Page 2 | Seriously, what is wrong with everyone today?!

WhatFreshHellisThese · 2025-01-08T11:45:16+00:00

1) Childminder announced they now finish at 5pm -was 530pm. They are "going to send me a new contract to sign". Hmm yeah but l am probably not signing it as l have a real job and 530pm is already waaaay to early. Time to find another childminder most likely 2) Ex announces his girlfriend has moved into my road (for context the plan was for them to live together). Particularly odd as we live in a city with thousands of other roads and no shared children 3) Drain man cancelled yet again so house still hums

JohnTheRevelator · 09/01/2025 18:10

You have a 'real job'? So being a childminder isn't a 'real job' in your opinion? You sound lovely.

WillimNot · 09/01/2025 17:58

I can beat that.

I run a pub and catch every cough and cold going. Tried to get a GP appointment for a week now as I'm pretty sure I have a very bad chest infection. GP desk witch says no, go and get Bronco Stop (despite me saying I've tried every OTC going)

There was a fight in said pub over Christmas, crap but it can happen in a town centre pub. All involved barred. Except suddenly we have had loads of official folk turn up over "anonymous complaints". Despite it being obviously malicious, I'm having to put up with pen pushers treating me like a moron. The latest was Fire Regulator. I keep "all" my fire doors locked. Considering one is the front entrance very doubtful. They were so condescending to me but changed to polite when talking to DH. Clearly I'm just a woman and dim because DH told them what I did and they listened to him.

Money is tight and it sucks. I'm starting to think this was a hugely bad idea but DH is so fucking positive (ignorant) that he doesn't see it. I'm very close to getting a job in Aldi because at least I will have an actual income

4 The amount of companies this year telling folk to do Dry January and avoid the pub. Get in the fucking bin. We do have non alcoholic and soft drinks you know. We don't force feed people Tequila and Fosters.

sushibelt · 08/01/2025 17:43

latetothefisting · 08/01/2025 13:52

so why not just SAY "I have a job" then.

OP CHOSE to insert the word "real" where, as you've pointed out, it was completely unnecessary, the point that she couldn't get there by 5 because her job hasn't finished by then, was already made without it.

She then kept on doubling down and defending it by making random comments like "I meant it was a job where I have obligations to my employer and co-workers" - so, again, literally ANY job, then?

The only possible implication of the word 'real' is that jobs where you potentially can finish earlier than 5pm, aren't 'real', which is just a stupid, and quite insulting, thing to say, so people are entitled to point that out.

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This 100% this. There's some sneering going on

sushibelt · 08/01/2025 17:42

WhatFreshHellisThese · 08/01/2025 12:42

Zero issue with shift work or variable -done lots of it myself. But you can't just float in and out of work with my job or any of the jobs you listed. Imagine Judge Brown has a case in court 3 but no one can find her, turns out she need to go to pick up and has left so the case now needs to be re-scheduled. Not great for the judicial process or victim

My meaning is l have a real job then l have a commitment to. I can't chop and change on a whim. I have had previous jobs where colleagues have flaked a lot due to "childcare issues" thereby pushing the burden onto me and l am reluctant to do that. It is unfair and unprofessional

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My meaning is l have a real job then l have a commitment to. I can't chop and change on a whim. I have had previous so do most people with a job!

sushibelt · 08/01/2025 17:41

Positivenancy · 08/01/2025 11:58

I have a real jobs and I finish at 4:30 🙄

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Oooh

lazyarse123 · 08/01/2025 15:58

sushibelt · 08/01/2025 15:39

She very much is

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Where exactly does she say childminding is not a real job?
She's explained that she worded it wrong because she was fucked off. As we all would be.
I was a child minder years ago when mine were little.

sushibelt · 08/01/2025 15:39

lazyarse123 · 08/01/2025 14:24

So much fucking nit picking. Op you probably should have said "back in the real world most jobs finish after 5 so childcare finishing at that time doesn't work".
In no way is op slagging off childminding as a job.
It's like "cancel the cheque" but nowhere near as funny.

She very much is

sushibelt · 08/01/2025 15:34

Eyresandgraces · 08/01/2025 12:37

It's a job that essentially supplies childcare whilst parents work, finishing at 5pm may be her choice but it is not much use to many parents.
I was a childminder and i finished at the time my latest parent could pick up by.
Most parents want fewer but longer days.
I did 3 longer days.

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And it's still a job?

Grammarnut · 08/01/2025 15:29

MagnoliaGirlie · 08/01/2025 15:12

Then the difference is between flexible and less flexible jobs, not real and what, not real jobs?!?!?! They are so many people working very flexible, WFH jobs who work their arses off, who work till late every night and work weekends to fit all their hours in around childcare. That doesn't make them not real jobs. That's such a Tory/Boris Johnson bulshit term.

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Agree with you. My DD and DS wfh some days. They both work all day and sometimes into the evening, at the week-end.

Other DS is self-employed. He works hard for his income, with monstrously early starts. DGC are all self-employed - work their socks off.

MagnoliaGirlie · 08/01/2025 15:12

CrispieCake · 08/01/2025 13:08

I thought the OP's meaning was obvious. It wasn't about the childminder. I interpreted it as "a job that I have to be physically present for and don't have much flexibility".

Since Covid and the huge increase in WFH, it does feel that some people have become fairly casual about work and that has fed through somewhat to the nannies/nurseries/childminders who care for their kids. Before, work was work and childcare had to be reliable. Now there is a view (which may be right in a lot of cases) that actually things are a lot more flexible. So parents at my DC's school don't take time off for school events, they just wfh that day and pop by for the carol concert or school play. And nannies are more blase about taking time off and nurseries sending kids home if they know that the parents are wfh because "it's ok, they can just work alongside the kids".

But there are some jobs where this isn't the case - they aren't flexible and you have to be there. Healthcare, teaching and (ironically) childcare come to mind, amongst many others. By "real job", I assumed the OP meant that she had one of these jobs and was being slightly pejorative about the other jobs which allow much more flexibility.

Then the difference is between flexible and less flexible jobs, not real and what, not real jobs?!?!?! They are so many people working very flexible, WFH jobs who work their arses off, who work till late every night and work weekends to fit all their hours in around childcare. That doesn't make them not real jobs. That's such a Tory/Boris Johnson bulshit term.

FrannyScraps · 08/01/2025 15:02

WhatFreshHellisThese · 08/01/2025 14:54

They could have mentioned it when l last made a change to my days / hours, it was couple of months ago so most likely they were thinking about it then. It feels like the goalposts are always going to be shifting, next thing you know then they won't do Fridays anymore or not doing term time etc.

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Tbf the childminder works an hour longer than you so maybe she's the one with the real job if that's how we're judging it....

MagnoliaGirlie · 08/01/2025 14:58

You lost me at "real job". Such a vile comment, so arrogant! The whole early years sector is very, very undervalued, in mentalities and financially. You are part of the problem, talking like this.

Original poster

WhatFreshHellisThese · 08/01/2025 14:54

SerafinasGoose · 08/01/2025 14:20

Bit of a hyperbolic overstatement there. The comment is hardly vile or abhorrent: a bit dismissive is about the worst that can be said in line with the actual context of what OP wrote.

It is frustrating when those who provide paid services move the goalposts without notice or fail to turn up when they say they will. It causes considerable inconvenience when someone is depending on those services and can't suddenly rearrange their work commitments on a whim. Shame so many businesses these days are run on this kind of flaky, unprofessional basis.

Having a shit day and venting about it is perfectly fine and usual on a support forum.

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They could have mentioned it when l last made a change to my days / hours, it was couple of months ago so most likely they were thinking about it then. It feels like the goalposts are always going to be shifting, next thing you know then they won't do Fridays anymore or not doing term time etc.

OP posts:

CrispieCake · 08/01/2025 14:48

Laserwho · 08/01/2025 14:09

I childminder isn't a real job according to op. She is taking care of the most precious things in her life, her children and she didn't think it's a real job. I would be telling op to look somewhere else for childcare, how dare she 😡

I hate this attitude towards childcare. OP's children might be the most precious thing in her life to her but they certainly are not to the childminder, who is providing a professional paid-for service. Yes, childcare is often underpaid and undervalued and childminders and childcare staff should have better working conditions but, just because someone's job involves taking care of children doesn't mean parents need to roll over and accept a poor service. You see this argument often on threads about childcare disputes - the parents should suck it up because "they're taking care of your precious kids and if you object, you don't value your kids".

NovemberMorn · 08/01/2025 14:43

ToKittyornottoKitty · 08/01/2025 13:40

Question is… where did the plumber go?

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Well he isn't here, I NEVER get a workman to turn up when they say they will.😫

Cornecopia · 08/01/2025 14:32

Well that’s 3 bad things OP, so now 3 good things are on their way

lazyarse123 · 08/01/2025 14:24

So much fucking nit picking. Op you probably should have said "back in the real world most jobs finish after 5 so childcare finishing at that time doesn't work".
In no way is op slagging off childminding as a job.
It's like "cancel the cheque" but nowhere near as funny.

SerafinasGoose · 08/01/2025 14:20

StrawHatLuffy · 08/01/2025 12:44

I stopped reading here

Hmm yeah but l am probably not signing it as l have a real job and 530pm

Vile thing to say, absolutely abhorrent.

Bit of a hyperbolic overstatement there. The comment is hardly vile or abhorrent: a bit dismissive is about the worst that can be said in line with the actual context of what OP wrote.

It is frustrating when those who provide paid services move the goalposts without notice or fail to turn up when they say they will. It causes considerable inconvenience when someone is depending on those services and can't suddenly rearrange their work commitments on a whim. Shame so many businesses these days are run on this kind of flaky, unprofessional basis.

Having a shit day and venting about it is perfectly fine and usual on a support forum.

ItGhoul · 08/01/2025 14:15

It is the run of other people annoying announcements and scatty behaviour

The only scatty thing is the drain man cancelling. The childminder isn't being scatty; she's exercising her right to choose her working hours and giving you the chance to find someone else. Your ex's girlfriend can move wherever the fuck she wants and I'm not sure why it matters if she happens to live on your street. It's not like you have to invite her round for tea, is it? You'll likely never see her.

GetyourheadoutoftheovenIris · 08/01/2025 14:13

I currently finish at 430pm to get there and now will have to finish at 400pm.

That’s not a real job

whatkatydid2014 · 08/01/2025 14:13

WhatFreshHellisThese · 08/01/2025 12:49

So they all work 930 or 1000 to 400 or 430? Even if they WFH then they would be late every day with a 9am start. She can obviously offers what she wants but l am guessing she hasn't moved the goal posts

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most likely is one parent drops off and works 9:30-5:30 or 10-6 & other parent works 8-4 or 8:30-4:30 and collects. Many employees have a degree of flexibility.

We have core hours of 10-3 where we all have to work but outside that can flex. So you can start as early as 7 for an early finish or as late as 10. That’s without adjustments. It’s also possible to agree to start a bit earlier as an adjustment. I often work 6-2 or 6:30-2:30 as my main hours to allow me to do school pick up. OH drops at breakfast club at 8 and is home by 5ish so he can collect kids from clubs some days
It must be very tough if one person is doing both ends of the day.

HeeleighWay · 08/01/2025 14:10

OP if I was you I'd ask MN to delete this thread, so many people are just going to go on and on about the fact that you said real job! You're not getting genuine responses to the issue because of it.

Laserwho · 08/01/2025 14:09

I childminder isn't a real job according to op. She is taking care of the most precious things in her life, her children and she didn't think it's a real job. I would be telling op to look somewhere else for childcare, how dare she 😡

HeeleighWay · 08/01/2025 14:00

latetothefisting · 08/01/2025 13:52

so why not just SAY "I have a job" then.

OP CHOSE to insert the word "real" where, as you've pointed out, it was completely unnecessary, the point that she couldn't get there by 5 because her job hasn't finished by then, was already made without it.

She then kept on doubling down and defending it by making random comments like "I meant it was a job where I have obligations to my employer and co-workers" - so, again, literally ANY job, then?

The only possible implication of the word 'real' is that jobs where you potentially can finish earlier than 5pm, aren't 'real', which is just a stupid, and quite insulting, thing to say, so people are entitled to point that out.

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Have u never typed something and then realised oh shit I never meant it like that? Obviously not. Go you. 👏

DoloresODonovan · 08/01/2025 14:00

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