To be upset by these ladies?

[wifey6]

I started a new job in my local department store as a cleaner. The hours are perfect & suits my DS as he can be with his daddy! no childcare costs involved. On my first day I saw a few people I knew...as I was packing up I noticed two ladies...one is a friend of my MIL pointing & saying 'i bet she thinks this is below her...didn't she used to be a shop manager'... When they saw me looking...they very quickly stopped & looked away. I just smiled..went into the other room & cried. It was said in a sarcastic way.
I would never thing cleaner or any job bringing in money for my family is below me. I am not that kind of person. AIBU to of be upset by that?

Go right up to her, smile, and say "Hi X, how are you? Actually I heard you talking about me the other day saying I might think this work is below me."

(Pause and see what she has to say for herself - probably nothing as you'll have taken her by surprise).

"Just to set the record straight that's not true at all so hopefully you won'tfeel the need to say that to anyone else".

Do you get on well with your MIL? if so, you could say to her breezily "Oh, when you see X could you let her know that, actually, I don't consider my job beneath me at all?"

I hate this, I get this attitude a lot but not in such a nasty way thank god! people regularly say what a waste it is that I'm "just" doing my job given my education and work experience. I work bloomin hard and am proud to provide for my family. I am not bothered about glamourous job titles if a job suits the hours my family needs plus keeps us living comfortably.

I also feel I need to play down my education and experience at interviews, as if only un-educated people are capable of hard graft

the phrase "over-qualified" should be banned, there is no such thing!

What rude, obnoxious and snotty people.

Ignore them!

You are working hard to earn your living - you should be proud.

They've just shown themselves up op, they have no class, whereas you my dear have it in spades!

What horrible cows. Tell people you know in coomon what she said so they know how horrible she is.

Thank you all so much....you have no idea what a difference all your posts have made. It broke my heart because I want my DS to be proud of me...& thanks to you all & your kind words..you have made me see it's the providing for him that counts...
I did tell my MIL...she was not impressed at all...! I feel lucky that I have got out of the 'target-driven' job I was in before & can just do my job & then go home to my DS without the stress of not reaching the weekly target! You ladies are so kind for all your encouraging posts!

I also used to own a shop & still run a little business on-line (little do those 'ladies' know)...but this job is my choice. I could sit at home but I feel better for providing for my family than all of you having to support me & family, who do work!

There is dignity in work, shame on them!

Can't bear this attitude. Really can't. Poor you to have had to hear it. People shouldn't be judged (full stop for me) and most especially on what they do for a living.

Fucking skanks. You are doing honest work OP, and cleaning is an essential job. Good for you. Enjoy your wage, your chance to get out of the house and your security of mind knowing that DS and DP are having some quality time.

My most interesting job was a cleaning job, I worked in houses, building sites (they were fun) and met loads of people. I admire cleaners and wish I could go back to it as I've never had so much fun in a job in my life.

Wifey6, before I had DS i was a manager in a bank, (not THE manager but 'second in command') it was a stressful role and took up alot of hours. Once I had DS I decided it wasn't worth the hassle and I made the (difficult) decision to stay with the company I had been with almost 10years but drop my hours/position to work 'on the floor' part time.
This arrangement suits me and my family perfectly, however certain so called friends and colleagues took it upon themselves to act like the 2women you overheard. Let's just say that these people are no longer part of my life, the people who care about me wouldn't care if I picked up litter for a living! I'm happy with my job as it is now so sod em!

Those women were being witches IMO, and WBU.

I agree with the quality time with his daddy.. It has done their relationship the world of good. I do enjoy this job as although I am a real people-person...I can just be lost in thought (or my music) as there is no-one around for the first hour each morning. It's so nice to hear how down-to-earth you lovely MNetters are...thank goodness I found this site!

You sound like a lovely person wifey - which is more than can be said for the alleged "ladies". You are doing something positive for your family and it matters not one jot what you might have done in previous jobs. You can't put a price on contentment and the bitchy pair clearly don't know the meaning of the word.

Good for you OP. Given a choice between you and "ladies" like that I know who I'd choose as a friend.

OP you have two things those ladies bitches women will never have - dignity and grace. Hold your head high.

Thank you all so much. I feel loads better about going in on Saturday now...it's been getting me down.

I've done plenty of cleaning jobs!
You go there, you clean up, you go home.
Pretty much stress free:)

I think the comments speak volumes about the status anxiety and insecurities of the women who made them...

Don't get upset op, the world is full of idiots!

I'm a cleaner, I can work without childcare costs too and I have a 6, 4 year old and a 9 month old . The job fits in around school hours and my pils and husband take care of the baby. I used to be an office manager a life time ago, I became ill and lets just say they were unsympathetic!!

I go in to work, do my job well, get in my car, go home and don't think about it until the next shift and I get three weeks off at Christmas , its bloody brilliant .

Ok, I'm going to misquote horrendously but President Eisenhower, who was also the former General Eisenhower, Supreme Commander Allied Forces Europe during WW2, once ripped into a junior officer who made fun of a soldier who used to be a barber.

He said something along the lines of,
"What kind of a man tries to make another man feel ashamed of doing a job which provides food for his family!"

So well done you and fuck 'em! The man who planned D-Day and defeated Nazi Germany would have been on your side!

YANBU!! Obviously you don't think it is "beneath you"- why on earth would you?

You sound like someone who has a great work ethic, and you are fitting your work in to make your family life more manageable- I for one think that is brilliant, and to be applauded. As for these pass-remarkable old sows- ignore.