Am I working?

Try reading my second post NanaTuesday!

I was always amused to be asked "Are you a housewife, or do you work?".

Just say, 'if you say so... and the money's a bonus...'

Back in my 20s, after 6 years of part-time study whilst doing a full-time job, I qualified as an Accountant. As planned, I then had my first baby and to help the family budget I did the accounts of sole traders, at home, juggling it around childcare, housework and baby naps. My mother never agreed that I was "working" because I did it at home.

The tax office didn't agree with her, neither did the National Insurance folk, nor the Professional Indemnity Insurance people.

When I asked her to have my daughter now and again she refused, saying if I was at home I could look after her myself!

Later I got a "job" as an Examiner for a Professional Accountancy body which I also did at home. My mother didn't think that was a job either, even though over the following 25 years it earned me today's equivalent of about £25k a year. The tax office took its cut of that as well.

When my mum had to go into a care home at the end of her life, guess who paid the top-up fees for her (and willingly)?

You will never win with your sister, and as others have said, make a light-hearted joke of it and enjoy your lovely job.

Family attitudes to their sibling's work life is really interesting.

Most of my siblings have retired and it is interesting how they often banged on about still working to the older retired ones until they themselves retired. I did it myself too!

We have a younger sibling who now bores us all with mentioning her 'work' at every opportunity, I think just to prove something to us, although we're not at all interested.

Maybe you should just say 'I'm doing my dog job,' or something similar.

I don't think it is jealousy as such, maybe she just doesn't want to know about your working life. Don't make a big thing of it.

I worked with my husband on our business my family never took it serious. It’s just a ridiculous trait some people have it’s called jealousy ignore your sisters remarks.

Don’t you have to be registered and licensed with the local authority if you are paid to look after any dogs in your own home? That surely makes it a business.

It's like looking after someone else's children, that's a job too.

My Mum and Dad didn't like me being a registered childminder.
If they were coming for the weekend I noticed they wouldn't arrive until after the last child had gone home.
I asked why and Dad said it was "humiliating" when the parents paid me 🙄

There was no one more hard working than my Mum. She brought up 3 children and dogs and she worked from home for a local factory making canopies for Hammocks and bags for Fishing rods. . She cut to pattern, and sewed on home sewing machine, She was supplied with bales of material and the finished goods were collected by the factory. All this done for years from home. Don't listen to anyone who telsl you working from home is not a job. It can and most certainly is. It is hard too.

I'm self-employed part time and find people think I don't really work (including my husband).

Of course you’re working! In fact you are a small business owner. Your sister is not nice 😵‍💫

Whatever you are doing, if you are paid for it, it’s work. ( and the tax man would agree!). No need to get emotional or have ‘beliefs’. Your sister is factually incorrect….for whatever reason….if she says it again, you can rightfully, say that it’s paid work and leave it at that.

Here’s another suggestion 🖕No words needed.

Yes I agree with the majority. Your sister is jealous and I would suggest it is because you are happy with all those lovely wagging tails and she for whatever reason is not happy with her lot. Otherwise why would she try to upset you.

Georgesgran

Looking after numerous dogs is hard work! At one point we had 10 and it was almost a full time (unpaid) job to take them out, in groups, two or three (summer nights) times a day, plus feeding, etc.
Personally, it does sound as if your sister is jealous, for whatever reason, best known to herself. You don’t say how old either of you are, which could be a factor?
I assume you are properly insured, declaring this income and paying the necessary tax?

Omg , The Op was asking “‘Am I working “?
And you question her about her business !!!
Which is just as bad if not worse than her Sister’s comments !

Is this the only topic/area of life in which your sister is less than 'nice'? Several posters have touched on this. It is most definitely work. My 'paid' work is a doddle compared to looking after my four dogs (although I love it all - fortunately). I would give her 'her answer', as they say!

Siblings can be harsh in a way that gets under the skin. I have a friend that cat sits , she works hard and the client is able to go on holiday. Your sister may resent your lovely career, but that’s her problem. Nice thing about being around animals is they aren’t usually spiteful.

Animal care is probably the best job in the world for anyone who loves animals. But it is working if it's not your own pet. It's like looking after someone else's children, that's a job too.

Obvious to me that you are working.
Self employed.
Paying taxes/insurance etc - why does she think you'd be doing that if it wasn't work!
🙄

Of course you are working and people must trust you to leave their dogs with you.. it's typical sibling rivalry that she hasn't grown out of...

Your sister is rude. If it were my sister saying that I'd tell her so.

You are doing something for which others pay you. It's work that you can do and work that needs doing. So, by definition, it's work. It's a bonus that it's paid work.

And yes, welbeck's response is great. Try it on your rude sister 😁

Macadia

My sister is a hard worker and does work full time. I do have certifications, as well. Now that I think more about it, I just realized that she makes fun of all of my professions. Oh well. I clearly see this pattern now.

You need to work out why she puts you down.

This is rather like being described as
" just a housewife . "
I was told that I don't work to which I replied ' that's right , I don't sleep either as my father is upset , confused and incontinent through the night - so that means three snatched hours with luck ! "

Does your sister have a long time issue with you ?
Sounds like jealousy and resentment to me .
Either avoid or ignore her or snap back -
it's my new profession !
welbeck's response is great !
Looking after dogs properly is hard work
.

I’d invite her over on a day you ‘aren’t working’ let her see how hard ‘not working ‘ is.

Don’t tell her it isn’t a day off and make her help you.

That might shut her up

Alternatively just ignore her, smug in the fact that you do a job you love and she is as jealous as hell.

JaneJudge

So it is a job you are even qualified for I think I'd be inclined to tell her to piss off

Or set the dogs on her!