Good morning everyone!
First I'd like to say that I am not a mum but an au pair, I really need help and advice and couldn't find a website or a Facebook group appropriate so I thought mumsnet would do.
Basically I have been working for the same family for over a year now, everything is going well with the kids, they see me as their big sister and I can say I am a member of the family. At first my duties were acceptable, all I was doing was related to the kids - wash and iron their clothes, give them breakfast, school run, pick the youngest from pre school at 12:00 give her lunch play until we pick up her brother, going to the park or library with both kids, make dinner, bath them every other day. Very simple
But since September last year, everything has changed, the youngest is now going to school which makes that i'm lone from 9:00 to 15:00, it is supposed to be my free time - i do not need to attend English classes. The mum thought It was ok to start giving me more things to do, who aren't in my contract. Such as heavy cleaning every Thursday for 4 hours - dusting, cleaning the kitchen (oven included) hoover the house (except her bedroom) mop the floor, and clean both bathrooms. The house is pretty big, with two living rooms, a big hallway, and the kitchen isn't easy to clean either, a lot of counters. We used to have a cleaner EVERY OTHER WEEK but somehow she decided to get rid of them (too expensive) I DON'T GET PAID TO DO IT, and its now every WEEK!!
Cats had fleas, two times over the 5 past months, I have HAD to treat them otherwise she would of get rid of the cats. Meaning : BUYING SPRAY (with my OWN money, she didn't pay me back) spray the cats, hoover the house and garden's cats house, + spray both houses. Wait 48 hours and hoover again + moping.
I am not someone who is lazy and complaining a lot, but i have been too nice and reliable, so every time she was asking me to do something i was doing it, for example clean the fridge, or do the lawnmower in the garden, get presents from the shop for a friends, but now it is getting out of control, she is asking me more and more and more and if i say no it turns onto a drama, and she will get upset for a few days!!!
Recently, I got very upset and i am still not over it, to be honest i'm fuming. I always go visit my family during the Easter holidays, for a week as she isn't working (single mum if i didn't mention?) and stay at home with the kids, but she decided to book herself a week away in Marrakech with a friend, leaving me ALONE with the kids, meaning also overnight! so i cannot go to France see my family, i am working, not going on holiday for her to go and relax! i'm furious about it, and haven't decided yet what to do, i need to have a good think! she left me already few times on my own with the kids always for a week when she was out of the country ( always holidays, nothing related to work whatsoever) it didn't bother, but i was expecting to get more money, i am paid £80 a week and i do not think it is enough for what i am required to do - even if for her i am very lazy, once i forgot to the shop to get bread, she came home and said '' oh you're doing nothing the all day, how could you forgot ? ''
Anyway i needed to explain all of this, to have a few opinions, see if i'm over reacting about the situation or if she really unreasonable and taking the piss!
Thank you for those who will reply to me, and for reading this very long message. Have a good day x