Oh wow... ! (Sorry, I feel like I start every message like that! But every time you tell me more about the company and the situation, my jaw just drops!)

So, they're offering you less than what you made on the work that you just completed with them? And trying to explain that away by saying they hope to bring you on full-time later, and if they paid you what you were already being paid, they'd have to cut that (later!) to hire you full-time (later!). Oh geez.

I'd probably just point out that you had been paid $X/hour for the work that you just did for them, and that's your going rate for contract work, and you're unable to accept a lower rate at this time. End of discussion, and they can take it or leave it.

But again, that depends on whether you can afford to not take this job...

I think it IS good that you got some practice, and are learning how to deal with negotiations a bit. I find it hard too, I think some of it is that you learn by doing.... just like you're doing now. You have a bad experience where your client doesn't know how to write a contract for your services, and so you go out, write up your own contract, and next time just hand it to them... it saves them the work of having to figure it out, and makes sure that you get your terms in front of them.

I also think some people are just naturally talented at that stuff... Awhile ago, I was reading about "talents" or "natural abilities" - fascinating stuff - trying to figure out what I should be doing. I think for some people, they just do it. Maybe they don't get as stressed, or maybe it's not as important to them, or maybe they just think of it as a game, or maybe they have tons of experience from an early age? I don't know... I know that I find it awful too... and very stress-inducing!

That said, they had already agreed to your contract rate. They had no problem paying it. You did good work for them... otherwise, why would they want to hire you to do more? I don't know, I think I'd stick to that line of reasoning. It wouldn't hurt if you could point out how you're going to save them money... i.e. "You'll easily save x-times the amount of money you'll pay me with the improvements that I can implement for you, plus.... (other advantages, like saving time, avoiding lawsuits, etc.".

Good luck, and I hope you're able to put it out of your mind for a bit and just relax and enjoy the weekend!!! At this point, they're not actually expecting you to still report in Monday, right, since nothing's been signed?

And, thanks... yes, the fall was scary. I sort of had to just lie there for a minute and breathe until I could get up, then I got inside, and had to lie down on the floor in front of the door again (because I thought I was going to pass out, again!). Ugh... and I just unwrapped the bandage from my foot/ankle and it's really really purple and scary looking!

But, on the bright side, I can actually put weight on it... I just have to be careful about how I move it, and I can walk with less pain than the last time I sprained something. My poor (opposite) knee is bruised and scraped up too. And, I'm feeling icky... I had been walking regularly and it helped me feel better, get fresh air, and helped my mental health stuff... and now I need to hold off until I let the ankle rest a bit, I think. I just don't want to strain it more when it needs to be healing. But I really need to get some air and some sort of exercise...

Take care! Hope you have some fun this weekend!