I hate Mondays

[waverly]

New Monday thread.  It's been the Mondayist of Mondays.  

For managers, does everyone have that person?  I overall think my staff is doing a great job, but I have the one who is super slow and now during the pandemic is clearly not reading even work emails.  They are being paid their same salary to stay home and do nothing.  The least they can do is log on and respond to emails once a week for 30 minutes.

On my other team, I have the squeaky wheel.  I'm not saying she is wrong all the time, but everything is about herself.  Not really a team player, and always has another request of another thing she wants.  I wish she would just give up and quit.  She wasn't happy with her last 2 jobs because she didn't get everything she wanted, so I knew she would be a problem when I hired her, but hiring had been about a year with no good candidates because it was when unemployment was at an all time low, and I was scraping the barrel with applicants.  I had never had so many bad applicants ever than that year, everyone was very entitled.  I've managed to retain everyone for 2 years, so I guess I am an OK enough boss, but there are probably way better people out there right now. Again she is being paid to stay home and do nothing and just got a raise too, but now she still wants more.  It's not totally unreasonable, but it's just always her, no one else. 

[rere]

waverly I have one of those. One staff has been an issue for a while. Basically just showing up where needed, but not much results, and argumentative about weird things. Right now, I think he is just reading articles about Covid 19, which is not his job.

I think I have PTSD from Ds's Spanish class. Still having trouble submitting work. She told him to just screen shot it and send it. That was Thursday. Sunday, still not done. I told him he had until supper time to do it. He gets a call to go riding (easy to social distance on your own bike with a helmet). Its not done, so he cant go. Then Dh gets involved about how if you just do your work, it's done and you can have fun. Except he goes on, and on, and on....and on. I just want tell him to SHUT UP so the kid can do it, but then he will get mad because he doesn't interfere with me yadda, yadda. I cant wait for school to be over. But now I get an email about AP exams online, that should be a trainwreck.

[mommyatty]

Yep. I have a director level person who couldn’t lead an ant to a picnic. He’s a freaking mess. And he causes constant drama and backbiting on his team, and then runs to me to complain about the drama he causes. I’ve started calling him on it. Today he complained about how one of his employees doesn’t take feedback or criticism well, and I said, “That’s something the two of you have in common. So FYI, you’re going to have to give feedback gently or he won’t hear you. Just like you don’t hear me when I give you direct feedback, as I have about this very topic on multiple occasions.” I would fire him if he wasn’t my VP’s favorite.

[twinmomma]

waverly, Yup, I've got that person! She has anxiety, misses deadlines, then get anxious about the fact that she missed deadlines when I call her out on it, and it just continues to spiral forever. It's painful to manage.

Definitely a Monday over here. It was our first day back after spring break, so took a bit to get the kids going with their distance learning. Seems like the teachers toned it down a little though, as we actually got it all done before lunch. That has NEVER happened so I hope it keeps up!

Tonight is my first break from the kids in 11 days, so I'm looking forward to it. Hopefully XH picks up at a reasonable time. Last time he didn't come get them until around 8 PM... Which is normally bedtime...

[mae0111]

The weekend was awesome and today was the Mondayest Monday to ever Monday.

DD1 has had several major meltdowns today. DD2 saved her allowance and bought treats to make goody bags for her classmates. She let DD1 help her put them together over the weekend, and even gave DD1 stuff to make some bags for her friends. I promised we could start delivering today (can’t do all at once as we have to go to 5 other towns).

DD1 demanded that we deliver her bags first, that she be the one to deliver DD2’s bags, basically take credit for all of it. I said no. Unholy tantrums ensued.

We had all kinds of tech issues with school today. I finally gave up and no one finished their work today. And somehow I’ve become tech support for all the other parents. Which is comical, because nothing tech ever works for me. But still, they all call me for help...

[sdlaura]

I don’t envy all of you who manage people. I only have to deal with sometimes annoying colleagues, but at least other people get to figure out what to do with the feedback I provide.

Weekend was good because we had great weather. Weather impacts me so much more lately since having more time to hang outside is really the only thing to do that’s a little bit different than every other day at home. We used our pool a lot. During the toddler’s naptime on Saturday, my older kids decided they’d had enough of the pool and went inside to watch TV, so I had a glorious hour to myself of floating around the pool on a raft and reading. At this point, that felt like a tropical vacation. We also strawberry picked again and made strawberry shortcake.

I went to my office for the second time in 7 weeks today to sit at a conference table alone for a presentation for new business. The potential client Board members included a state governor and state treasurer, so I needed a fancier room than my home office closet. I think the presentation was well received - it would be really awesome to win another new client during this time.


ETA - we didn’t win. They retained their incumbent. Oh well, at least we’re on their radar for next time!

[k3am]

I am... really frustrated with everything work related right now on so many levels.

My boss does not seem to understand the struggles that I have with trying to WFH with two young kids. I wouldn't mind so much if he were piling productive work on me - but now I'm getting signed term sheets for sloppy deals that we can't or shouldn't do. Which happens all the time, but at least in the office, I can spend a few dedicated hours or day and quickly shut it down, but at home, it's taking days to weeks, because I keep getting pulled into 87 different directions.

[186momx]

Today has been a really rotten Monday. My dad had a fit this morning over the bank screwing up and then of course we can't get a live person to deal with it and can't go in the bank as they only have drive up. Then this afternoon I had a meltdown over something really stupid but it was for our chauvinistic pig of a client that won't talk to me because I'm a girl. He was on speaker so I could hear what he needed and how he went about just hit me hard and I totally lost it.

DD on the other hand has had a good day. She did zoom with her class and shared her recycled art which was an elephant made out of stipes of old magazines. Then her teacher worked long division with her afterwards for about 20 minutes. Her teacher had to re-teach herself this morning as she hadn't taught long division for over 10 years as it is normally taught in 5th grade. DD seems to be getting the hang of it so we will see what happens the rest of the week on mommy school. School for the week is different yoga poses for wellness, measuring for math, and environment stuff for reading/language arts/art. They are supposed to share their art project next week. Art using nature, ugh.

Weekend was a normal spring weekend. Nice for 20 minutes pouring rain for 4 hours. DD had her first outing since this all started as we divided and conquered the home improvement store. She wasn't a fan and seemed to be upset that so many people weren't wearing masking and were standing too close to each other. We stopped at the bathroom to wash hands before going to the farm and she didn't want to get out of the car to come and shop and the farm is one of her favorite places. It was also pouring cats and dogs.

[mommyatty]

This weekend was awesome. The kids desperately wanted to swim even though it was freezing, so we let them swim Friday night and both weekend days. Sunday, DH got in with them and they had a battle royale over the pool float that made me laugh so hard for so long, my face ached. They had the best time. Today it was 93, so the pool warmed up a lot, so I’m sitting in my Adirondack chair with a beer after dinner, and the kids are swimming again. I may swim with them tomorrow. 

Also total TMI, but I ordered a wax melting machine, and I’m going to attempt my own waxing. I’m desperate for that one! Unfortunately, my period started today so I have to wait until later in the week. 

[k3am]

.... DH has been on the phone for about 45 minutes now. He's taking it from the bedroom, so I've known it's not work. I just realized... it's MY MOTHER.

WHY IS MY MOTHER CALLING MY HUSBAND?!?!

[xctsclrx]

May 4, 2020 18:54:16 GMT -5 k3am said:

.... DH has been on the phone for about 45 minutes now. He's taking it from the bedroom, so I've known it's not work. I just realized... it's MY MOTHER.

WHY IS MY MOTHER CALLING MY HUSBAND?!?!

Mother's day plans?

[xctsclrx]

My Monday wasn't that bad. My daycare might be opening in a couple of weeks. Except they expect my not quite two year old to wear a mask all day.

I don't see that happening. Even a little

[shakinros]

Wtf k3am. Did he explain???

Today was the worst. DH spent most of the day in bed for no reason other than he’s tired. This after staying in bed till 10 or 11am Saturday & Sunday. I told him at lunch that I need his help (he’s a SAHD right now; I am working) and that I cannot handle this alone. He got back in bed at 5. He insists he isn’t sick but he better hope he’s wrong about that. If he’s not sick, then... I am at a loss for words. I am sleeping in the other room tonight.

School was finally canceled for the rest of the year today. Only 7 more weeks of remote learning to go. DD started crying at dinner when we told her. Me too, kid, me too.

[sdlaura]

shakinros we also have a whole 7 weeks left of the joke that is ‘distance learning’ for young elementary schoolers. I’m sorry.

[sdlaura]

mommyatty our pool is also freezing but the kids have been loving it already. Normally we wouldn’t be going in this early in the season.

Also, I do my own face waxing with sally Hansen wax strips. I’m super hairy and even though it’s all blonde it still bugs me. But it sounds like you’re going to attempt your own bikini wax - good luck 😬

[sunbutter]

Had an emergency call with my manager who is a VP. Did the small talk greeting “how are you?” His response was “well, I wish it was Friday.”

This coming from a man who is a workaholic who has never said anything like that to me before.

Definitely a Monday Monday for many.

[mae0111]

So one fun thing we did this weekend... we made the decision to get a puppy! I would very much like to adopt, but with my allergies, we have to go with a designer mutt. So we are hoping to get an Australian Labradoodle/Cobberdog. A big one. A boy, because poor DH is surrounded by females here. We aren’t telling anyone IRL except my sister (more to shut her up because she’s been hounding me to get a dog ever since she got one 3 years ago).

I would rescue one if I could find one, but no one seems to give them up. They are bred to be therapy dogs and are super mellow. Maybe he will chill DD1 out.

[campermom]

My H had drill this weekend so it wasn’t really a break. Monday went well though. DD has really turned a corner in her willingness to do work. Even after I told both kids the grading policy (there are no grades 4th marking period, just pass or incomplete and no one is getting an incomplete because you just need to show engagement.)

I had to tell my 5th grader bc he was becoming overwhelmed at all the work, he was spending 4-5 hours a day and still wasn’t finishing. He commented on the stream pretty harshly about it, and I texted his teacher (we are coworkers) to apologize and I deleted it. She actually heard him out though and plans to reduce the load. I told my daughter too. Shes a cusp learner and can dip below grade level. I’m relieved that she wanted to keep pushing herself because it will serve her well when she gets in 4th grade. Especially in math-working on math facts is really important for her to improve.

All the specials teachers assigned “work on catching up” this week.

I got over 9 hours of sleep last night and I’m getting a brand new treadmill. I have healthy foods prepped and Im planning to drink less this week. My work ramps up big time this week so I need to be on top of things

[sunbutter]

May 4, 2020 22:02:09 GMT -5 mae0111 said:

So one fun thing we did this weekend... we made the decision to get a puppy! I would very much like to adopt, but with my allergies, we have to go with a designer mutt. So we are hoping to get an Australian Labradoodle/Cobberdog. A big one. A boy, because poor DH is surrounded by females here. We aren’t telling anyone IRL except my sister (more to shut her up because she’s been hounding me to get a dog ever since she got one 3 years ago).

I would rescue one if I could find one, but no one seems to give them up. They are bred to be therapy dogs and are super mellow. Maybe he will chill DD1 out.

mae0111
That is exciting, congratulations.
If you haven’t already, I would confirm that you don’t have an allergic reaction to the dog that you are interested in. Yes, they don’t shed but they have saliva and there is no such thing as a hypoallergenic dog (despite the hype).
We discovered that DS was allergic to dogs after he spent the afternoon with a labradoodle. As he was wheezing and breaking out in hives exactly where he had been licked, he owner kept repeating “it’s not possible, he’s hypoallergenic.” Uh, no.

[mae0111]

sunbutter - a good friend has a cobberdog, and it’s the only dog that hasn’t bothered me at all. Labradoodles can be “unstable” from what I’ve read. Mixing a poodle and a lab can get you a dog with lab hair (which would cause a reaction for me). Some labradoodle breeders even mix in other types of dogs.

Cobberdogs are considered “purebred” and certified, so are more stable. So if one bothers you, they will all bother you (allergy-wise). Some breeders changed the name from Australian Labradoodle to Cobberdog because they wanted to reflect the pure nature of the line.

But who knows? My allergies to “hair” dogs seem to be less severe and more annoying than my allergies to “fur” dogs. So hopefully I will be ok. If I react like a “hair” dog, I will be a little itchy and not anaphylactic, and I can usually control it with good hand washing.

[erinshelley21]

I think last week was bad enough around here that I got to skip the excessive Monday shit. There were some annoying moments, but it was a decent day considering DH was at work.

MIL just left with the kids. We are sending them to her house in the afternoons when DS is done with school for now. Its very quiet here and it's weird.

[rere]

Well I will probably be friendless when this is over. Some of my closest friends are sharing conspiracy theories on Facebook, with conviction. I am usually pretty good about avoiding politics in conversation in real life. But I can't even with some of this. We will never get back to normal with all of this.