WARNING: This post contains some graphic profanity. If you find it offensive, click here and search for something less profane.
Every year, my sister and her husband take a vacation on the week of their anniversary. Two years ago, they asked me to take care of their dogs and their house while they were gone, as it would give me an opportunity to relax on my own terms.
Last year, I was unable to do this, because I had just started the job I'm at now and I needed the money as equally as my employers needed the reliable staff. This year is different though.
See, last year when I couldn't go over there to take care of things for them, I told my sister that I would this year to use up one of my weeks of paid vacation. I also informed my employers of my plans. This May, when I was eligible for my vacation time, the staff vacation schedule made its way though the shops, and I marked that I wanted one of the last two weeks of September off so that I may go have some time to myself, away from this Hell-hole of a town, and away from work - something that everyone needs.
Tonight, when I got home from work, my mother had the audacity to ask, "When were you planning on going over there? Dad and I are trying to work out something so that we can take a trip to South Dakota on the last two weeks of September, and we'll need to you stay here to take care of the animals and the house."
Translated, she said, "I don't give two shits what your plans were for those weeks. You're going to call off and stay here whether you like it or not. I am more important than you."
WHAT THE HELL?!
I have had these plans in the making for the last damned year, and she has the nerve to abolish those plans in favor of her own?!
Rearrange these letters to compose a word that I would like to say, but will not for the sake of the children: K, U, F, C.
It makes me so angry to know that she's doing this. She was well aware that I was making these plans a long time ago, and she's also well aware that I'm going to have to keep working, or take my "vacation" here in the same area I tread every day. She's jealous that I'm going to have my own vacation time away from everything, and she's wanting to out-do me. I know it is, because that's just how she works and that's how she always has worked.
So what are my options now?
Option #1: Stay in the Rensselaer area for my week of paid vacation, doing the same thing I do every day.
Option #2: Take a trip to another town in another state, spend the money on room and board, spend the money on every meal of the day, and spend the money to do anything outside of sit in the hotel room.
Option #3: (This is going to be the most likely scenario) Keep working right through to my 2-year anniversary, not taking any vacation time, and getting even more burned-out on life.
See, the thing is, I love my parents, I love my sisters, I love my job, and I love the people I work with and for. But I need time away from people. I need time to work on my own terms. I need time to sleep in. I need time to ignore the telephone. I need time to do whatever the Hell I want. Now, it's not looking likely that I'll be able to do that.
What a shitty end to what was a nice day.
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no, you seem to have missed the option of telling your parents to bite it, you already had plans.
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...and she's not said a word to me since...
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from what i gather, your parents are so used to walking all over you, of course they would bee in shock when you tell them no.
but for fucks sake, they're gonna figure out sooner or later that you wont be there any more.
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Tell them to go jump.
You pay your housekeeping, you get a say on what happens in the house. If it gets that bad, pay some money towards a kennel and get them to put the dogs in there. It's better than a) spending all that money on a hotel etc and b) what can they say?
Better yet, get a neighbour to pop in everyday to feed and walk them.
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Um, yeah, did you say, "I already have another commitment"? Because you did.
And if she doesn't like it, let her have her hissy fit. You're used to it. It's not like she'll be all peaches and roses even if you say you'll stay home, because she'll just go and find something else to have a tantrum about anyway.
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Well, this morning she called the shop before I even got here. She showed up not too long afterwards and talked to me about it. I have yet to hear her apologize, but she did say that her plans were tenative and that since I already had plans for that time to go ahead and go with it.
She said she never told me that I couldn't take my vacation, which is a load of crap. She told me that she is making her plans to go the last 2 weeks of September and that I would have to stay home to take care of the dogs.
I'm cooling down now, but I am still pretty upset about it. She raised me different than the way she's acting, and it's really pissing me off that she's not even apologized.