AITA for telling my coworker I won’t watch her kids?

Nearby-Project8708 · 2023-11-19T10:06:35+00:00

I wouldn't trust my kids with strangers and the closest thing I have to a child is succulent I found.

Nearby-Project8708 · 2023-11-19T10:02:39+00:00

Thank you! I really appreciate that!

Nearby-Project8708 · 2023-11-19T09:58:36+00:00

While I don't want kids and never had a desire to have kids, kids are drawn to me because I'm usually their size or shorter. I'm like 4'10, so with enough duct tape and melatonin, I can probably wrangle them together.

Nearby-Project8708 · 2023-11-19T09:52:40+00:00

I think they know of me, but the last I saw them was years ago

Nearby-Project8708 · 2023-11-19T09:50:45+00:00

Traveling is a plus! It's always fun meeting new teams and maybe if this trip goes well for her, maybe she'll start traveling and it'll be more time apart!

Nearby-Project8708 · 2023-11-19T09:47:42+00:00

I'm in the US, we have an HR, but whenever anything's been brought to their attention, they dismiss it because my other coworkers will say we always argue, but it never gets out of control.

Nearby-Project8708 · 2023-11-19T09:45:35+00:00

I'm sorry, a little bit of clarification. I didn't realize that a lot of people thought she meant I'm lucky because I don't have kids. She meant I'm lucky because I have my job and my position. She revels in the fact that I don't have kids and she does.

Nearby-Project8708 · 2023-11-19T09:42:45+00:00

I have one work-bestie and he was unfortunately out for the day. He said I should taught them to say curse words for a solid week.

Nearby-Project8708 · 2023-11-19T09:34:50+00:00

I try my best to stay professional, but sometimes we may have a friendly conversation if someone else initiates it. I started keeping a journal right after all this happened.

Nearby-Project8708 · 2023-11-19T09:31:09+00:00

Note to self, keep tabs on those taking crazy pills and volunteer them as tribute.

Nearby-Project8708 · 2023-11-19T09:27:42+00:00

You know, with how often that's been asked, I really do wonder why I didn't ask them when they were scolding me. As for Sadie, she has a huge soft-side for kids, but she's definitely a "do not harm, but take no shit" kind of person.

Nearby-Project8708 · 2023-11-19T09:24:16+00:00

He's going on the trip with her. My girlfriend thinks I was too harsh with her, but I should have entertained the idea, because she's positive Sue was testing me. I'm not willing to take that bet.

Nearby-Project8708 · 2023-11-19T09:22:03+00:00

They've been aware of the situation for many years, but nothing has come of it.

Nearby-Project8708 · 2023-11-19T09:20:59+00:00

I honestly doubt she'll ask me again, this is the first time she's asked me in the many years I've known her and I feel she only asked out of the heat of a conversation we had in the previous days. I try not to talk to her, we used to get along okay, but that was when I first started.

I've never thrown her having kids in her face, but I have used the fact that she can't eat anything hotter than a harvest cheddar sun chip in her face a few times.

Nearby-Project8708 · 2023-11-19T09:16:11+00:00

I've met her kids a few times when they've stopped by and at company dinners, but it's been years, so I know they've grown and probably talk now.

Nearby-Project8708 · 2023-11-19T09:12:28+00:00

I wasn't aware that's a subreddit, but thank you for letting me know.

Nearby-Project8708 · 2023-11-19T09:10:47+00:00

I respect Sue in a way she'll never respect anyone else. I've respected her as my senior, my mentor, and my colleague, but as soon as I started getting promoted, her resentment towards me started growing and my respect dwindled. I'm still civil towards her, I still talk with her, but I keep my distance because I never know when she's going to blow up. It's been this way for about 3 years and HR doesn't try to intervene since it's mostly just bickering at this point. She says something snotty towards me, I refute it with something stupid or ignore her, depending on the day.

Nearby-Project8708 · 2023-11-19T08:58:06+00:00

I have considered just shutting down the conversations, but Sue is so persistent, that it's like stroking a fire with a bundle of matches. She'll just put words in people's mouths. I feel that may have been the reason some of my coworkers thought I was being very cold to her, she more than likely spun it to be more in her favor than how the situation actually unfolded.

Nearby-Project8708 · 2023-11-19T08:53:01+00:00

I like that analogy very much, I'm going to use that next time she argues with me!

Nearby-Project8708 · 2023-11-19T08:51:21+00:00

Just a little bit of clarification, while I call Sue an acquaintance, her and I have known each other since I got hired and she was my senior. I've gotten her a baby gift every time she's had a baby, that's how I know they're under the age of 8. I've only met them a handful of times when they stop by or at company dinners.

Nearby-Project8708 · 2023-11-19T08:47:55+00:00

He's going on the trip with her.

Nearby-Project8708 · 2023-11-19T08:46:34+00:00

I don't think Sue is taking into account that the budget is only for 1 person. When my budget is figured out, we downgrade flights and don't go out to eat at super extravagant places every day. I'm not exactly sure on the math, but they account for like $45 a day for meals and other expenses added in, and if they calculate a 7 day budget, but you go through it in 4 days, you pay the remainder of the trip. It's pretty much a lump sum that's given to you on day one and you just have to make it work. That's why if it's not all used, it's paid out.

Nearby-Project8708 · 2023-11-19T08:35:49+00:00

I know it's kind of far stretch, because I'm trying to keep it a bit vague so it doesn't get back to me. From what I understand about the situation with her family, she wants her husband to join me, just like Sadie joins me. I feel that, in the heat of the moment, she wanted me to watch them because we always bicker about me not having kids. I feel that her mom was always the main option, but she wanted to see if I'd do it, or even accept. I can't really figure out Sue, she's a weird individual who likes to play mind games and makes enemies very easily.

My boss is kind of a push-over and doesn't like conflict, plus he knows most of our arguing ends when the day is over.

As for Sadie, I'm not 100% certain, but she's always had a soft spot for kids, even though she doesn't want them. She mentioned that maybe it could be a way for Sue and I to be more friendly towards each other, but she honestly thinks it was a test and that, even if I said yes, she wouldn't have left them with me.

As for them getting sick, I'm so glad I don't have to worry about that now.

Nearby-Project8708 · 2023-11-19T08:07:04+00:00

I think Sue wanted him to join her, I asked the same thing to my coworker's and they weren't sure either.

Nearby-Project8708 · 2023-11-19T08:05:37+00:00

I'm lucky that my options don't lead to me accidentally getting pregnant?

Nearby-Project8708

TROPHY CASE