Dumb client extroardinaire, Pt. 2 (imported from Myspace)

On February 9th I vented about a ridiculous client. Well, she came in again yesterday. Boy, does she get my blood pressure going!! She saunters in to our office (without an appointment) and says she needs to see my boss. I tell her that he is in court and is booked up all day. She looks at me with a stupid expression and says, "Well, I have a court date on Wednesday - when are we going to talk?" I am thinking that she should have been preparing for trial before now, and, in fact, they have been to some degree. She argues with me about how she must see my boss and I explain (again) the impossibility of that for Monday. So I tell her that he could see her briefly on Wednesday morning at 8:30. She repeats "8:30" to me with a tone and look that could only be interpreted to mean, "you can't possibly expect me to get up that early." REMINDER - she does not PAY us!! So, anyway, I call and get a special appointment with her, shifting everyone else to work her in yesterday. We see her and she is driving a 2002/2003-ish Jeep Grand Cherokee, in immaculate condition. She is tan, has fake nails, dyed hair (with no roots), very cute clothes and is carrying a cappuchino with her. As soon as she gets in the office she puts on the theatrics of how she has met this great Christian guy and he is a great provider and works hard. How long had she known him - two weeks.....more specifically they met on or after the 11th of February (she had been in rehab up to that point). Brand new acquaintance. Then she tells us how she has moved in with this great, hardworking guy.......where do they live you ask?? WITH HIS PARENTS!!!! ARGH!! What part of pathetic does she not get? A good, hardworking boy does not take on a committment when he cannot even care for himself without his parents. They are supposodly getting this great apartment. And she would let us help her get a job as a receptionist at a hearing center - said that "she wasn't interested in the field" so she is working at Waffle House. Now, I don't care where she works - as long as she works and I, as a taxpayer, do not have to support her. EXCEPT that she wants custody of her children. Parents have to make sacrifices. Sacrifices like taking a good job that pays better and has better hours so that you are available for your child. Sacrifices like not moving in with men you barely know. Sacrifices like not going to the tanning bed when you say you can't afford a telephone. Sacrifices like not buying a cappuchino or getting your nails done when you say you don't have gas money to get to work. To me it all spells one word.....manipulator. She is a brilliant manipulator. Cute as a button and takes care of herself - has to - that is part of the plan. She is manipulating my boss to get her legal expenses free, manipulating a church to pay her bills (which they stopped when she tried to seduce the preacher-seriously!!), manipulating this new boyfriend to get an apartment to live in. Really, it is just tragic. As soon as she found out that my boss was a Christian she started turning on the verbage - using words like, "blessed" and "trials" and "valley" yadda, yadda, yadda. Calling me dear and sweetheart, when she is several years my junior. But it does make me sad. I pity her. I am sad that she can consider herself so without value to basically sell herself to whoever will fit the bill. So, as a co-worker reminded me, I need to remember that even though she claims Christ - there is absolutely no fruit to show and I need to treat her kindly and gently, remembering that without Christ - there I could be also. Boy that is the hard line to walk though! My boss is great - and I want to protect him from throwing his time away on people who don't appreciate it, which is a noble cause. And loving her is also a noble cause. But sometimes people need "tough" love - and I think she needs a little confrontation - especially if we are going to aid her in getting her kid back. (Frankly, I am not sure if I think she should have her kid back at this point.) So, pray for me that God will guide me in dealing with her - to be loving, but firm. But, always to be loving.....and that's the hardest part!!