And then one day out of the blue, they blow up --- "You never blah-blah-blah" or "You always blah-blah-blah" and that will be the first time you've heard said complaint.
It's also known as the "Martyr Syndrome."
That's true. I work for a gal who has that down to a science. She constantly complains about how her adult grandchildren just show up for breakfast, lunch and dinner and expects her to feed them. And believe me they are there every meal because I see them. She has one grandson who is 28 who she has to call every morning to make sure he is out of bed on time to get to work. She goes on and on about the work and the cost but never does anything to stop it. She has another employee she allows to use her personal credit card to pay off his phone bill when it gets too high. He can't get credit (I wonder why) I figure she must get off on all this in some weird way so she gets little sympathy from me. Of course I don't say that. She is always asking if there is anything she can do for me but I know better than to fall into that trap. I would just be one more person trying to suck her dry. Strangely enough that sort of drives her nuts because I come in, do my job and leave. All I want is my pay. I think she is disappointed on some ways because she can't get a "hook" in. It is one of the oddest things I have ever witnessed.