How did I become a high priced babysitter?

M

Maximus

Cathlete
So my boss brings his 10 year old daughter in today & dumps her with me. Don't get me wrong--she's a sweet kid & I had lots of fun w/her, but I had a deadline tomorrow & it was pretty tough to meet it w/her hanging around. We went out to breakfast. We went out to lunch. We played pinball & solitaire on my computer.

But for some reason I'm feeling just a little insulted & taken for granted here. The things they don't teach you in college! ;(
 
Maximus,

You LET him leave her with you. What happened to your boundaries?Where was he?

On the other hand, maybe you scored some points with the boss.
 
That IS insulting!!

Maybe next time you could put her to work. Make her answer the phone, make photocopies, sort mail, get coffee. Call her an "intern".;-) ;-)

Edited to add that you really should nip this one in the bud with your boss. I've seen some faculty members do something similar with their department secretaries and it doesn't stop until someone puts their foot down...HARD. Good luck!
 
As long as he doesn't give you a hard time about missing your deadline. Let me rephrase that, he'd BETTER not give you a hard time.

I didn't want to give the impression that I thought it was OK.
 
RE: One other thing...

Yeah right! LOL!

I think part of the problem is she WANTS to hang out w/me. She asked him if she could stay w/me all day. We really hit it off the first time I met her so I guess if she has to hang out all day at her dad's work she wants to do it w/me. No way could I tell him no, if only to avoid hurting her feelings.

This doesn't happen often, but it isn't the first time either. And let me tell you, it's not easy for a 37 year old childless woman! I have not a clue what to do w/the poor child. I pumped her full of Dunkin Donuts for breakfast & ice cream at lunch (just a little bit of sugar high payback LOL). I'm thinking we're both gonna hit the bar for happy hour after work. }(
 
RE: One other thing...

See, I don't understand this either. He should get a baby sitter either at a daycare, relative, or neighbor BUT not someone at work. I don't think this is right.

I have a teacher here at work who just got divorced and has 2 and 6 year old boys. She's constantly e-mailing everyone at work to help watch the boys while she coaches softball. She won't let her ex-husband watch the boys except on his court appointed times and these aren't those time so she is constantly asking people to help her out. I so far have declined because I think she should quit coaching until she works something out. She refuses to hire someone to watch them because she tells us she has spent too much money getting her divorce (which is probably true), but still they are her responsibility and not everyone elses.
 
RE: One other thing...

Ahhhh....the 37 year old childless woman...my friend Deanna is 37, childless and fed my daughter TWO donuts when we got together for this year's St. Patrick's Day parade. Then my daughter got all mad at me because I wouldn't let her have the second one. Dee is morbidly obese, so she doesn't get it. Maximus...you know better! Is it your strategy so that he won't want you to watch her again? Well, it won't work. Fathers don't care about that.:)



(that's a joke about fathers. I know that some do.)
 
RE: One other thing...

Maximus, face it, YOU ARE COOL. That is why she likes to hang with you! And being cool, even if it is only a 10 year old that thinks it......is fun once in a while.

I'm sure that those were the best 2 doughnuts she ever had, 'cause she had them with someone cool!

I think you're kinda cool too.

melissa
 
RE: One other thing...

Melissa is right, you know how to have fun and she likes being around you. You never know, you could make a difference in her life and she might always remember you for it.

Charlotte~~
 
I guess it would really depend on how often he brings her in and why. If he is jut bringing her just because she has offf from school and wants to come, thinking that you will watch her, that's really unfair. If he was stuck at the last minute and this only happens once in a while, well, you are probably making points and it won't hurt (if you don't mind, that is). If you don't like to be with her, then all bets are off and it is wrong. And if he gives you any crap about his deadline, Grrrr...!!!!!!! If I were you and I had that deadline, I woudl have said something to the effect of "I'd love to play and hang out all day, but I do have that deadline." That way, he coudl have found someone else or excused your deadline. :)

I am an attorney (not a partner yet!) and my bosses bring their kids in sometimes on school vacation. The paralegals hang out with them and give them jobs to do all day. It isn't very often that it happens but everyone enjoys the day when they are there. Let's faceit...it si much better having your mail delivered by a small, bright, happy face than a grumpy one!

Whatever your preference on this one...but I think you need to make your preference known to your boss in some way!

Good luck :)
 
I agree. If it is rare that she brings her in, have fun with her. She obviously admires you and has fun with you. Kids need all the positive and caring adult role models they can get. :)

Lori
 
RE: One other thing...

Well gee, I didn't think of it that way. What a nice thing to say. :) Thanks guys, you've made me feel much better about being used. :7
 
Hi Maximus! That's totally unacceptable. In our office, whenever the attorneys bring in their children they NEVER place the responsibility of the care of their children off on us co-workers. I don't know what kind of a relationship you have w/your boss, but perhaps you could tactfully mention this to your boss. Taking his child out for breakfast as well as lunch is totally out of line. Aarrgghh I'm angry over this. Hope you have a better day today. Kathy:D
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Our Newsletter

Get awesome content delivered straight to your inbox.

Top