An old friend/aquaintance I’ve not spoken to in a few years popped up recently and we got chatting a little over text. In the few years since we spoke she’s had two babies by two different guys. They’re ~6 months and ~2-3 years.
She said that we should get coffee and catch up properly, and I was sort of down, although I’m not really that enthusiastic about catching up with someone I’ve frankly not thought about in a few years. But hey, it’s something to do, and it might be interesting. So I suggested a coffee shop near her and asked if she’d be able to get time away from the kids, but she said that no, she’d have to bring the kids along.
I don’t want to be a dick but I’m really not interested in sitting in a coffee shop with two babies. They’re mostly just going to be the focus of the occasion because they need constant attention, and I don’t really like kids in general. And, if they cry or act up and attract attention I will hate that.
AITA? How do I tell her I’m really not interested in sitting with her babies for an afternoon?
No. You are not a dick. Your colleague is. Your are always allowed to exercise your right to say no, to things you don’t like to do.
How is she a dick for having two children???
I don’t even think the colleague is a dick. OP doesn’t like kids so they wouldn’t want to do this, no problem. Colleage has kids and wants to meet up but has to bring kids, that doesn’t make them a dick. It’s just their circumstance at the moment. I have kids, if I want to go out with friends I either make sure they are OK with it or find someone to watch them. If a friend reached out to me and wants to hang out but I have nobody to watch the kids then I’m not a dick for saying if you want to then I have to bring the kids.
You always have the right to say no. It doesn’t make anyone a dick.