Well, this is more of a whine than a discussion topic because I know the answer is yes, I am being petty, but it annoys the heck out of me that mom's aide feels free to help herself to our food. I'm not talking about full course meals, but a handful of peanuts here, a scoop of hummus there, sampling the fruit I have prepared for mom. This woman is here only two days a week for a total of 8 hours, I would never, ever feel comfortable taking such liberties in an employers home.
But I can tell you how pissed off I feel when I have sat with a dieing loved one half the night when the family comes in and cooks up breakfast and does not so much as offer a cup of coffee. Other wonderful families make sure the nurse is well fed. It takes all sorts but I soon learned to always have a snack in the car. It just underlines the need to set the rules for your expectations at the beginning
What a liberty, indeed!
No, it is not okay! No, you are not being petty! Good grief.
I always made enough for my respite caregiver to share lunch with my mother, but a) that was so mother wouldn't be eating alone and b) she was *invited.* AND she always brought her own lunch, besides, she never took it for granted that she'd be catered for.
So unless yours is doing this purely in the spirit of keeping your mother company and putting her at ease, I think you should feel free to mention that it isn't what you would expect and you would prefer it if she kept her face out of your fridge, thank you very much.
I don't think snacks would bother me so much but I can see where it would bother some. But then, you feel petty saying anything.
I get it.
I have to admit that when it comes to Rainman I tend to go the opposite direction - attempts at bribery and sucking up so that the few people I trust to look after him think it's a great gig and hopefully would never consider NOT doing it.
Of course the caregiver showed up emptihanded everyday but that was just one of many things I decided I would have to overlook - the food didn't bother me so much but drinking all my bottled water sure irked me
Another agency which I didn't use required a meal be provided even for a 4 hour shift
See All Answers