venting

Hi! I need to vent.

I went home for the holidays and my flight back to where I live was canceled twice. Hence, I missed two days of work. Upon my return, I quit my position with a three-week notice because of a new opportunity! I'm a nanny in a share and both families wanted me to make up the time I missed. That's 16 hours. I stayed late last week Wed-Friday and worked for 3 hours on Sunday. They insisted on my completion of the remaining hours. I said I could come in this Saturday from 8-4 and they said no, that next weekend works best for them. I'm going out of that town that weekend so it's a no-go. They asked me to stay late today which I can't because of a prior engagement. I can't do tomorrow or Thursday so I suggested Friday. One of the moms said no because she'll be out of town. By this point, I'm pretty stressed out! The dates I suggested don't work for them and the dates they suggested don't work for me. It's too overwhelming because I have a life outside of them. It's not my fault the flights were canceled. Like any other job, just take it out of my paycheck which I already said I was okay with (I have no more sick days/PTO).

I even called my parents hysterically because this was causing me so much stress. ENOUGH! So I texted them that I'm sorry those days don't work for them but I have prior arrangements and to just take the money out of my future paycheck. Thanks. They didn't respond which is fine. I just think it's ridiculous to be so focused on those makeup times when I told them before to just take it out of my paycheck.

This is what's so tricky about the profession: sometimes I think families feel entitled to one's free time. I'm an adult and understand the consequences of missing work. This was totally out of my control yet I still suggested docking the pay. It's intimidating to be you against 4 other people. I'm proud of myself for sticking up for me. I offered solutions and they didn't appeal to them. Too bad!

I still feel agitated because of the amount of unnecessary stress it inflicted on me. I have a group of nanny friends who were appalled that I was asked to make up the hours in the first place. They totally understood my POV. Thanks for listening to my rant.