Do you give in at any demand!

[kindredspirit]

I generally try to work with the parents, and the ones I have like to feel involved. They don't 'demand' though, and that's why we have a great relationship. If they thank me for a photo (one parent put a pic I took of just her child on facebook, another shared a link to a post I made with her daughter demonstrating a lesson (no faces showing). These things make me take more pics because I know it's appreciated. Same with art. If a parent or child mentions a special date (we might be early picking up because it's Bob's birthday) then we will make a card or craft or cupcake, and if it is appreciated, I keep doing it.

I won't keep them in because they say so, and if they don't have gear, I use my extras and take pics as a passive aggressive reminder (they often message back-oops! I can't believe I forgot her coat! Thanks for lending one). And the item is always there next day. For things like telling me to bundle them up, I just assume it's small talk-because they were outside, and try not to take offence. I generally nod, and say 'yes, looks like a chilly one'.

[Lee-Bee]

If I am asked, with the full ability to say no, then I am more than willing to go out of my way to help/accommodate. If I am pressured, pushed, demanded to do something with no ability to freely say no...then I refuse. Demands are not respectful. If you don't respect me enough to ask, then it is NOT in my best interest to comply and at the end of the day I have to look out for myself first.

Some people just don't care and don't respect others (or themselves) enough to care. If you are receiving a lot of demands it means the relationship is not healthy and needs some changes. I tried to explain this to my mother-in-law years ago...