How to say "no" to other moms

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How does this work logistically? I have a preschooler and a baby and I don’t have room in my car for an extra car seat nor do I have an extra car seat sitting around.

So no one has a car bigger than yours? Many (most) people that have two cars and kids have seats for both cars.

OP - she picked you for a reason. Her hair appointment went over? So she scheduled an appointment around the time her kid got out of preschool and then didn't call or text you? She then had the nerve to ask again and you said yes! People like her can smell a doormat like you miles away.

And that many people have room for 3 car seats? I can see owning 2 cars with seats for both -- although actually no one I know does, everyone either has 1 car or if they have 2, switch the seats out. But I don't see many cars around here with room for 3 car seats unless you're talking minivan.

A lot of people have minivans and three row SUVs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This thread makes me so happy I don't live in the suburbs.

What do the suburbs have to do with it?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Oh, I can't today...sorry.

I wish I could help out, but it won't work for us today.

Sorry, Jane...but I'm not able to do that tomorrow.

No, I won't be able to help out this time. Sorry.

So sorry but I can't.

Would love to help, but I won't be able to this time.

There ya go. 6 different versions of the exact same no-excuse response.

And please wait at least 6 hours to respond. Take your time. Next response should be 8 hours and so on. At a minimum, this makes you less convenient.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This thread makes me so happy I don't live in the suburbs.

What do the suburbs have to do with it?

Apparently there are no doormats or users in the city. Who knew?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Oh, I can't today...sorry.

I wish I could help out, but it won't work for us today.

Sorry, Jane...but I'm not able to do that tomorrow.

No, I won't be able to help out this time. Sorry.

So sorry but I can't.

Would love to help, but I won't be able to this time.

There ya go. 6 different versions of the exact same no-excuse response.

+1

These are great examples. Pick one that fits your “voice” and practice saying it.

These are TERRIBLE examples because you don't need to be sorry!

[Anonymous]

This article discusses apologizing in the workplace but it is equally as applicable in regular life. Once I became aware of I stopped saying I "just" wanted to ask something or I was sorry for things I didn't need to be sorry about.

https://hbr.org/2023/08/stop-over-apologizing-at-work

[Anonymous]

“Sorry” is the sympathy sorry, not the apologetic sorry.

I think it’s fine to use it.