt. She talks of having my youngest over (same age as her middle one) but the dates get cancelled (all for good reasons I should add but I never feel paid back)and my little one is dissapointed. She has also got a little possessive recently. She rings to interrogate if I have someone over for coffee or a meal and got all hurt when another mum invited me and my 2 kids to the cinema. She thinks nothing of organising things with the exact same mum that dont include me. I cant work it out.

wouldn't call us close friends .. though we are friends

I think its the typical 'well you're a SAHM and I work' mentality ... and patently you'd be up against it if school is suddenly closed down and you'd pull in favours

to think I was feeling guilty for leaving DD with her for 45 mins yesterday too

for my friend i would have her kids as long as she needed me too

for an acquaintance i would say - no sorry i have work/a life/ tea to cook/ own children to look after
or
god yes love to babe- will you have mine tomorrow for same amount of time - to equal things out - cos i have ap ile of washing to get though - fairs fair - waddya think?

can't do tomorrow eh - well you name the time and i'll arrange my washing around it - nice to give each other abreak once in a while - wow LOVE YOU!!!! you have ALL the best ideas.

Are thou abusing my name Custy name? One more strike dear child and the lightening bolt shall striiiiiiiike!

I"ve stopped having one of dd's friends over in the past year or so because it was never reciprocated or if it was - I was made to feel as though I should be eternally grateful for dd being there for an hour or two......

I had a friend like this who wouldn't ask me to babysit, but 'tell me' when her 'next date for babysitting' was!
Haven't heard from her since I told her I couldn't do the date she wanted and that was a few months ago!
As long as you are happy to 'stretch' the hours that's fine, but I would mention it and expect to be thanked too. Think it depends how well you know each other.

God you have a partic interest in me today?

custardo, some people have a habit of dominating though. Lots of practice on the taking bit of give and take. They dont do it straight away - it sort of sneeks up on you. Youre answer is fab, will try to say somthing sinilar next time Im put on the spot.