babysitting

[4getmenot]

Ok so last Saturday a friend txt me to ask if I would babysit that night. I had never babysat her daughter before but said yes to help her out. Her daughter was well behaved and enjoyed the night. At end of it they tried giving me �20.00 but I said no as it was my pleasure and I did it as a favour and if they're ever stuck again to call me. Well I have just had a txt saying can I babysit tomorrow night. I am busy and have told her that, I just have a feeling they are going to call all the time. What should I do

[Totterdown]

Sorry if it is felt I am taking away the original poster's problem, but the principle is just the same. It is difficult to say no. In my case the person concerned has three children. All work during the day and "can't possibly ask them at weekends as they are too busy" etc. etc. What irritates me is that this (ever decreasing) friend is in a much better financial position that I am but it is me who bears all the costs of running her around and gets quite huffy when I have to say no, especially evening trips out which I absolutely refuse to do. What started off as a well meaning offer has help has now turned into a nightmare. I am now trying to fight back but hate to cause bad feeling.

[pericat]

But totterdown the bad feeling has already been caused by your friend.

[sqad617]

Totter.

" hate to cause bad feeling"

Why?

To the question "Can you babysit?"...the answer is either YES or NO.

Can't be doing with all this "faffing about"

P.S Nobody has ever asked us to babysit....wonder why?

[Totterdown]

sqad, you are quite right of course. It will certainly make me more wary in the future to who I think I should offer help and how often.