On the spot/last minute requests

[mumofone]

I'm getting lots of last minutes texts at the moment (ie on the morning of the day) asking for earlier drop offs and later finishes etc. I know its good and extra business but i feel its assumed I will say "Yes" when quite often I dont want to. Its rarely that i cant but more that I dont want to. Is this just part of the job we have to suck up, its really hard on the spot to say "No"!

[loocyloo]

It is, and especially so at the moment as it's not as if we can really say we have to be somewhere!

just have to say,' let me check the calendar ' and then 'no sorry' I have an online training course/teachers meeting/ ??? ' Good luck!

I generally say that an earlier drop off at the moment when I am not doing school runs is fine ... but once I go back to school runs/after school activities, then it might not be, and the same with late pick ups! I once had to put a minded child in car and drive to swimming pool to take my children to their swimming club. I told mum she'd have to meet me there.... She rang, to say 'where are you?' ... she was outside my house, and presumed I'd wait for her! I said she'd have to come and collect ( 30 min round trip ) as my children were not going to be late for their activity, and I would be there for at least 2 hrs! she didn't do it again !!!!

[Mouse]

I'm getting lots of last minutes texts at the moment (ie on the morning of the day) asking for earlier drop offs and later finishes etc. I know its good and extra business but i feel its assumed I will say "Yes" when quite often I dont want to. Its rarely that i cant but more that I dont want to. Is this just part of the job we have to suck up, its really hard on the spot to say "No"!

It really is hard to say no, but you can do it. You agree contracted times for a reason - they're the times you're willing to work. If you don't want to do the extra hours, don't feel bad about saying no.

It's easier if they send a text as it gives you time to compose a reply and you don't have to say "no" to their face! I had one parent used to text regularly saying "Hi, can you have X for an extra hour tonight? I'll send the money over now." I'd check my bank account and see that she'd sent money through before I'd even said yes! I didn't mind the first couple of times as I knew they had genuine reasons, but when I realised they'd started spending that extra hour in the pub, I decided I wasn't going to do it any more. I started sending a simple reply - "sorry, I can't tonight". I always felt really bad as my finger hovered over the send button, but it was such a relief once I'd sent it. I never gave a reason why I couldn't do it, I just said no.

Be strong and say no. You'll feel better for doing it :thumbsup:

[Pixie dust]

It's hard but I have started saying 'no' a lot more as I have one parent who will always text and say sorry going to be late today or can you have 'x' for an extra hour something had come up but found out mum was normally just popping in to the supermarket or getting her nails done! (prelockdown) They haven't been since the start of the year due to the current lockdown and haven't missed all the drama that comes with this family :o