Being in the media business since I got out of college, I've had some rough supervisors. I'm talking about guys, who were so mean and vicious, just the thought of 'em send a chill up your spine. 

Newsrooms are chaotic places driven by the talk of the day, the fear of the masses and the dictatorship of one: THE NEWS DIRECTOR!

The news director is in charge of everything that goes on the air during local newscasts.  That's the person the anchors and reporters and producers and photographers report to.  That's also the person who, if the ratings tank, gets their neck put on the chopping block! 

My first N.D.--was so mean and hateful that when I got home every night, I couldn't fall asleep because I could feel the bed spinning! I just never rested.  And this was a sister!  She kicked my butt every day--for breakfast, lunch and dinner!  If I suggested we go left, she went right--if I had a good news idea--she'd shoot it down.  She took great delight in calling me out during newsroom meetings.  Man, she was tougher than leather.

And I thought when she quit, I'd get some relief--but the next guy they hired made her look like Cinderella's fairy god-mother.  This dude was about 6' 10" tall and reminded me of Herman The Munster!  He would stand toe-to-toe with reporters and anchors and just cuss 'em out like they were having a bar fight or something.  At one point, on one day, five people quit working!  They just couldn't take this dictator!  I saw him, with my own eyes, get so upset, that he punched a hole in the wall.  Now he, he was scarier than Freddie Kruger!

I could go on and on, but not one of my bosses--not one of 'em--can hold a candle to my new supervisor: 22 month old Andrew! 

Being a stay-at-home mom, I work for my son and he is literally kicking my butt on a daily basis!  At least when I worked for the tyrants in the newsroom, I had the union to protect me. Now, I'm out there on my own, and with no union rep to back me up.

Andrew has eliminated my 15 minute breaks!  They're all but gone!  I don't get a break to run and get lunch--I have to starve until I get off the clock. And speaking of clock--I'm on it from 5:30 a.m. when he wakes up until 8:30 at night when he goes down to sleep! I get no restroom breaks--so I'm taking bladder control medication.  I don't get any personal e-mail or computer time--not even if it's work related and I'm trying to figure out what this rash is on his neck!  That's forbidden in my new job as stay-at-home-mom.  Vacation and sick days are non existent.  I have to come to work sick at all times and when I go on vacation; he's there to supervise my every move!  Even when I get some Personal Time Off, I  must, under his mandate, be doing something exclusively for him.  I tell you what, Andrew is a BEAST!  He's the toughest and meanest boss I've ever encountered!

Even the guy who punched the hole in the wall wasn't this hard on me. I get yelled at every day, for one reason or another.  Nothing I do anymore is ever good enough and I don't know the last time I was given a yearly evaluation.  I guess he doesn't want to do one for fear that I'll ask for a raise. And speaking of raises, all this work is pro-bono.  I'm not getting paid...

I thought about quitting, so I got a lawyer---but he said I'm stuck--can't go anywhere--can't get out of the contract that I signed way back on July 31, 2006 when Andrew was born.  I was screaming and in so much pain I don't remember reading the fine print...