charliesmum: (Default)
charliesmum ([personal profile] charliesmum) wrote2007-12-04 12:04 pm

Ethical Connundrum

I am interested in getting your opinion on something.

I've been driving Charlie's friend to school in the mornings - his house isn't really out of my way, and I go right past the school on my way to work, and now the weather is bad it just makes more sense then sending them to the bus stop.

This morning, he handed me a card, and in it was $20.00 and a thank you for driving.

Now, with my current financial status, an extra $20.00 I wasn't expecting is rather welcome, but I feel a bit guilty about accepting it.

What do you think?

Is it rude not to accept a gift? Should one just give a heartfelt thanks, and move on, or should one say "Oh, I couldn't possibly accept this. It is my pleasure to drive the kid every morning."

[identity profile] egneveron.livejournal.com 2007-12-05 10:59 pm (UTC)(link)
I could understand how you feel - but maybe his parents really don't have the time to drive him, so they can't return the favor and it makes them feel better to give it to you. If they really didn't want to, they wouldn't have. I know if it were me I would feel better reciprocating in some way. I may not offer cash, but a gift, or gift card or something. I think it was a honest gesture, and not accepting it may make his parents feel bad.

You could always just mention something like what you said, that you appreciate the gift, but it's no problem driving him to school so they don't have to feel like they should pay for some kind of inconvenience.