The curiousity of former employers
I got a call this morning, the Monday after I completed my two weeks notice from my job. On the phone was my boss, the same one who continually invalidated my position and refused to give me more hours not but three weeks ago. Today he was asking me to come back, temporarily to fill in for someone, at a $2.50 an hour raise.
Two weeks ago I quit because I couldn't get any more hours, now after I had my last day I'm being begged to come back. I loved my job, and quiting was one of the hardest things I've done in a while. I was working with children, something I loved, but I couldn't stay with the way the professional side of the job was going. Saying goodbye on Friday to all of my kids was emotional and I did not want to do it again.
I think it was about two seconds after I told my boss, "No" that I had regrets. While I do have interviews, I don't have another job lined up and the money would really be helpful, but I think on some level I made the right decision.
Part of my purpose in quiting was to finally give validation to my position, to show that I really did make an impact and my job and the way I did it was important. On Monday morning, I guess I got that validation; and after I get over my initial regret, maybe I'll feel like I made the right choice.
I'm not trying to confuse you with this response.
I agree. It does sound like you got the validation you were seeking. While you did not get the additional hours at the old rate of pay, you were offered $2.50 per hour more for the same number of hours. Now what I'm seeing is that three hours at the old rate (say $10 per hour) would have amounted to $30 more per week. And I'm assuming the work week was perhaps 17-20 hours. The $2.50 would be $212.50-$250 instead of $170-$200. It's the additional funds without working so hard to earn them. And the employer is still within whatever hourly quotas they have with regard to benefits, so that this isn't costing him an arm and a leg. He just needed some time to put pen to paper to calculate how much it would cost him to accommodate your request. See this as a lesson. When asking for something, do the math for the boss before asking so that they're more likely to see things as affordable.
The other part of that validation may be that your kids and their parents are saying positive things about the work you used to do and the contributions that you made. They may be saying they truly miss the "touch" you gave to the center and wish you'd return.
The boss's coming around was definitely a kudo for you. If you decide to reconsider, there's no shame. If you decide to reconsider, simply say that you took some time to think over your last conversation and feel ...
I support you, no matter what you ultimately decide to do.