So feeling very bothered by this. We are having some building work done. We are living in the property with 2 small ones and it's quite uncomfortable. So far so first world.
We have had lots of delays which means the build will probably take at least double the original schedule. Some of the delays were unavoidable, some were avoidable. Anyway, we have chivvied the builders where we thought we could speed things up but mostly just accepted that there were things we just have to live with that are beyond our control.
When I see the builders they are always offered a hot drink and some polite chit chat but mostly I am concerned with taking care of my little ones in very tight circumstances and get through what was always going to be a challenging time.
If it makes a difference the builder suggested we remain in the property during the build.
So the main builder is obsessed with the idea that I should smile more. It's really pissing me off. He misses a deadline and because he does it a day late I'm supposed to grin ear to ear. He goes on and on about it, even talking to my DH about it (who quite rightly shut him down). I may well have bitchy resting face but I have been polite and friendly to him but the way we are living is difficult and I don't celebrate him constantly missing his deadlines by only a day. I actually didn't have a problem with him before the smile fixation and didn't feel I needed to make an effort to get on with him but now he is grating on me.
I'm sure he wouldn't fixate on this if I were a man. Why should I smile because he wants me to? I'm paying him a shed load of money to complete a job for me and HE'S the one trying to dictate my behaviour.
Is this sexist bullshit? How should o deal with it?