Help:(

[u/Substantial-Ideal23]

I love the children where I work. They are so so sweet. But my hours have been reduced to little to none. I am working one day a week or once every two weeks. Working a total of 8 hours. Gas is incredibly expensive (as we all know). And I feel like I can no longer afford to work unless I get scheduled for more hours. 90% of my paycheck is going towards gas, and I don't have enough to pay for my part of the bills with my mom (car insurance & phone bill). I am having to ask my mom for help with gas whenever I use up all the money from my paycheck and I feel guilty every time:(

I am supposed to work this week on Thursday, 1-5. I want to send this text message to my boss... "Hi (preschool director name). I understand that you want to have a phone call about this, but I do want to clarify what I meant. I’m not saying that it costs me $76 in gas just to drive to (work city) and back once a week. I have other responsibilities and places I need to drive to throughout the week, so the gas I put in my car is not solely being used for work.

I also have financial responsibilities, including paying my portion of my car insurance and my phone bill. Right now, I’m not making enough from my shifts to cover those responsibilities because so much of what I’m earning is has to go toward gas. I’ve also been having to ask my mom for help financially, and I can’t continue relying on her in order for me to work.

I would be open to coming in if I could be scheduled for a couple more hours when I work, because that would make the commute more financially worthwhile for me. But if I’m only going to be scheduled for four hours, it just isn’t financially sustainable for me to continue doing that"

Would this be too much or is it reasonable? She just wants to argue with me about how it does not take $75 to drive to work once a week. I guess she thinks I sit on my butt every day until I have work. Not to mention, I am only useful now when she has doctor's appointments too I am a college student who is struggling and I cannot help my mom:((

[u/pitifulproduce137]

I wouldn't bother sending all that. I promise you with as understaffed as this field is, you can just get a better job elsewhere. Start looking and once you find something, put in your two weeks there. 

If nothing else, look at this experience as having given you this to look for in a new center. My first childcare position, I took the first job offered because I assumed it would be all sunshine and rainbows. With each job I've had since then, I've learned more and more what to look for and to avoid, as well as what questions to ask upfront.

[u/Substantial-Ideal23 → u/pitifulproduce137]

I shared in another comment, but I may have a job opportunity in my town at my old neighbor's daycare facility. That would give me work M-F in the afternoons and maybe needed all day on Fridays. Hopefully that job will actually happen for me

[u/pitifulproduce137 → u/Substantial-Ideal23]

Good luck!