'[I’m not] her backup plan': Childfree coworker refuses to continue bending over backwards for a single mom when she starts taking advantage of their availability, setting healthy office boundaries

She had a more lenient schedule because she had no children, but the single mom in the office saw that as an invitation to take advantage.

Being a parent and working full-time is like having two incompatible careers that are constantly bickering and vying for your attention. And yet, while many parents in the workforce juggle their responsibilities with grace and dignity, there are some, particularly in this next story, who can't handle the pressure. Although it's completely understandable to be overwhelmed, the single mom in this next story took things too far, guilt-tripping her coworker into picking up the slack because she "knew she had no other responsibilities."

Just because your coworker doesn't have kids doesn't mean they have nothing better to do but wait around for your beck and call…

Many young adults in the workforce are opting to stay childfree longer than they did in the past. Usually, because of financial pressures, social experiences, or personal preferences, that's a person's prerogative to keep their lives free of soccer practice schedules, PTA meetings, and local bake sales. Some people just want to go home after work, kick off their shoes, and have a mellow evening to themselves, and that's totally their prerogative!

While there are many wonders to being a parent, like watching a mini-me goblin grow up in real time and having the rewarding experiences of raising a family, some parents secretly envy those around them who have the free time after work to say "no" to the family life bustle.

via Yan Krukao

(Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.)
So when this single mom realized that she could have a fallback coworker cover for her in the office anytime the chaos of family life intervened with her career, she thought she'd struck gold. However, when she stopped asking her coworker for help and started demanding that she step in to bail her out, their office relationship became strained.
Finally, the drama broke loose, and all of the beans were spilled on the office floor, when the single mom proved that she thought that her life outside of the office was more important than her coworker's…
AITJ for telling my coworker i will not adjust my schedule for her anymore?

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via Yan Krukao

(Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.)
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