Where I've Been for the Last Few Days
I started this job the day after I got home from New Paltz, this past wednesday. I quit this past friday.
I struggled to find a job all summer. I started looking too late because I was mostly indifferent when the end of senior year rolled around. Number one because I already had a parttime job, and number two because I was just focused on enjoying myself. So I kind of waited too long, and after enduring an agonizing summerlong battle with my mom, I finally posted an ad on craigslist as a babysitter and my luck changed. I heard from a nice single mother in Brentwood.
I went to go pay her a visit to check it out. The woman's name is Lisa, and I liked her right away. I feel oddly connected to her, I definitely think we would've been friends if we were the same age. She's been seperated for her husband for a month or two, and she hasn't really worked in awhile because she is busy caring for her children. I feel for the woman, they are clearly beginning to drive her up the wall. We kind of didn't know how to conduct the pseudo-interview, but after the ride home I was pulling into my driveway and I get a call from her that she was offering me the job. I figured this would be a nice experience and a good temporary way of making money, so I accepted.
It was a different experience for a few days. I kind of felt like I was living life as this woman, Lisa. I'm in her house all day, with her kids all day doing with them what she has to do with them. We went to the park one day, and the community pool. Today Alex is putting on a puppet show with her friend Dolmei that Jack and I are going to watch.
But here's why I can't do it . First of all, it's 8 hours a day 4-5 days a week. For the past year or two I've kind of been going through this perpetual exhaustion where I get so tired every few hours that I can't function. I've been okay with the kids so far, but I have fallen asleep a few times while we're watching tv.
Second, well... it's for two kids, a 9 year old named Alex, and a 6 year old named Jack. I really like Alex. She's tall, lanky, and awkward. She's shy and cooperative. She asks me to play board games with her, and make cat puppets out of paperbags, and paint and color and do puzzles. The other kid's name is Jack, he's 6. And well...Jack has some problems. It's some kind of OCD or ADHD or... something. He throws tantrums and has mood swings all day. He does this screaming thing where he just screams at the top of his longs for no reason. He makes up things, he lies about obvious facts. It's very bizzare and uncomfortable. I simply not equipped to handle it. Jack would be better off in the hands of someone older and with more experience who is better equipped to handle him. I just can't do it, I'm miserable. I sat down Lisa on Friday and told her how I was feeling, and thankfully she was very understanding. She told me she knew this would happen (great). I assured her that I wasn't just running out on her, that if she needed me for an extra day or so I'd be willing to come in. So that's why I'm here now. I don't want to leave her shit up the creek, you know? She even offered me part time but I know that I do not want to do this.
I want the rest of my summer to relax and see my friends. I consider this the last summer to really just do nothing, because next summer I might be auditioning for summer stock or going on other auditions. The pressure will be on to get my shit started. And pretty school soon is starting and I'll be working hard. So I'm going to make the most of this.
I struggled to find a job all summer. I started looking too late because I was mostly indifferent when the end of senior year rolled around. Number one because I already had a parttime job, and number two because I was just focused on enjoying myself. So I kind of waited too long, and after enduring an agonizing summerlong battle with my mom, I finally posted an ad on craigslist as a babysitter and my luck changed. I heard from a nice single mother in Brentwood.
I went to go pay her a visit to check it out. The woman's name is Lisa, and I liked her right away. I feel oddly connected to her, I definitely think we would've been friends if we were the same age. She's been seperated for her husband for a month or two, and she hasn't really worked in awhile because she is busy caring for her children. I feel for the woman, they are clearly beginning to drive her up the wall. We kind of didn't know how to conduct the pseudo-interview, but after the ride home I was pulling into my driveway and I get a call from her that she was offering me the job. I figured this would be a nice experience and a good temporary way of making money, so I accepted.
It was a different experience for a few days. I kind of felt like I was living life as this woman, Lisa. I'm in her house all day, with her kids all day doing with them what she has to do with them. We went to the park one day, and the community pool. Today Alex is putting on a puppet show with her friend Dolmei that Jack and I are going to watch.
But here's why I can't do it . First of all, it's 8 hours a day 4-5 days a week. For the past year or two I've kind of been going through this perpetual exhaustion where I get so tired every few hours that I can't function. I've been okay with the kids so far, but I have fallen asleep a few times while we're watching tv.
Second, well... it's for two kids, a 9 year old named Alex, and a 6 year old named Jack. I really like Alex. She's tall, lanky, and awkward. She's shy and cooperative. She asks me to play board games with her, and make cat puppets out of paperbags, and paint and color and do puzzles. The other kid's name is Jack, he's 6. And well...Jack has some problems. It's some kind of OCD or ADHD or... something. He throws tantrums and has mood swings all day. He does this screaming thing where he just screams at the top of his longs for no reason. He makes up things, he lies about obvious facts. It's very bizzare and uncomfortable. I simply not equipped to handle it. Jack would be better off in the hands of someone older and with more experience who is better equipped to handle him. I just can't do it, I'm miserable. I sat down Lisa on Friday and told her how I was feeling, and thankfully she was very understanding. She told me she knew this would happen (great). I assured her that I wasn't just running out on her, that if she needed me for an extra day or so I'd be willing to come in. So that's why I'm here now. I don't want to leave her shit up the creek, you know? She even offered me part time but I know that I do not want to do this.
I want the rest of my summer to relax and see my friends. I consider this the last summer to really just do nothing, because next summer I might be auditioning for summer stock or going on other auditions. The pressure will be on to get my shit started. And pretty school soon is starting and I'll be working hard. So I'm going to make the most of this.