What Happens When You Hire A Friend?
It can sometimes be unhealthy…that’s what.
This comes under the heading of, “It seemed like a good idea at the time”.
There are times when, in my new role of small business owner, “dog mom”, and house-wifey — I need a little help with some of the chores around here.
So, when my “danny”, (dog-walker-dog-nanny) asked if she could increase her hours…I thought what a great opportunity to combine the dog walking responsibilities with some light house duties.
I put together an official “danny” schedule and shared it with her. She seemed thrilled…and oddly inhabited with new-found sense of purpose.
Yay, I thought…I could get some work done, while having someone I knew and cared about, milling around the house, getting things done.
Here’s the thing, I thought that because she seemed willing to come over “whenever” to be with my dog, and he seemed to lover her…that it would make perfect sense to broaden her responsibilities.
But quickly, I began to notice strange behavior…calling in sick…forgetting which days she was supposed to come over…and here’s the worst part…on several occasions she seemed more than slightly tipsy.
I also noticed that the dog seemed unnerved around her.
In my neck of the woods, if a person leaves your home in an inebriated state…the homeowner is libel. Plus, in her condition, if my 70lb Lab decides to dash off in front of a squirrel…he could end up beneath a car! And then I’d be devastated.
As serious as all of that sounds, what bothers me the most is that I went out of my way to help her — because I felt sorry for her.
I tried to organize her life a little — I tried to control her…and unfortunately, I may have unwittingly enabled her habits…she used me, used my house and she even used the dog.
So…now what to do? I don’t want to let her go…she does after all help out enormously…but I think I must find a way to sit her down and be extremely clear about what is expected…and coming to the house drunk is out of the question.
I think, not only will I have to buck up and dismiss her, set aside my own “people-pleasing” issues and learn how not to fall victim to that kind of behavior again.
Sorry, Trotter.
Tags: alcoholism, dog-parents, Dog-Walker, house-cleaning, small-businessRelated Stories
POSTED IN: Fabulous Work Life Balance
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