I could really use some advice or perspective. I work at the same place as my partner and his mum (she’s married to the boss), and it’s such an awkward setup.
For the past week and a half, I’ve been in a unit doing painting and decorating, and I’ve honestly been so, so happy doing it. I’ve just got all my tools and overalls, and I start a proper painting and decorating course in January. I finally felt like things were moving forward and I had found something I love.
Then yesterday I told his mum about the course and how happy I was doing the painting and decorating, her first reaction was, “Is that going to fit in with my son’s rota?” And straight away she’s swapped me back onto cleaning again. She has me doing some awful cleaning jobs. She actually messaged me just now saying my partner had been up there doing the electrical work and asked me to go and clean up after him.
She treats me like her little servant, talks down to me, and criticises everything I do. Even when she’s wallpapering, she’ll make me just put paste on her brush while she does the wall, and then goes around nitpicking. The funny thing is, her wallpapering is awful!
It’s so disheartening because I was genuinely happy and proud of myself, and now I just feel completely flat. My partner hasn’t been very supportive, he’s the “breadwinner” (his words) so I’m expected to handle all the childcare on my own. I don’t have any family nearby because I moved here for him. This job has been the only flexible option I’ve had.
But the truth is, I really, really love painting and decorating. It’s the one thing that actually makes me feel good about myself, and I just want to find a way to do more of it without all of this holding me back.
I just feel really lonely in all of this.