Help! Don't know how to handle this...

[frenchleave]

A neighbour with whom I usually share the school run has been asked by another local mum if I could take her 9-year-old son to and from school this week. I don't know this woman, but I understand from my neighbour that she asks a lot of favours and never returns them (she's been caught out herself). On top of this, her son is loud and badly behaved and he and my girls don't get on at all.

Theoretically I could take this boy every morning and bring him home at least once, but my girls and I really don't want to if it means a stressful start to the day refereeing backseat rows, with no return favour and the risk of getting manipulated into a regular arrangement.

I have this woman's number and need to call her, but I don't know what to say. I'd feel really mean making excuses, so do I do it? I'm quite a non-confrontational sort of person, and hate this sort of thing - so WWYD?

say no sorry we can't you dont ned to make excuses shes the one askign the favour and if she asks why just say because it won't work i'm sorry goodbye

what a unreasonable request from a stranger!! why would the woman ask this, if she doesnt know you??

I would personally just say NO and say that you are not comfortable since yr girls do not know this boy - which is a valid reason. i would not dream of taking a child to and from school for 1 week, if they didnt know the child and i did dont know the mother. its just not safe for anyone.

if you dont kow her dont feel obliged or guilty when you say no.

i wouldnt even phone her cheeky cow! just ignore it, let her come and ask you if she dare and then just say no because you dont know her kid. he could make up all sorts of allegations against you. i dont think you would be insured to carry a stanger anyway doesnt it come under for hire?

My girls do know the boy (unfortunately) as he is at their school. I wouldn't know him from Adam, however.

But you're all making me feel better already... just need to find the right words.

'f**k off you cheeky woman, take you own kids to school' sounds like the best words to me!!!

why dont you tell neighbour you don't have to call a complete stranger . the neighbour should understand and she can just tell her friend that you said no and she doenst' know why

hmm, not sure I could carry that off with conviction... but I'm thinking along those lines

apparently the woman asked for my number, and nice neighbour said "not without asking her first", and we agreed it'd be better if I had hers instead. Her reputation precedes her...

i wouldnt call her just ignore it.....good advice mud...agree tell your friend you thought it over and have decided against it. you dont need to explain to your friend and then she has nothing to tell this woman.

Don't phone her and if she does contact you just say you wouldn't feel comfortable with taking the boy as you don't know him. If she doesn't like the answer tough thats not your problem. Usually there is a good reason why you feel like you don't want to do something and you should follow your instinct.

Yes I think you're right you lot, I'll just not call and see if she seeks me out in the playground! The more I think about it the wierder it seems that she's wanting a stranger to take her child to school. Not to mention rude.

Thanks all, feel much better now

Or you could really call her bluff and say you cannot do it all week, how about she takes all he kids for a couple of days and you will do it the rest, only if her ds is well behaved in your car as otherwise it would be too dangerous.

If she is as bad as you say at returning favours this should put her off!