scheduling conflicts with children??

[BeenThereDoneThat74, MSN, RN]

Not really looking for advice, just looking to vent...and some reassurance that I am not alone!!!

I work per-diem. For the most part 2-3 12hr shifts a week. With a variety of odd-ball shifts (4 hrs here, 8 hrs there). Financially I need to be working at least part-time, but I need the flexibility.

I work in more than one institution. Reason: believe it or not I couln't get enough work in one place alone (at least at the times I could work), and I do like the variety.

My husband has crazy hours (he's a paramedic). We do not have a sitter, rather our parents help us out quite often, but they all work, so it's mostly eves and weekends that they are available. And at this point, our daughter is 4 1/2 yrs old, starting pre-k, so it seems pointless to look into that (besides who is going to watch her overnight, or from 5:30-8:00am?). That's not what we wanted anyway.

Fast forward to today, where I showed up for work, when I was actually scheduled to work tommorrow (first time I ever did this). I'm 99% sure I signed up for today, As I hardly ever work Fridays. But sure enough, the schedule said tommorrow (perhaps they conveniently changed it). They told me they didn't need me today, and they did need me tommorrow, so they couldn't make the switch and let me stay. Problem is I cannot work tommorrow!! I have a 4 hr shift tommorrow that I would have to cancel, and I would have to make new arrangements for childcare, as I was supposed to do 12hrs, not 4 (big difference for a 4yr old). So I need to cancel one (guess which one?) I feel bad, but I don't. I'm just sick of feeling like I have all these excuses. But I am per-diem, and this is why I am per-diem. But I feel like somehow I'm the only one with these issues (or at least nobody talks about it). One of my best friends works Full time, and her mother is avaiable 24/7 for her kids. I don't have that luxury. Not on;y that, but I always seem to work for childless nurse managers.

BTW the place that I had the schedule mishap with today, I'm resigning from (already gave notice). So they're going to think I'm cancelling because I'm leaving anyway (I only have 2 shifts left after tommorrow). I also don't want this to my 'going out with a bang'. But I have to do what I have to do. I just get worried about references and such.

Anyone with any thoughts, ideas, or counter-vents?