Hmmmm......
STAND ALONE NARRATIVE
BE THE JUDGE
I have a single mother living close to me. Her first son traveled to the village to write his exam so it was only she and her six-year-old son at home.
During the world cup, the little boy would come to my house to watch the matches and sometimes movies. Around 10pm I would spray insecticide because of the mosquitoes While I was waiting for the smell to clear, the boy would often fall asleep.
When it was time for me to go inside, I would call his mother, but she was not always around. So I would carry the boy into my house where he would sleep until the next day. I didn't like what was going on.
The World Cup ended and my TV subscription also expired so there was no reason for him to keep coming over.
On Sunday she called me and said she wanted to go out and asked if I could allow her son to sleep over. I said no because I wasn't comfortable with that, she pleaded with me to let him sleep on the couch or even on the floor, but I still stood my ground.
Yes, I had enough space for him to sleep, but I wasn't comfortable with the arrangement. I didn't know where she was going, and I felt that if anything happened to her or to us at home, I would end up answering unnecessary questions. As the saying goes, "Prevention is better than cure."I didn't want to find myself in unnecessary trouble.
In the end, both of them went out together at about 10:00 p.m.
Since that day, she has ignored me whenever I greet her. She even told her son to stop coming to our house.
Was I wrong for refusing to let her son sleep over?
Ha!!! You were not wrong at all, this one oloso night waka she dey go.
It is good that you out your feet down..She wanted to use you for unpaid Nanny services...Please bone her and mind your businesss oooh cos oloso wahala no dey finish..
It was a good thing you stopped it. Let her keep her son.
ReplyDeleteYou were not wrong. It is a good thing you refused. If you had agreed to that, from one night, it will become weekend. Let her continue to carry face. You sef stop greeting her.
ReplyDeleteYou are not wrong my dear. She is a user and its good that you stood your ground.
ReplyDeleteThat's how they will be abandoning their kids for days in one's house without explanation all in the name of friendship.
You did nothing wrong, infact you even tried to greet her more than once and it's even good that the boy stopped coming to your House, let her take care of her child, so that you can avoid story that touches the heart..
ReplyDeleteNa kukere walka she dey do. And honestly, you did the right thing by avoiding wahala tomorrow.
ReplyDeleteI really feel for the little child being exposed to that kind of lifestyle at that age. At the same time, a part of me feels for the mother too. This might be the only way she knows to fend for herself and her kids. Life isn't fair to some people.
I’m not justifying the hustle she chose, but I also won’t condemn her. Sometimes you need to know someone’s background story before you judge them.
©️ TEEJAY
Dear Poster,
ReplyDeleteYou have just done the right thing. You owe her nothing. I would wish you to be greeting her (that looks good for your conscience), keep doing that; it causes you no harm. Rather, she will be the one to be avoiding you at all costs.
I treated a close Neighbour like that. He the family keep avoiding wherever I am. And las las, they now respond to my greetings; though they don't greet.
@KSB TRUGH
You did nothing wrong. You saved yourself from wahala.
ReplyDeleteExactly, big time wahala
Delete
ReplyDeleteSometimes, the hardest word to say is No.
Not because you don't care, but because you understand that one wrong decision can change your life forever.
Helping a child is a beautiful act of kindness, but if anything had gone wrong, you would have been the one answering questions, regardless of your good intentions.
We shouldn't be quick to judge the mother or assume where she was going.
My dear poster,never let the fear of disappointing people push you into ignoring your own convictions. The Bible says:
The prudent see danger and take refuge, but the simple keep going and pay the penalty.(Proverbs 22:3)
I understand your stand. Maybe you should have been more emphatic with your response. Still, na your house and its your decision. Everyone will be fine las las.
ReplyDeleteYea. I have the same sentiment too. Sometimes the way we convey our response matters a whole lot.
Delete©️ TEEJAY
Poster said no
DeleteOn Sunday she called me and said she wanted to go out and asked if I could allow her son to sleep over. I said no because I wasn't comfortable with that, she pleaded with me to let him sleep on the couch or even on the floor, but I still stood my ground.
Please forget her,she will get tired..
ReplyDeleteClap for yourself @Poster! You were absolutely, gbamsolutely and all the tely right. Before you know it, na you go dey do caregivers for the boy every night and if anything happen to the boy, na so you take enter jete. The next time you wanna greet her, do it in the presence of people and if she no answer, call her with her son’s name (Mama John I dey greet you o), if she still ignores you, bury that part of your relationship and move on. You no come that city come do omugwo for a coded oloshi!
ReplyDeleteYou did the right thing . Pls save yourself that stress of troubling your little head. Greet her whether she answers or not. Stamping your foot is better than had I known. That will not be your portion.
ReplyDeleteI don't know what this is. I know ppl get tired of their young children from time to time and desire a break but folks should work out more formal arrangements for babysitting. I don't like any parent getting too comfortable with letting their young child spend excess amount of time with anyone, that is how trauma stories start. You have every right to be uncomfortable, you are unrelated to the child and having someone's child in your care is a major responsibility. She has no reason to be upset with you, she is wrong for carrying ill feelings, because you allowing her child to watch world cup matches doesn't make you a de facto babysitter. You did nothing wrong!
ReplyDeleteYou did well
ReplyDeleteIt doesn’t matter where she’s going
She can’t slowly make you her babysitter unless you agree
You did well. Like your mind told you, you have saved yourself from future troubles.
ReplyDeleteShe is very wrong for that. Single parents do need personal time like everyone else but its got to be a formal arrangement.
ReplyDeleteShe owes you an apology. I would go demand it just because of the relationship you have with the boy. None of this is his fault and he misses you.
You ma no greet her again na
ReplyDeleteYou even get time to dey greet her, bone her and stop greeting her, you're not her baby sitter, she should get one if she needs it, radarada.
ReplyDeleteMy dear, you did well. Just like you said, if anything should happen, nobody would want to know how the boy came to your house. You will just be outrightly crucified. Don't mind her
ReplyDeleteHow I wish I have the nerves to give people a big fat NO! You do well my sister.
ReplyDeleteI applaud you..
ReplyDeleteEntitlement mentality. Let her stay on her own abeg
ReplyDeleteMy dear,the world is so wicked that we find it hard to help people this days, you did nothing wrong .
ReplyDeletePerson wey dey stylishly look for free Nanny & also dash sleep over duties She think say na only her get plenty sense. Poster you too look away & ignore her 🤣🤣
ReplyDeleteYou did the right thing. It's better to be on a safe side than to be sorry later if anything go wrong she won't even say you were helping her, she sound entitled too cos why was she giving you attitude? She already forgotten the days you were good to her child
ReplyDeleteI share same sentiments with everyone here. You did well.
ReplyDeleteEverything in life is context. She sounds like one going out to flex. If she was going out to work or hustle, I wouldn’t mind
ReplyDelete