I feel like a hamster in a training wheel
@sumofalltears (3988)
United States
September 23, 2017 8:49pm CST
My family unit consists of my daughter, her husband and her 5 year old son. The grandson goes to preschool three days a week, MWF. My daughter works five days a week from 4:30 AM to 1 PM, days off are tues and wed. Her husband works two days a week, 24 hour shifts. He works 8 AM tues to 8Am wed and 8 Am sat to 8 Am sun. I don't work, however I am the designated babysitter...
This has been a rugged week for me because of son in law having to work extra hours. On days that he has to work he has to take my daughter to work so he can have the truck. When that happens I have to get up at 3:45 to watch the monitor until he gets back at about 4:30, then we both go back to bed till later. So I was up at 3:45 Am on Thurs, Fri, and Sat and went back to bed for 2 or 2 and a half hours and then get up again.
Three days of this plus taking care of the child on Thurs and Sat and I am wiped out. Sometimes I don't even know what day it is...glad the son in laws extra hours are over for a while.
7 people like this
7 responses
@Shellyann36 (11385)
• United States
12 Oct 17
Glad you are going to get a break from the long hours. That takes a toll on a person.
1 person likes this
@sumofalltears (3988)
• United States
15 Oct 17
@Shellyann36 they are getting there, one is still quite colorful the other is sensitive to strong movements.
1 person likes this
@sumofalltears (3988)
• United States
14 Oct 17
Things change at the drop of a hat around here, like this past week when I was unable to do anything because both my wrists were damaged.
1 person likes this
@Shellyann36 (11385)
• United States
15 Oct 17
@sumofalltears Oh gosh that sounds awful. I hope they are better.
1 person likes this
@LilyBeBack (1994)
• United Kingdom
30 Oct 17
They're lucky to have you!
I'm confused about what you mean when you say you have to "watch the monitor", what does that mean?
1 person likes this
@sumofalltears (3988)
• United States
30 Oct 17
When baby is sleeping we use a monitor to keep an eye on him.
1 person likes this
@LilyBeBack (1994)
• United Kingdom
31 Oct 17
@sumofalltears Oh I see, I didn't realise there was a baby, I thought you were talking about a computer monitor 
@arthurchappell (45002)
• Preston, England
30 Oct 17
sounds gruelling but nice that you get to be with your family and especially your grandson
1 person likes this
@sumofalltears (3988)
• United States
30 Oct 17
It has its good points as well as bad points, but it can always be worse.
1 person likes this
@sumofalltears (3988)
• United States
25 Sep 17
I don't get paid per se, but they buy me things I need when I don't have money.
@cahaya1983 (11121)
• Malaysia
10 Nov 17
That sounds exhausting. Hope you manage to take a good break from the tiring routine before his extra hours start again.
1 person likes this
@sumofalltears (3988)
• United States
11 Nov 17
With the holidays coming, both of them will put in extra hours, especially my daughter since she just got a promotion.
1 person likes this
@sumofalltears (3988)
• United States
25 Sep 17
Everyone has a different schedule and we just have to fit things together as best we can.
1 person likes this
@just4him (305965)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
25 Sep 17
@sumofalltears It does make things interesting with everyone on different schedules.
1 person likes this
@shaggin (71664)
• United States
9 Oct 17
Wow those are really crazy work hours they have. It is nice you are willing to babysit. My mother does not watch my kids. My sister lives with her with her 4 kids and my mother has always been so busy helping with them she's never had time for my kids like that but I am a lot more independant then my sister.
@sumofalltears (3988)
• United States
30 Oct 17
It is a shame your mother does not take time to be with your children, I have six grandchildren and regret that I never had time to spend with five of them because they lived so far away.
1 person likes this
@sumofalltears (3988)
• United States
1 Nov 17
@shaggin I am sorry to hear that, and feel bad that your mother does not take the opportunity to be with all her grandchildren.
1 person likes this
@shaggin (71664)
• United States
1 Nov 17
@sumofalltears My parents, sister and her kids live right across the street from me.
1 person likes this
