If you're a parent, you'll know how great it can be to have good pals around you to help you out in times of need - especially when it comes to last-minute looking after your kids whilst you have to nip out somewhere urgently.
But one woman was left dumbfounded when her neighbour hinted, not so subtly, that she wanted her to take her son, who has anxiety, to school as they "can't keep affording to send their 12-year-old to school via taxi anymore."
The pregnant mum calmly responded saying that she's going to have a newborn next month, but the woman's reply was not so sympathetic.
She took to Mumsnet to explain what had happened. She wrote: "My son has started reception this year at the local school around five minutes walk away. I have a two-and-a-half-year-old and I'm pregnant due May 10.
"On the odd time, I have taken my neighbour's son to school with me when she had an emergency or she was feeding her baby.
"Yesterday morning she dropped into conversation that they cannot keep affording to send their 12-year-old to school via taxi anymore and as he has anxiety he cannot go by bus so will be needing to drive her to school, and can I permanently take her younger son to school and in the afternoons pick him up and bring him home with me until 5pm ish as she needs to collect baby from childminder and it's becoming too tight. (She is stopping after school wrap-around care as it is too expensive)
"When I mentioned I will be saddled with a newborn next month her response was 'well you would still be doing it anyway so what's an extra child', and I just was so shocked I didn't reply and my toddler started crying so I said my goodbyes.
"How do I deal with this without making it extremely awkward for the rest of our lives as these homes are both our 'forever homes'."
In the comments, other parents were furious with the woman's suggestion, telling her that she needed to tell the woman to get proper child care.
One wrote: "So she wants you to provide free transport and after-school care - what a cheeky f***er. I'd simply tell her that while you're happy to help in an emergency you can't commit to an ongoing arrangement and she'll need to use formal childcare."
Someone suggested she send a polite text, commenting: "Text her: Sorry I was a bit flustered before because xxx was crying! I'm sorry but I can't help with your youngest in that way, I've got too much on with my own after school. Hope you manage to get sorted with it x"
Another mum agreed with the text message suggestion, saying: "I like this. It's polite as well, despite her being a cheeky f***er."
"You deal with it by saying no then leaving her to process it", a Mumsnetter raged.
What would you do in this situation? Let us know in the comments.
