Philosophical One

Thanks so much for your responses. I really love the idea of contracts - then my job would be so much easier. My partner finished taking the grading tonight and came home to a cross woman!! We had a fight because I said that I felt like I didn't deserve the poor treatment and that he needed to step in and fix the problem for me. But he said that I needed to confront them all myself... I said I was going to make that decision and that if he didn't resolve the issue to MY satisfaction then I wouldn't be doing the reception work any longer. Hmm now we are both cross... The truth is I have really felt - I don't know the word - angry, victimised?? by this particular group ever since I started working for my boyfriend. For example - at tournaments I usually work the door and the parents from this group work in the canteen. The rule is all people working can eat from the canteen for free but when I would break for my lunch they would refuse to serve me. So now at tournaments my boyfriend has to collect my lunch everytime - I refuse to be insulted. The worst part for me is the worst girl of the lot is grading to Blackbelt next month - I told my boyfriend that if she passes it will be bad for karate. Anyway, I wouldn't be pleased to see it.

I am really upset... My partner runs a karate dojo and simply because I wanted to spend time with him I agreed to work as a receptionist.. Now I have worked for him for at least 2 years and the current problem - I hope I am blowing out of proportion because I'm thinking I'm being bullied - I hope to God I'm wrong. There are a group of graders going through now 4 girls aged 10-14 (I think) and their parents who are at every training session and help out at tournaments etc... One girl in particular has always been really rude to me - tossing her training card at me and snatching it back rudely everytime... I never said anything because I didn't know what to say. I spoke to my partner who told me to pull her up each time - but I never did. Now all the girls seem rude - not as bad as the main girl, but rude and standoffish. I did pull all 3 of the main offenders up for not signing on- they didn't bother to pay on Thursdays because I leave early to take care of my stepchildren on that day... they listened for one week. Long story short, they have all tried not to pay at various times and it makes me extremely uncomfortable... esp when it's the parents that do it - one mother had to pay a large amount - I can't remember what it was for now - she stood there while I wrote out the reciepts - took them and walked off WITHOUT PAYING - I was sooo shocked I told my boyfriend and she said that she DID pay - and I started to doubt myself a little, then my partner spoke to her and her husband and said "If you think you should be getting more for the work (husband) did then that's fine but you need to clear it with me first ok?" (The husband did electrical work for my partner- was repaid with lessons etc.) A few days later (wife) came in and paid the money saying that she made a mistake - but no apology... It was unbelievable - I think I even apologised TO HER because I was so embarrassed. Anyway I got in a tussle with the other girls' mum tonight - she said I shortchanged her - then she changed tack and said "Why is tonight so expensive?" Then I got irrate and made her pay for Monday's training when her daughters didn't sign on at all. (BTW the girls were watching, listening and they were smirking and loving it) It's a complicated situation and I'm really uncomfortable and unhappy - I am so stuck in the middle - I want my partner to kick them all out - but he won't because he is really fair minded and diplomatic. Thanks for reading, I am interested to know if I am being bullied or not??