Adult Children by Stephen Beals for June 08, 2021

That’s true. All he needs to know is whether or not she can stay (or will stay). Her reasons for saying she can’t (and maybe it’s for no other reason than she doesn’t want to) are none of his business. I wish I’d had the balls to lay that out for my McD’s manager. If I had it to do over, after having asked me why I couldn’t stay or come in on my day off for the 100th time, I would say something like this: “Look, all you need to know is whether or not I can work. If I say yes, great for you. You have coverage. If I say no, then you say ‘OK,’ leave it at that, and move on to call someone else. My reasons for not being able to work are none of your business! Now, the next time you ask ‘Why?’ when I say no, even if you are just kidding after I’ve warned you, I will quit right on the spot. If I’m here and you’re asking me to stay, I’ll march right over to the time clock, punch out, march out and turn in my uniform the next day. If you’re calling me, I will simply hang up the phone and turn in my uniform the next day. I suggest you also warn your fellow managers to not ask why I cannot work.”

Prying Berle out from the neighborhood dive bar could count as picking up from daycare.

I always got the worst shifts at an old job because the manager catered to the people with kids. I didn’t mind it too much (because it actually worked with my crazy schedule) until she said, “I’m glad you don’t do anything important with your life, so I can give you those shifts.” At the time I was working on a masters degree and taking care of my elderly grandfather…but I didn’t have kids. Only time in my life I told a manager off.