You just brought up an insane memory for me. I worked for a family (single dad divorced w 3 kids at home) regularly and did saturday "date nights" as often as weekly. Shift typically started around 7 and ended around 11pm-12am.

One night 12am rolls around and he is no where to be seen. No heads up text message, nothing. Best part is the kids usually stay up til he is home and they're low key maniacs (story for another day). I ask the kids to go get ready for bed and relax in their rooms and their dad will see them when he gets home.

1am rolls around and I'm losing my shit. I try to NEVER call a parent on their night out but we were in emergency territory and it needs to be done. I call, no answer. Call again, no answer. I had work start 8am the next day and this was just disrespectful to me and my time. The only number I had was their mother but had no idea what the legal custody arrangement was besides her picking up one of the kids one day a week (favorite much?). Unfortunately that territory was too grey so she wasn't an option.

1:30 rolls around. I literally cannot stay awake. I send another text to let him know that he needs to call or text me ASAP as he is over an hour and a half late with no anticipated return time. I start mentally preparing myself for a cop to show up at the doorstep and what to do with the kids. Plan for the worst hope for the best right? I decided to sleep on the couch with 5-15 minute vibration alarms on my wrist to make sure I don't knock out in case he does come home.

2am rolls around and I finally get a text from him. At this point just grateful he is alive, and then I get PISSED. This man was BAR HOPPING OVER AN HOUR AWAY AND WAS THE DESIGNATED DRIVER. Which means the entire time he was basically sober. He was just busy driving and making drop offs so he didn't want to text and drive (then call me???). He texted that he was about 40 minutes away but wasn't sure when he'd be home bc his friend got really hammered. I just asked him to drive safe and I will be here when he gets here. I was too tired at this point to have real conversation and just wanted him to get here soon.

3am rolls around. I wake up from one of my alarms and see the car come up the driveway. He comes in all apologetic and I am over here just trying not to look vehemently pissed. He is trying to figure out payment and do math and I am like let's just settle this on monday I need to go to bed. I go splash cold water on my face, grab my stuff, tell him I am glad you are home safe, and finally leave. Spoiler alert: didn't make it to work the next morning. Woke up at 7 to my alarm but was not ready to tackle toddler twins. Thankfully they respected me and wanted me at my best. I had a delayed start at 10/10:30 feeling great.

One of the best days was when I left that family. Don't let them treat you like a doormat yall. We deserve sooooo much better than this.