Anonymous wrote:My charge is having a huge event and I wouldn't have missed it for the world except that MB moved the date up 3 weeks last minute and I already had travel plans scheduled to see my own family. I told her I didn't want to miss it and would try my best to adjust my plans.
The second I said that, she asked if I could pick up some chairs and deliver them to the venue the day of and drop back off the next night. She also asked since the party planner is a family friend who said due to having to set up party she would miss services that morning, could I come super early and help with set up so this woman can make the first event. Wtf. Now there's no way I want to skip seeing my family, she completely diminished my relationship with charge and her family by wanting me to be part of help staff with no pay of course because I'm an invited guest. I'd like to know how to break this to charge, that I can't come and also how to tell MB I no longer am available. Tia.
If the event is on the weekend, outside of your normal hours and you cannot make it, you cannot make it. Tell her asap so she can get the help she needs.
As for your second question - did your childcare or housekeeping routine just change a bit with back to school? Do you now have tons more downtime? Did your rate or weekly salary get changed downward, stay the same or what with the new duties?
If you can help out during the week with the party prep then do so. If you cannot, then say you cannot. I would, however, be wary of saying now if you are getting paid to nothing for a few hours a day while the kids are in school. There may be a bigger issue where your hours and work has changed and you both need to sit down and talk about it so no one (NF or you) feel taken advantage of.