GreenwithEnvy
11-07-2006, 10:14 AM
Okay, I have an aunt (who is also my godmother). The two of us are pretty close -- we talk a lot and give advice and have a lot in common.
However, she is, like 18 years older than me and has 3 kids and lives in Ohio (I live in Pennsylvania...we're like, 2 hours away from each other). In Ohio, my aunt and her husband just started their own photography business about 2 years ago. They've dome some weddings and senior pics, but they're mostly into big things like high school football/basketball/soccer games, music competitions, communions, confirmations, etc. Usually these things take up their entire weekend (b/c they have contracts with, like, 5 schools).
So, anyway, here's the problem: my aunt is ALWAYS asking me and my sister to request off work and clear our schedule for a few days when she needs a babysitter. And it's not like it's a couple of hours of work...no, it's usually a WHOLE DAMN weekend. I understand that she and her husband are going to be gone from like 8am-8pm saturday and Sunday, so she needs a babysitter. What I don't understand is why it has to be me and my sister.
I mean, first we have to drive 2 hours to get there. My cousins are 14 (almost 15), 7, and 5. I can understand that the younger ones need a sitter, and I happen to think that at 14, my cousin would be perfectly able of taking care of them. But my aunt seems to think that he's at 'that age' where he's bossy and rude and would just sit and play video games all day. The younger kids, while adorable and lovable, are extreme busy bodies. The 7 year old is very smart and imaginative and wants to do like a million things at once (half of which are physically impossible) and throws a fit if she can't go outside and swim when there's 4 feet of snow outside (just an exagerated example of her overactive imagination). The 5 year old is very demanding and bossy and throws a fit if he doesn't get what he wants.
I really can't handle this all the time. I'm not that great with kids and my sister all out DOES NOT LIKE kids -- she's actually sworn off having any of her own. So I'm kinda by myself in this.
Plus, my aunt never pays what she says she will. Last time, she promised us $100.00 each, but she only gave us $60.00
Now maybe I'm being greedy and I shouldn't care a/b the pay b/c it's family but...I'm driving 2 hours out of my way and taking off work and what not to do her a favor...I think she should pay me.
My aunt always says she needs to find a permanent sitter in her area, but she lives in an itty bitty town where it seems like the kids are either in college or babies. So I guess she's having a tough time. But then she admits to not trying that hard b/c she knows she has me and my sister.
And with the money thing, she's nowhere near rich, but she's not poor either. Since starting this business, they're a lot better off than usual. So I figured she could pay us some more...
So...if it was every once in awhile, I wouldn't mind going out there, getting a break from work and seeing my cousins and aunt...but...I can't do this all the time and I can't turn her down b/c I know she's in a bind.
I'm also afraid that if I tell her the truth I'll sound like a selfish, shallow bitch and it'll ruin our relationship.
So...what do I do??
However, she is, like 18 years older than me and has 3 kids and lives in Ohio (I live in Pennsylvania...we're like, 2 hours away from each other). In Ohio, my aunt and her husband just started their own photography business about 2 years ago. They've dome some weddings and senior pics, but they're mostly into big things like high school football/basketball/soccer games, music competitions, communions, confirmations, etc. Usually these things take up their entire weekend (b/c they have contracts with, like, 5 schools).
So, anyway, here's the problem: my aunt is ALWAYS asking me and my sister to request off work and clear our schedule for a few days when she needs a babysitter. And it's not like it's a couple of hours of work...no, it's usually a WHOLE DAMN weekend. I understand that she and her husband are going to be gone from like 8am-8pm saturday and Sunday, so she needs a babysitter. What I don't understand is why it has to be me and my sister.
I mean, first we have to drive 2 hours to get there. My cousins are 14 (almost 15), 7, and 5. I can understand that the younger ones need a sitter, and I happen to think that at 14, my cousin would be perfectly able of taking care of them. But my aunt seems to think that he's at 'that age' where he's bossy and rude and would just sit and play video games all day. The younger kids, while adorable and lovable, are extreme busy bodies. The 7 year old is very smart and imaginative and wants to do like a million things at once (half of which are physically impossible) and throws a fit if she can't go outside and swim when there's 4 feet of snow outside (just an exagerated example of her overactive imagination). The 5 year old is very demanding and bossy and throws a fit if he doesn't get what he wants.
I really can't handle this all the time. I'm not that great with kids and my sister all out DOES NOT LIKE kids -- she's actually sworn off having any of her own. So I'm kinda by myself in this.
Plus, my aunt never pays what she says she will. Last time, she promised us $100.00 each, but she only gave us $60.00
Now maybe I'm being greedy and I shouldn't care a/b the pay b/c it's family but...I'm driving 2 hours out of my way and taking off work and what not to do her a favor...I think she should pay me.
My aunt always says she needs to find a permanent sitter in her area, but she lives in an itty bitty town where it seems like the kids are either in college or babies. So I guess she's having a tough time. But then she admits to not trying that hard b/c she knows she has me and my sister.
And with the money thing, she's nowhere near rich, but she's not poor either. Since starting this business, they're a lot better off than usual. So I figured she could pay us some more...
So...if it was every once in awhile, I wouldn't mind going out there, getting a break from work and seeing my cousins and aunt...but...I can't do this all the time and I can't turn her down b/c I know she's in a bind.
I'm also afraid that if I tell her the truth I'll sound like a selfish, shallow bitch and it'll ruin our relationship.
So...what do I do??