Driving other kids

[iheartthe80s]

So, a friend just moved her son to our preschool. She works part time. She asked me to drive her son three days a week so that the younger baby could nap. My mornings are busy. One kid out the door by 6:50. Then I get the twins ready. To drive a 3 year on top of that? Ugh. Getting in safely, hanging coats, washing hands. It's hard enough with my crazy two! I also worry about driving someone's kid that much. Driving in the snow has me paranoid enough. Am I horrible for not doing it? It would be an extra stressor

[Deleted]

Oct 22, 2014 11:31:47 GMT -5 iheartthe80s said:

So, a friend just moved her son to our preschool. She works part time. She asked me to drive her son three days a week so that the younger baby could nap. My mornings are busy. One kid out the door by 6:50. Then I get the twins ready. To drive a 3 year on top of that? Ugh. Getting in safely, hanging coats, washing hands. It's hard enough with my crazy two! I also worry about driving someone's kid that much. Driving in the snow has me paranoid enough. Am I horrible for not doing it? It would be an extra stressor

You're not horrible. If it doesn't sound like something you want to deal with, just be direct and polite. That's a lot to take on with your own crazy morning.

[jmc11511]

Oct 22, 2014 11:31:47 GMT -5 iheartthe80s said:

So, a friend just moved her son to our preschool. She works part time. She asked me to drive her son three days a week so that the younger baby could nap. My mornings are busy. One kid out the door by 6:50. Then I get the twins ready. To drive a 3 year on top of that? Ugh. Getting in safely, hanging coats, washing hands. It's hard enough with my crazy two! I also worry about driving someone's kid that much. Driving in the snow has me paranoid enough. Am I horrible for not doing it? It would be an extra stressor

If you can't do it, or are uncomfortable doing it, that's it. She can figure out an alternative solution.

[knkc]

I would politely decline. I think it is easier to decline now than do it for awhile and then try and stop.

[lala]

Nope, I wouldn't do it either. At least not as a regular 3 days a week thing - occasionally in a pinch? Sure. If this was a shared thing - like she's drives your kids sometimes, it would be different.

[toastie]

We live on a treacherous road, no way in heck would I drive kids in the snow here. Some days I can't even get out our driveway.

Personally, I'm a "can't say no" kind of person and I would probably agree to 1 day a week if the weather is nice. But mom has to bring the kid to the car and buckle him in.

[jjt616]

I wouldn't do that. Sounds like you have enough going on already in the mornings as it is.
Eta: word

[iheartthe80s]

She was going to put him in a backless booster which made me nervous.

[thecheshirekat]

As a regular thing, for free? Hell no. I would do it if her regular ride couldn't make it or the baby was sick or something, but not all the time. Mornings are miserable enough without adding someone else to the mix, especially since I would have to work harder to contain my raging inner morning bitch around someone else's kid

[cna]

I wouldn't do and I wouldn't even feel bad. She is going to have to figure out her own shit and you shouldn't have to add more stress to your morning to make her life easier.

[lala]

Oct 22, 2014 11:42:25 GMT -5 iheartthe80s said:

She was going to put him in a backless booster which made me nervous.

Yea no. A 3 year old needs to be in a 5 pt harness, so that alone would make me say no.

[megster20185]

Nope I wouldn't do it. Although I can't. My back seat is too small to fit another car seat.

[zbeesma86]

Your mornings already sound busy- She can let the baby nap in the car or find a sitter so she can drive her LO.

You're not horrible for declining. You're just keeping yourself sane. I understand feeling bad. But no.

[eaglesfan]

It is the same as watching someone else's kid - I totally help neighbors/friends out in a jam, but as a regular thing? No way. I don't want responsibility for anyone but my own kids on a regular basis

[aussie45]

Oct 22, 2014 12:10:16 GMT -5 lala said:

Oct 22, 2014 11:42:25 GMT -5 iheartthe80s said:

She was going to put him in a backless booster which made me nervous.

Yea no. A 3 year old needs to be in a 5 pt harness, so that alone would make me say no.

Ya this is pretty much where I'm at. To add on the stress of having to watch someone else's child to make sure they get to school safely? Uh, ya no thanks. Your mornings sound hectic enough without you adding another kid. I would politely decline.

If, one day in a pinch, she needs some help, then I would help her, but a regular 3 days a week thing sounds awful.

[lala]

When you said she worked part time, I figured that's why she needed help. But b/c of a baby's nap? Sorry, that's life w/ more than 1 kid. If I asked for help every time my kid had to take a nap…well, I'd be stuck home all the time.

[dizzycooks]

Nope. Not as a regular thing, not in a backless booster, not because of a kid's nap. Change your kids nap or realize that the younger kid gets the shaft in the nap department. That's life.

[mamaalysson]

I wouldn't do it either. Team "I'll watch your kid in a pinch, but otherwise, no thanks". Especially not if her reason is so the baby can nap. That's the deal with the second child - baby's going to have to be a more flexible napper.

[fintin]

Speaking as a person who is helping someone out with watching their child for free I would not take this on. If you are having second thoughts now more than likely this will become an annoyance. Telling someone no up front is easier than telling them you can't do it anymore 2 months down the line.

[iheartthe80s]

Thanks. They have a nanny three days a week. She us home the other two.

[Deleted]

Oct 22, 2014 13:52:21 GMT -5 iheartthe80s said:

Thanks. They have a nanny three days a week. She us home the other two.

The nanny can't drive? She has a nanny to watch the baby and wants YOU to drive so baby can nap....and put her kid in a booster?


Nope nope. Sorry, we're not able at this time. Nope.

[lattelady5]

Oct 22, 2014 12:10:16 GMT -5 lala said:

Oct 22, 2014 11:42:25 GMT -5 iheartthe80s said:

She was going to put him in a backless booster which made me nervous.

Yea no. A 3 year old needs to be in a 5 pt harness, so that alone would make me say no.

I wouldn't do it anyway but in a backless booster...definitely no. You would be liable if anything happened and a 3 year old does not have the maturity or bone development to safely ride in a booster.

Until recently, I wouldn't transport FF kids because my van didn't have tether points. I had it retrofitted and can now, but until then, nope. I strictly follow best practice when transporting children.

I would help in a pinch but not in a backless booster.

[iheartthe80s]

The nanny can drive, but it's all about the nap schedule.