What do you do when you’re out of work and family members keep calling you for lifts? There’s currently a 3 month bus strike in my region so I keep getting phone calls. It took me 4 hours to take my uncle to the doctor, bank, supermarket. 3 hours trailing round the shops after my Nana. Took my mum to hospital and waited for ages.
They aren’t calling any of my cousins because they’re at work. Just me. Even though I also have work to do because I’ve signed up for a course to help get a job and I’m trying to start a side hustle for extra cash.
Today I said “sorry Uncle but I can’t go round Asda with you and carry your bags, I have work to do for my course. Call me when you’re done and want taking home”. This has not gone down well. Because I’m unemployed so why can’t I spend a couple of hours with my uncle, who is isolated and likes it when I take him round Asda and have a coffee with him. 2hrs here, 4hrs there… then DH comes in from work and gets annoyed because I haven’t done the chores or cooking. Because I’ve spent 4hrs trailing elderly relatives round Asda.
It’s like the work I’m doing doesn’t count because it’s not a paid job with regular hours. Did I mention I’m out of pocket for petrol too? Because my uncle drove me all over for free when I was a teenager. Yes, and I’m very grateful - but he was a well paid manager who could afford to do favours, whereas I’m an unemployed mum. DH is going nuts because I’m unemployed with no income but my petrol bill is still the same as when I was driving to work.
Don’t suggest taxis. Too expensive apparently. “Family needs to step up”. Which basically means me because everyone else is at work.