You gotta do, what you gotta do!
By bounce58
@bounce58 (17387)
Canada
September 8, 2011 4:24pm CST
This is the phrase I heard myself saying today.
This morning, I was talking to one of our guys on the floor who was scheduled to come back to work this September. He took a few months off because his son was having some heart problems, and he needed an operation. He stayed with his son to help him get better.
Unfortunately, this past week, just when he was about ready to go back, his son had some complications from his operation. So he had to postpone his coming to work.
We talked about his unemployment insurance running out, and him already deep in debt, but still could not choose to go back to work. We talked about how some things are more important, and staying with his son was the right choice. We talked about asking more patience/leeway from our bosses, so that he would still have a job when he gets back, and maybe payoff some of his expenses.
Have you had to make tough choices recently? And do something you didn't want?
1 person likes this
3 responses
@cynthiann (18602)
• Jamaica
8 Sep 11
Oh I am so sorry for your colleague. I think that he is doing the right thing though but I hope that his boss or company give him soem slack so that he does not lose his job. What I am doing is being upbeat and pleasant to my boss and not answering when he verbally abuses me. I have not told my children exactly what he does or how he behaves.
A Manager has been appointed for the new apartment complex next door to where I work and his plan is for this young person to run both condos with some cheap help. So I know that my time is limited but I take the abuse so that I can finish pay for my home and this is my only debt apart from credit card debt. When the house is paid for - hopefully by December 32st then I hope to work for a few more months to clear my credit card and then retire. Well not really retire as I do have a part time job and hope to loom for another one. I am not a person to stay home all day and I do not want my children to have to support me.
I am so independant
I am so independant@bounce58 (17387)
• Canada
12 Sep 11
Haha! Did you purposely put that December 32st reference there?!
It's like me when I make schedules I can't keep. I would say (with a straight face), let's meet on September 31st. And if that person isn't quick enough, I would have gotten one over him or her!
Hang in there! I hope you make it!
@cynthiann (18602)
• Jamaica
12 Sep 11
But doesn't every country have a December 32nd or is it only Jamaica?
It was an error
It was an error@bounce58 (17387)
• Canada
12 Sep 11
There's a contest here on the radio. Everytime Katie Perry's song - Last Friday Night is played, the ninth caller after the song has ended would win a trip to Jamaica. I've been trying to call, and maybe win. All I get is a busy line.
But, who knows?! If I could win, I could be there on December 32nd!
@purplealabaster (22094)
• United States
11 Sep 11
I am so sorry to hear about your coworker and his son. I think that you summed it up, though "You gotta do what you gotta do". Obviously money is important, because it pays for medical and food and a place to live, etc. However, his son should be the most important thing in his life, especially since his son's illness is life-threatening, and you only get one chance to be with your children. It is definitely a tough choice, but I think that our children should take priority, especially when it is something this serious.
@bounce58 (17387)
• Canada
12 Sep 11
I think I would do the same.
I think I would pawn, sell, mortgage everything I have if I were put in that situation. I would just hope that when everything is said and done, I would still have a job to come back to, so I could at least start paying all my debts.
Thanks PA!
@hardworkinggurl (37063)
• United States
9 Sep 11
Oh I am really sorry for your co-worker as he has a difficult time with his sick son. But he is of course doing the right thing as life is short and although at times it is hard, jobs do come and go but children, no matter what age they are will always be a priority.
As for me the last thing I had to do was make a decision to continue to spend on an attorney for which I was not given my unemployment. Actually none of us at work was able to get it. So I had to make a decision of continue paying the lawyer, the added stress I was under to begin with and or let it go and loose out as in the long wrong I was not going to break even with all I had to pay.
Though nothing like your coworkers situation, that is the last time, I said I have to do what I have to do. I said to myself as a way of comforting myself.
@bounce58 (17387)
• Canada
12 Sep 11
It must have taken so much out of you to recognize that it was time let it go. That even if you were in the right, you would still be on the negative side when it came to dollars and cents, in the long run.
Those are things that are difficult for me. Too much pride, which is often the cause of my downfall.
Thanks HWG.
