A Chicken's Dilemma

Which category do you fall into? Are you normally:

(i) early or on-time for appointments; or
(ii) late for appointments?


I'm in category (i). Unfortunately, most of the people I'm supposed to meet fall into category (ii).

I have never been late for work, not until recently...


My colleague (who's staying a few blocks away) & I share a cab to work every morning. We're supposed to meet at 8am & will normally reach the office in about 10 mins, leaving us 20 mins to settle in before work starts officially at 8.30am. This arrangement had worked well so far until problems began surfacing a few weeks ago.

Recently this colleague's son started to take lifts from us as his new school's located somewhere near our office. I do not mind giving him a lift except that they have caused me to be late for work 3 times in the past few weeks already! Not only do they show up at our meeting point as late as 8.20am, they took their time to stroll down with absolutely no sense of urgency knowing very well that by the time we detour to drop her son off, we will be at least 15-20 mins late for work!

What would you have done if you were in my shoes? Would you tell her frankly about how you feel & risk causing unhappiness or adopt the mentality that 'if you can't beat them, join them' & be late for work as well?


I don't like to be late and really don't like being passively forced into making it a habit. I guess it's time to have a talk with her & if need be, stop sharing a cab if our schedules & habits no longer jive but I would have to tell her tactfully so as not to jeopardise our working relationship...


Whatever it is, I will not be a chicken...