[mopar crazy]

2day my son had a football game out of town. We were going to stop for pizza and then for ice cream and then to the capital city. The pizza place and the ice cream place is no longer in our area so this was going to be a special treat for us since H just got paid. After the game my and his friend asked me if we could take him home. His dad dropped him off at the game and left. His unlce was suppose to bring him home but he left him there. I told his friend there wasn't much room in my car (w/all all of us, and their pads, chairs, ect). He said he would find someone else then. I told him that we would take him home b/c I didn't want him trying to find a ride. So, we had to cancel pizza, ice cream, and the capital city. We had to cancel the pizza and ice cream b/c we can't afford to take this child out to eat. The ice cream we probably could afford if he would of gotten an ice cream cone, or one of those dilly bars or star bars. But my kids love the Blizzards and they are $3.00 for a small. We couldn't afford to pay for all of us to get blizzards and pizza and it wouldn't be fair if my kids had to get another treat b/c we couldn't afford to buy all three of them blizzards. H takes the left over pizza to work to eat for lunch so he doens't have to buy anything else. It cost us $25 in gas just to go to the game. We could of easily of afforded to go out as a family for pizza and blizzards but not w/ an extra child w/ us. In no way is this the child's fault. I already called his mom and told her his uncle left so we brought him home. I told her we we had plans to go to the capital city but we didn't want him trying to find a ride home for himself. She didn't apologize for inconvienancing us, but she did thank me for bringing him home. This isn't the first time this has happened. His parents aren't loosers or anything like that. Dad is the administrator at the Christian College and a Golf coach, mom is a SAHM, and they live in a nice home. I would NEVER deny this child a ride home if he has no ride and I think they realize that. It would of been nice if she would of apologized for inconvienancing us.
I think I need to call her back and tell her the next away game we will not be able to bring him home, and they need to make sure he has a ride home from practice. We shouldn't be responsible for this child, his parents need to be.

[Its Not A Tumaaa]

I agree. It was nice of you to cancel your plans to make sure he was brought home safely. His parents definately need a major ass whooping.

[Tiny Dancer]

His parents aren't loosers or anything like that. Dad is the administrator at the Christian College and a Golf coach, mom is a SAHM, and they live in a nice home.

They are loosers, regardless of whether or not they are financially secure! I have to wonder why a SAHM isn't going to her son's ball games and why a man who is a coach can't understand that it is important to go to his son's ball games.

That being said I do sympathize with your situation. Rather than waiting for it to happen again would it be possible to call the mother in advance and suggest that you provide his transportation home from the game, but with the caveat that he needs to bring some spending money to cover his own expenses? (Something like, "I know that it's hard for you to get to the games, and we don't mind providing the transportation but please send some spending money with him for his supper and ice cream since we are planning to stop on the way back."; then suggest an amount. If he "forgets" the money and the time comes to get supper tell him you can "loan" him the money but his parents will need to reimburse you when you get to his house. Make sure his purchases are on a separate receipt and save it so that you can take it to the door when you drop him off. They should not balk at paying for their son's supper if they forgot to send the money in the first place. It would be great if they offered to help with gas, but it sounds like they are too thoughtless to think of it on their own.)

Whether or not you feel comfortable suggesting such an arrangement depends on you. At least if you make the offer then maybe the child will not be left to "find" his own ride home.

You're right in that it is NOT your responsibility, but I personally have a hard time turning my back on a child that I can help; sounds like you probably do too. I can only imagine that he probably envies your children who have parents who give what kids want most: their time!