I may just end up spending the money we save on medication
Thursday, July 1, 2010 at 2:43PM Despite my best intentions to "never blog about work", it's no secret that I loathe the job I'm currently at. It's hostile, it's boring, and I'm sure it's at least partly responsible for my early onset of menopause. Some days I imagine leaving that job would be like a physical weight being lifted from me. My life would suddenly be rainbows and puppies, I'd instantly drop 30lbs, and angels would sing constantly.
And I'm trying very hard to make that happen. Unfortunately, I do need some job, and they're hard to come by. I seem to be in the grey zone for employability - overeducated for a regular joe job, but not the right KIND of education for anything higher up. Stupid Fine Arts degree.
Hubby, bless his heart, occasionally pitches me an idea for re-arranging our lives so that I don't have to spend as much time at work. As it is, though, I can only stand to be there 4 days a week (and I'm lucky that my job is that flexible, as my boss keeps reminding me), so money is...a little pinchy. Nevertheless, the other day hubby offered, "If I give you another $100 each paycheck could you drop down to 3 days a week?"
I've no idea where he was planning to find this unicorn money (I'm not sure I want to know), but the answer was actually "no". That wouldn't make up for the lost income. Anyway, I don't think my boss is THAT flexible with my hours - he complains about the missing day each week already.
"What if I cleaned the house on Wednesdays and we got rid of the cleaners?" he added.
Got rid of the...my...my cleaners? My beloved cleaners? Gah. Actually...yes...that would just about do it. Though I still don't think the boss is going to agree to only 3 days a week.
"Oh. Well, I could still do the cleaning thing and free up some money," hubby offered.
Yes...but...my cleaners.
I am not a person who likes to clean. I do love a clean house, however, when my son was born I realized I'd rather spend that valuable time playing with him. Or blogging, or reading, or staring at the wall, or sticking bamboo shoots under my fingernails. Pretty much anything but cleaning. If you add together the time I spent cleaning and the time I spent arguing with hubby about which one of us was supposed to be cleaning, it was quite a lot.
And that vague sense of satisfaction you get after you've cleaned the house? In my case, it actually increases when I'm clever enough to pay someone ELSE to do it. I swore that even if I was living in a cardboard box, I'd still find the cash to pay someone to clean it twice a month.
But...the cleaners haven't been doing the best job lately. And we could really use that money.
I quizzed hubby fiercely: Is this something you're really going to do? Every Wednesday? You're not going to make excuses? Is this something I'M going to end up stuck with?
He stuck with his story. So, reluctantly, I fired the cleaners as gently and as lovingly as possible. (Via email. Is that rude? Will they be hurt that I didn't tell them in person? I obsessed over that for hours. What if I want them back and they're too mad?)
And then I went and cried in a corner.
(Still there, actually. Send wine. And laptop batteries.)
Reader Comments (25)
I don't have cleaners. I would LOVE to have cleaners. Have you tried a University or school? It seems like they hire a lot of fine arts people here.
I am in awe of your strength and your ability to trust your spouse to clean your home. Also, I'm a little afraid for you. I'll say a novena for your cleaners tonight.
Fired the cleaners?? Ack!!! I sure hope he means what he says or that would be awful!! I will pray for all of you!!
Hugs
SueAnn
...I'm still laughing...sorry, can't send wine and a laptop, if I do, I won't be able to afford my cleaners! So sorry for your loss.
Oh boy. There there girl. I am sorry because we went through the exact same thing. Fired the housecleaner to save money, and we were going to do it all ourselves. Well, what happened for a year is that we did basic picking up and emergency cleaning, but we never really did all the stuff the cleaner did. Mopping? Hah! Finally things got to where we agreed to get another cleaner.
But I think just having the flexibility could be good for you, a little extra dough is always good.
Or maybe have her come in once a month?
Dude. I left a huge long comment and it disappeared.
Ok, that one seemed to work. It was something like.. sorry about firing your cleaning lady, we did that too but then I called her to do a one time cleaning and rehired her because I missed her.
But.. I do spend at least an hour picking up toys and decluttering before she comes so that kinda sucks.
I bet your cleaners are soooooooo mad at you. And they probably called all the other house cleaners in town and told them that, if you call, they should tell you they REFUSE to clean your house.
On the plus side, my wife wants out of her job too. I bet she'd be happy to come clean your house. For a really really really reasonable fee.
I'd fire my cleaner, but she works for free....and man does she suck (oops...the cleaner would be me). Maybe someday I can have a cleaner...oh hopes and dreams. I'd send wine, but we can't even afford that right now....
This is an argument that the hubby and I have periodically. He's against, I for getting another cleaner. I'm still a little crabby that we got rid of the cleaner in the first place. I really should let it go. I mean it has been 5 years.
I can send wine and Xanax. That is a combo sure to make cleaning your house a whole lot easier. Or make you not care so much. Let me know. I can put it in the mail. Or is that drug trafficking?
Oh my gosh, see before I would have been all "oh, poor you, you lost your cleaners, whatever shall you do?" But, then my husband bought me a housekeeper for a day for my birthday, and I totally get it. We're talking about hiring our neighbor's 18 year old kid to do it. She has no job and she cleans their house really well b/c the mom has asthma and runs a home daycare. I hate cleaning, esp now that I have a dog and a kid. It feels so pointless, so the idea of it being pointless for someone else...magical! I feel for you, I truly do.
You have a husband that wants you to cut back on hours and is willing to clean to make that happen? I'm speechless. You go girl, I don't know how you did it but I am impressed.
There is no way that this comment doesn't sound kinda snarky and that is not the tone I want to leave. It sucks that you hate your job and I do hope you can leave it or at least find a workable solution but I am so impressed with your husband I can't really think about your sucky job.
I wish I had cleaners to fire. I wish I had anybody to fire.
Cleaners? I always thought that was the stuff I used to CLEAN with...myself?
you have a wonderful hubby to try and find a compromise to reduce your hours at a place which you hate. Good luck with the cleaners!
Sending wine and chocolate as I speak! The laptop battery is rechargeable so it doesn't count lol.
If I were you, as sad as it is to lose your cleaners, be happy that you have a husband that loves you so much he wants to spend more time with you and do whatever he can to make you happy!
I'll come clean for you. I love to clean (it's a sickness) and would like for you to be happy :)
That's so sad. You got rid of your cleaners? I think I'm traumatized on your behalf.
Are you crazy? Cut back on food, or your cable or something, but the cleaners? You realize you basically went out of your way to create a situation that you two will fight about, right? Oh, grasshopper.....
yikes! I can't imagine paying for cleaners.
Regarding the cleaners,good luck with that.
I decided to cut ours back rather than cancel. That way we know the place will be decent once a month (as my good intentions don't always get the job done)
Cleaners have never been in our budget, but it sounds like a wonderful fantasy. Lately though, now that at least half of my kids are old enough to be useful, I have been employing them to tackle some of the more unsavory tasks, like dishes and toilet scrubbing. It's pretty awesome. I'll lend them out to you if you get desperate, you just have to pay for shipping. ;)
I could not do it. You are a strong, strong woman. I hate to clean. I cry with happiness when I walk in every other Friday and the house is spotless. Not trying to make you feel bad, only trying to tell you: I understand your pain.
Yeah, cleaners are a totaly fantasy of mine.
I recently splurged on having our windows cleaned. for the first time. EVER.
No one gets this but me. why it is so important.
p.s. I'm un-employed.
& I couldn't care less. Must have clean windows.
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