will you help pick up your friend's son after school?

[raindrop101]

I was asked to do this when my child was in the 1st grade. I was torn between being a good friend and doing what was best for my family. (I may have done it as a "job" if that had been a possibility.) I decided against it for a few reasons.

1. If my child was invited to another child's house to play, I would have had to say no, make other arrangements for the child I was keeping for my friend, or take care of the friend's child without my own being there.

2. There is definately the problem of too much togetherness for the kids. They are in school together all day, so being together after school may be too much for them.

3. I was a stay-at-home mom for the benefit of my child. We both thrived on the one-on-one time we had together and I wouldn't have given that up for the world.

4. We have a pool, so I was concerned about having that resonsibility.

I would not hesitate to help out a friend in a bind, or for a short time. However, on a regular basis, I was concerned that it would become a problem.

[kelly237]

If you do it at all you should tell her you can do it
occasionally but not everyday.

There should be days when your son should
have just you.. a lot gets shared in those after school
cookie & milk talks.

Also you will need to get to appointments and
do errands and other things so some days won't
work.

[aidxen]

Yes. Take the kid

My wife works one day per week but the other 4 days she is home when the kids get home from school. We live 2 streets from their Primary / Elementary school and 20 min from the railway station where our high schooler takes the train. We have various other kids who seem to stop in on their way home. Some organised with their parents and some just drop in. There waould be at least two or three per week.

Actually kind of interesting in a way that kids would actually want to drop in because we are very strict with our kids and insist on good behaviour from any kids that visit. Like they have to say good afternoon and ask if they can stay and say good by and thankyou when they leave. There is no TV after school. They have to play in the yard or board games or do homework. There is always a bowl of fruit and the only time there are sweets or soft drink is at a brithday party. You would think they would find us boring or too restrictive and go elsewhere.

If it is raining, and my wife drives too or from school, there is often some other child involved. There is one kid whose mum seems to work rediculous hours. She has a second job as a DJ. He has on several occasions stayed over.

One thing we never do is keep tally. We never ask for money.

[crazyma]

Been there, done that. AND it gets old FAST. Especially with no compensation, not even providing me with groceries (snacks for her 3, yes 3, kids), not even picking them up at a consistent same time each day....blah blah blah.

IF you do it, SET some GROUND rules and my gosh YOUR time is worth money so she should be agreeable to pay you SOMETHING for your time!!!

Learn to say no, or set the rules.....don't be a doormat.