When the maid is away

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Anna_Ancher_-_The_maid_in_the_kitchen_-_Google_Art_Project.jpg
@allknowing (130292)
India
August 3, 2023 11:31pm CST
Hats off to those who run their homes without any help, doing everything from A to Z and still have time to work on writing sites and some even write books, go on holidays and what have you. I am totally helpless when the gardener and the maid takes leave. There is so much here that needs to be done and without their help I am helpless. Take for example cooking. I am used to the maid chopping everything, washing vessels and keeping the kitichen platform spotless. When she is not around I do that but breathe a sigh of relief when she is back and so is the situation when the gardener disappears for a few days. I have said this before and I say it again - hats off to all of you who handle your household without help and that too efficiently
4 people like this
4 responses
@arunima25 (86074)
• Bangalore, India
4 Aug
I am going through that phase right now. My morning help is there to sweep and mop. She is coming. But my afternoon help for bathroom cleaning, watering plants, dusting, other cleaning etc has not come in the last one week. Even my gardener is gone for almost a month and he is coming tomorrow. I am totally exhausted doing these extra chores after work. Yesterday I cleaned two bathrooms on the floor below and I was panting. I don't have any help for kitchen. I do chopping, cleaning and washing vessels. But yes, I do take some help from my afternoon help at times like cleaning spinach and methi leaves, peeling garlic and small sambhar onions etc.
1 person likes this
@allknowing (130292)
• India
4 Aug
I marvel at our friends here who manage their household so well. I never lifted a finger in the good old days as we had more help but now since I do not socialise much and have time to spare I do potter around the kitchen a bit and atleast you understand perfectly well the scenario when help is not around(lol)
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@arunima25 (86074)
• Bangalore, India
4 Aug
@allknowing I can. Especially in recent years, I see the ageing effect and tiredness more so in the past two years after Covid infection. I have stayed a good part of my life abroad with two young kids, job and household chores. I have done most of household chores with work for many years with minimal help. But now I want to use my energy elsewhere doing something that I love.
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@allknowing (130292)
• India
4 Aug
@arunima25 I have cut down a whole lot of fan fare and that makes life easy - no encouraging house guests, no entertaining group visitors, cooking enough that will last for more than a day and so on. Same applies to cleaning - have made reductions there as well.
1 person likes this
@crossbones27 (48553)
• Mojave, California
4 Aug
Its amazing how hard people work. In America people work 2 or 3 jobs with no maids or help and then have to come clean the house, cook for the kids and you wonder why they not all there in there present job. Its to much. I am glad you understand how valuable true help is. People to spoiled here and why so many have to work 2 or 3 jobs so they are not homeless. It did not use to be but capitalism won.
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@allknowing (130292)
• India
4 Aug
I am wondering if it is the climate that does not tire them as much the climate here that causes workers to get tired easily.
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@allknowing (130292)
• India
4 Aug
@crossbones27 Talkin about technology most families who engage maids and gardeners have fridges, washing machines, micro wave, the works, air conditioning, fans and they also own cars Despite all this we just cannot manage without household help
1 person likes this
• Mojave, California
4 Aug
@allknowing Amen, and when put it like that its very sad because here so expensive and sure maybe there also for some, some here and sure there, think Vanny mentioned too she makes sure her help can at least get the basics of a comfortable life in pay and comfortable housing. It may not be much but very doable. I think that is all common person asks for. That being said, here most of the help that work for higher earning people most do not give a damn if they cannot afford a decent house or food or water and they wonder why they come into work all out of it. They just say work harder. Its demoralizing on every level.
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@Shasha_ (1017)
• Envigado, Colombia
4 Aug
I can imagine. I do everything by myself, but I live in a small apartment.
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@allknowing (130292)
• India
4 Aug
That means a lot as we have a big garden and also a biggish house
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@Shasha_ (1017)
• Envigado, Colombia
5 Aug
@allknowing That's why you need their help.
1 person likes this
@terramars (166)
4 Aug
Ikr. It takes a lot of time and effort to run a household without any help. And I'm so grateful for my own helpers, even if I do take them for granted sometimes! I know that I would be lost without them.
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@allknowing (130292)
• India
4 Aug
Those who have them and when they are away that is the time we know their worth!!!
1 person likes this
4 Aug
@allknowing Yes, that's true!
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