Why talk with a Nice Lady?

Well, to start, I left my job. It doesn't really matter that it was a job that I hated, with people that didn't seem to 'get it', or that I was trying really hard to be a part of the culture of the place. What does matter is that it was the pinnacle of events that helped push me over the edge.

I hadn't applied for the position that I was working in. It all just kinda fell into place. I offered to help out because the client I referred to the agency wasn't getting good service from them. It seemed like a win-win-win situation. The client would get better service, the agency would have someone providing the service, and I could get out of the house and away from my young child a few hours per week. I named my price, my working conditions, my expectations. They were all agreed to. No conversation, no discussion, no questions asked. That should have been my first clue.

As time went on, the agency could see that my experience could help them get more. They asked me to help with a program development project that they were interested in working on. They asked me to develop a training program for their agency staff. I agreed to do the work. Hell, it was just what I wanted to do. And, not only did I need the time away from the house and mommy responsibilities, we needed the money. Again, no conversation, no discussion, no questions asked. I didn't see the Red Flag!

As I started the work, childcare was a small issue. I tried as hard as I could to do the work at home. My kid is intense, though. He needed my undivided attention and refused to nap during the day. I found childcare. Now we really needed the money. Fourteen months of only my husband's salary (we live in the SF Bay area) and the credit card bills really started to catch up with us. We hate credit card debt. Makes us both crazy. That and I just can't sit still for very long without losing my mind. I'm not a natural 'stay at home mom'. I'm more of a Type-A personality. And I'm fine with who I am.

Once the agreement to do the training program was made (oh, yeah, I had to develop the terms and write the agreement), the focus shifted to the program development project. I rolled with the punches and started working on that project. My intention was to work on the project, finish it, and move on. I was planning to get what I could in terms of experience and financial resources and take the next plunge. I didn't know anything except that I wanted to find a new career and these experiences would help me get there. To hell with social services. I've been doing this work too long and I can't stand the sick, twisted, crazy people who want to enable clients to be losers - despite the fact that their agencies are supposed to blah, blah, blah. I mentioned that we needed money, right?

So, I worked on the program development project. Doing what I could to make it what the agency wanted. But, when the person identified to run the program backed out just before turning the application in to the state, I was asked to do it. I asked about the terms. Part-time? Yes. Money? Really good. Benefits? Sure. My program? Absolutely. Okay, I'll do it. Did I mention to you that I already selected the #2 person? No. I think she'll be great. Oh, I'd like to meet her. Sure, I'll call her right now. She dropped everything she was doing and came by to meet with us. I instantly got a bad feeling from her. Didn't like her at all. But, my thought and feeling was that I had to work with her because he had already offered her the position. Red Flag! Red Flag! Red Flag! I hate money.