If another parent drops your child to school daily

What would you offer to pay? I wanted to carpool and take turns with my neighbor but she is already committed to taking another child everyday so she offered to take my DD daily too. I feel bad not helping her as well.

Re: If another parent drops your child to school daily

Slightly different but I have a babysitter who takes ds and I pay her $100/wk. But it's an hour all total.

Is it literally just drop off? If yes then I'd prob just do things like buy gc's for restaurants every few wks

Re: If another parent drops your child to school daily

Re: If another parent drops your child to school daily

If another parent drops your child to school daily

I would likely buy a $50 gas gift card to a gas station convenient to where you live twice a school year (September and February) as a thank you and sign of your appreciation.

Re: If another parent drops your child to school daily

Re: If another parent drops your child to school daily

Re: If another parent drops your child to school daily

If another parent drops your child to school daily

Wow! I thought $50 twice a year was more than enough -- the neighbor is already going to the same school to drop off her child, so she isn't going out of her way geographically speaking -- clearly I am low balling. What about a gift/giftcard 4 times a year, like every time a report card comes out? I understand wanting to be generous but at the same time, if you are spending a lot of money thanking her for taking DD to school, it might be cheaper for you to take her on your own! IMO, the gift card represents a simple thank you for your kind gesture -- its not intended to match your neighbor's mileage on her route to school each day.

Message edited 8/15/2014 8:55:15 AM.

Re: If another parent drops your child to school daily

If another parent drops your child to school daily

I think a gas gift card twice a year is more than fine.

And that I obviously need to start driving some of your kids to school. Fifty a week to do what I'm already doing? Dang!

Re: If another parent drops your child to school daily

IMO you don't need to give anything but a thank you and help with her kids when she needs it. Perhaps around the holiday or at the end of the year a special gift. She is not going out of her way to pick up and drive she is going to school but taking your daughter. You offered to share and she said no. once you start giving $$ or gift cards you will feel obligated to continue. When or how do you stop??

I am sure many will disagree with me. This is what being neighbors and friends are about. Not everything requires gifts and money thrown at it. A thank you and card goes a long way in life. IMO

Re: If another parent drops your child to school daily

Message edited 8/15/2014 9:23:15 AM.

Re: If another parent drops your child to school daily

I would get a gift around the holidays & definitely around the end of the school year but if you really want to help her out - tell her that if she is in a bind to please call you. That goes for snow days, afterschool playdates & if her kid is sick, offering to help her out, drive the other kid if necessary.

And ALWAYS, ALWAYS have your kid ready & waiting for her.

Also I'd follow up with her to make sure it's still ok. My daughter's friend's mom offered to drive & pick up my daughter for dance but it became clear to me that it was becoming problematic so I arranged for my parents to step in.

I had a SAHM once offer to pick my daughter up on the day that the school had a snow emergency closing. I already had my mom helping me out but it's been 6 years & I still haven't forgotten that generosity. Anytime I can help her out, I do because of that gesture.

Message edited 8/15/2014 9:59:30 AM.

If another parent drops your child to school daily

Slightly different situation but another mom and I share babysitting. She watches my son while I work and I watch her kids while she works. We do not exchange money. The only thing that I do about once a month is bring over a few bottles of juice, snacks, etc for all the kids. Only because my son is there for lunch everyday.
For Christmas I did get her and her husband a gc for a restaurant.
In general neighbors/friends helping each other out, I don't think there is any reason to exchange money. A nice GC at the end of the year would suffice.

Message edited 8/15/2014 10:51:56 AM.

Re: If another parent drops your child to school daily

WOW I really thought I was going to get slammed for my comment :)

Growing up our neighbor almost ALWAYS drove us in the morning when younger and when we were in high school a different mom drove, because she went to work and it was on her way. My mom never gave money etc, but at the end of the finally year with my moms knowledge I bought that mom a little thank you gift (I was in high by that time). She thought my gift was a nice surprise.

a side note, my mom did drive from time to time.

Message edited 8/15/2014 4:43:08 PM.

Re: If another parent drops your child to school daily

Re: If another parent drops your child to school daily

I would do a gift twice a year and maybe something for the mom like a visa GC that way she might feel more special than putting gas in her car if you know what I mean.

Re: If another parent drops your child to school daily

I think the gas giftcard 2x a year is fine, its not like she is going out of her way since she lives next door and has to take her DC to school anyway. Growing up I had a neighbor down the block take me to school (she had a DD in the same school) since my mom had to work and we just got her gifts at xmas time and at the end of the year.