Dear MIMsters: My sister-in-law to me: “If you don’t trust your driver, then fire him…”
“If you don’t trust your driver, then fire him.” Those were my sister-in-law’s words to me after she failed to pick up my kids from school as we had earlier agreed, that day.
I’m a working mum of two. My kids are 6 and 3. My driver and I drop them off at school in the mornings and when they close, he picks up my nanny, and together, they drive to the children’s school and my nanny signs them out.
I never allow my driver drive alone with my kids to avoid stories that touch the heart. Secondly, pick up should not exceed more than 45 minutes from closing, otherwise, your child will be left behind with whoever.
Now, my SIL is visiting and hubby is out of town. She begs to use driver around town and I said yes but on the condition she goes with him to pick the kids up from school. They close at 2pm. I also explained all the other rules to her. When it was 1pm, I called her to remind her to get to the school early. She told me that she was at the salon making her hair and her nails. I told her to hold pause the making of her hair and nails to pick up the kids with my driver because I didn’t think she would meet up with if she continues.
Do you know what she did? Instead, without telling me, my SIL sent the driver alone to go and pick up the kids from school to bring them back to the Saloon so she could finish her hair and nails. I got to know because a teacher from the school called to ask me if I permitted my driver to pick up the kids. I told the teacher NO. I was livid, I called my SIL and she told me that if I don’t trust my driver, I should fire him that she can’t go to the school with unfinished hair and nails.
I had to quickly call another mum who is also a parent of the school to help me drop off my kids which was such an inconvenience for her since she lives in a different direction from where I live.
I have not been speaking to her since them because I’m so angry and hurt. I don’t know of anyone who leaves their young kids to be ferried around with their driver. Is this about trust or caution? My SIL is insisting she is right. Without bringing my husband into this, how should I handle my SIL so she can respect me and my rules?
If she can’t stick to the rules of engagement of using the car, please don’t release the car to her next time. I stand with you on this one. I don’t support having the children alone with the driver, if it can be avoided.
I mean, that was the arrangement she met when she came, then why try to change it. I don’t like it one bit. And to add salt to injury, her response was very rude; no remorse whatsoever. Mtcheeew
Stop releasing the car for her own use if she can’t stick to the rules.