Would you take a neighbour's child to school every day?

[MintyElephant]

A neighbour, who I don’t talk too, other than the odd hello if we see each other, asked me if I could take her child to and from school every day as she’s struggling too because of her work - her child goes to same school as mine. She’s effectively asking a stranger to chaffeur her child around, what is everyone’s thoughts on this? Yes I’m going there anyway, I can’t do everyday as I don’t do everyday anyway. What would you say if someone you didn’t actually know ask you this? Would you do it?

put yourself in her shoes- she is clearly struggling with child care arrangements. She has been brave enough to ask for help.
you can say no. Or you could offer to help on the days you go into school. I think there is this unwritten code that mums at school gates help each other…

Reading through your posts it really sounds like you don't want to help or you're looking for excuses for it not to work. It's up to you if you want to commit or not. If you do decide to offer a lift have clear rules & set boundaries. You could trial it for a month see how it works. Let her know the time you'll be collecting her child, & stress that if he's not ready & waiting you can't hang around as you have to get your child to school then get yourself to work & so don't have the time to wait. You say your child might not like it, it might work in their favour if they get to know an older child in a higher class than them. A bit of a confidence boost having an older child in school as a friend. Let the Mum know that you can't commit to every day as you rely on your Sister to collect your child when you're not able to. Also make it clear that if your child is sick & not attending school you wont take her child & she'll have to make other arrangements. explain to your child that you're trying this arrangement for a month & if they're not happy to let you know & you'll rethink it. Also if Mum offers to pay I'd accept a small amount towards petrol money. She'd have to pay a Childminder or out of school Breakfast club so she'll not be concerned paying less towards fuel.

She must be feeling desperate if she’s asking a neighbour she barely knows. I’d agree to some days but give conditions of days where you won’t be available, the fact that she offered to pay would make me think she knows it’s a big ask

This isn't helping each other though, this is just OP making a pretty big commitment for someone she barely even knows.

She's already updated that she has said no anyway.

Someone said that it's not as if you were friends. That made me wonder how friendships are made. Might not you become friends? Others here have spoken of mutually helpful arrangements. Is there something like that which you could do? Even though her son is older that doesn't necessarily mean that he and your daughter won't talk to each other, unless they're stuck on their phones!

It is not occasionally it is twice a day every day

Just my experience, dcs now adult, so maybe times have changed.
It was always the same people, right from the beginning, who made baby sitting circles, shared baby stuff, joined PTA, gave the whole-class-inclusive-parties so no one was left out, hosted sleepovers, took extra kids to clubs with their own, baked for Brownie camps, picked up half drunk teens at midnight...
Always the same givers.
And always the same takers.
In the thick of it, at the time, you hardly notice, you just keeping picking up the slack. But with hindsight, some of us were mugs. And taken for mugs, over and over, for years.