Seriously, what is wrong with everyone today?!

"The builders coming today between 9-3 but I can't be there, I have a real job."

"The car delivery people can only deliver before 4pm, I can't be there as I have a real job"

Etc

It's totally obvious what OP meant, op obviously just meant she works particular hours not that other jobs aren't real jobs..

Totes obvs.

Now I've gotta go, can't sit around on Mumsnet, I've got a real job...
No no no I didn't mean it like that, I just mean that I have to have a shit...

🤣🤣🤪

@WhatFreshHellisThese my ex DH - I could write a book. Your ex is definitely trying to get a reaction 😂

@MiraculousLadybug the last week, while so far not had actual contact with any of the culprits, the idiotic parking I’ve seen has been like ‘wtf?’ Including two people last week, who couldn’t be arsed to drive the extra 40 yards to go round the top floor of the multi storey car park in the right (arrowed) direction, resulting in 2 near misses with people going the right way, while I was sat in my space having just parked. And then someone parked next to me, again there were 4-5 empty spaces together further along “arrghh”. Sorry about your door ☹️.

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.

He had probably double-booked and found one job took too long. Pretty poor not to turn up, though. Builders' time, I think. My plumber has just left, saying he won't finish fixing new boiler till tomorrow. Cue 22nd very cold night!

Apparently she "didn't have enough children booked in" before Christmas and now it's "unforeseen circumstances". She's leaving it mysterious. I should probably ask for a better explanation but she never replies to any messages/never answers the phone. DD starts in a nursery next month and I'm counting the days tbh.

😅😅 Even so, it's the least he can offer for bothering you with useless information.

It sounds like a crap day and I hope you get it all sorted soon. Hopefully your CM has a notice period too, so you have time to find an alternative.

Schrödinger's childminder: simultaneously providing an essential service, and not doing a real job.

Eh?

Why would her ex's new girlfriend look after her kids? Would you have some stranger not connected to the children in any way look after them?

Random

Question is… where did the plumber go?

I'd be having a word about him announcing things in work meeting that are personal never mind irrelevant.

The childminder has been unprofessional. It does t sound like she has given you much notice of the change and she's not taking your job seriously.

@WhatFreshHellisThese he’s
definitely trying to get a reaction. Still, I remember my ex husband telling me to avoid a specific town because he was taking his new girlfriend to one of our favourite restaurants, the twat 🙄

It's funny how a thread derails because everyone clings on to something that wasn't meant in a certain way. If OP hadn't have said the word "real", loads of answers would have been about the actual issue instead of banging on about "real job". Typical for MN replies though 🤯

I think these issues are all interlinked. The ex’s girlfriend has sabotaged your drains and your childminder doesn’t want to look after your kids anymore because they smell of sewage and it reflects badly on her business.

Can we all chill out about 'real jobs'? OP had said this was a vent, it's not a policy paper on the employment market. Poster who called it 'vile' should get some perspective.

Just adding OP that your reply to your ex about the takeaways and parking was perfect 😎

Your childminder would have thought long and hard about this- she would have realised that she would potentially lose families because of it but has to take that risk
Childminding is hard- low pay, and insecure but many minders- including myself- do it because they want to stay at home with their own children. We don't get lunch breaks, or tea breaks,struggle to fit in doctors and dentist appointments, and leaves little time for your own children if you're open for 10 hours a day. Maybe this is the reason why she's reducing her hours- sometimes, something has to give!

You haven’t explained it at all. You’ve given some waffle that makes absolutely no sense.

When you are having a particularly crappy day, it's good to talk it out, even with strangers online.

Maybe not Mumsnet though.😆