Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

My housekeeper is vey religious and it’s causing issues

365 replies

Claradiplomatique · 15/01/2026 11:15

We live overseas btw for anyone wondering.

So I have a lovely housekeeper who is very…religious.

She tells me off when she sees the children’s toys with horns (dragons, dinosaurs, Yoga Goat) or if she sees any children’s books about magic or witches. My own tarot cards and crystals are tucked into a drawer.

There is somewhat of a language barrier as I think we are having a normal conversation and she says “Jesus is coming soon” out of the blue.

There is also an ongoing battle between the nanny (different religion) and the housekeeper as nanny believes in evil eye etc and has given charms to me and the housekeeper says they are “satan’s work.” Nanny took the children to a Halloween craft workshop and came back with witchy dolls and a pumpkin which housekeeper said we should burn.

They do however both agree that our rescue street cat is sent from God to protect us.

AIBU? Do I double down on the no religion talk or let her go?

🧿🪬

OP posts:
Thread gallery
5
WilCh · 16/01/2026 18:47

Your house your rules

MidnightMusing5 · 16/01/2026 18:42

Who does the cat love more?

I find it quite funny though. They both mean well in their own way .

toiletpaperthief · 16/01/2026 18:35

Claradiplomatique · 15/01/2026 11:19

I am a writer but no, not writing a book on religious household staff!

Show quote history

You should. This is comedy gold. You have an amazing script under your nose. Keep both and take notes. I'm sure you can come up with a really interesting ending.

Lizziespring · 16/01/2026 18:25

How do the gardener, chauffeur and pool cleaner get on with them?

Zoec1975 · 16/01/2026 18:16

MatildaTheCat · 15/01/2026 11:16

What does the cat think?

Your lovely cat is beautiful ❤️

Flamethrowers · 16/01/2026 17:58

I once didn’t hire a nanny as she told me that she thought the children of intentionally single mothers (such as myself) would be cursed for ten generations - but not to worry as she was a professional and could keep her personal beliefs seperate from her work

dizzydizzydizzy · 16/01/2026 17:50

Claradiplomatique · 15/01/2026 11:18

The cat loves them both.

Show quote history

As usual, the cat is no help! 🤣

(I love cats)

Wingingit73 · 15/01/2026 19:14

This is just showing off lol

ByLemonFawn · 15/01/2026 19:10

The housekeeper sounds quite extreme. Being religious is fine, but pushing it on people is not. I wouldn’t be hiring someone who tells me off for having normal childhood toys, preaching to kids, making me feel I had to hide stuff. You’re paying to walk on egg shells - madness!! She sounds like a toxic presence in the home, you need a new housekeeper.

AllMyPunySorrows · 15/01/2026 18:35

Hopelesscase32 · 15/01/2026 17:49

Why is everyone so bothered about having a nanny and a housekeeper
My brother in law works in Oman and they are encouraged by the employer to do so as it helps the local economy

Edited

Says every lower-middle-class Brit who ever moved to the ME and employed an exploited domestic servant under the kafala system.

NewUserName2244 · 15/01/2026 18:34

I think that you should tell her that god spoke to you in a dream, told you that the cat was there to protect you and the house. God said the toys, witchy stuff, halloween stuff was fine but that you need to give more of your time and money to charity.

MissFancyDay · 15/01/2026 18:01

Claradiplomatique · 15/01/2026 11:15

We live overseas btw for anyone wondering.

So I have a lovely housekeeper who is very…religious.

She tells me off when she sees the children’s toys with horns (dragons, dinosaurs, Yoga Goat) or if she sees any children’s books about magic or witches. My own tarot cards and crystals are tucked into a drawer.

There is somewhat of a language barrier as I think we are having a normal conversation and she says “Jesus is coming soon” out of the blue.

There is also an ongoing battle between the nanny (different religion) and the housekeeper as nanny believes in evil eye etc and has given charms to me and the housekeeper says they are “satan’s work.” Nanny took the children to a Halloween craft workshop and came back with witchy dolls and a pumpkin which housekeeper said we should burn.

They do however both agree that our rescue street cat is sent from God to protect us.

AIBU? Do I double down on the no religion talk or let her go?

🧿🪬

What religion is the nanny OP?

It all sounds very educational for the children, children can grow up in all sorts of different environments and not be "influenced" by them. They can however be educated by them, on the differences in how we all live and how bonkers some foreign cultures can seem to our narrow lives.

Personally your problem would not bother me if the comments were just made in passing, but if the warring nanny and housekeeper were getting nasty about it I would have to say something, and ultimately try someone new.

Shutuptrevor · 15/01/2026 17:57

“There is somewhat of a language barrier as I think we are having a normal conversation and she says “Jesus is coming soon” out of the blue.“

I am just posting to say i’m knackered at the end of a long work week and this really made me giggle so thank you 😁

Maybe reply with phrases from A Handmaid’s Tale, like “Under his eye”. Or make up some that sound biblical but aren’t 😁

CheshireCat1 · 15/01/2026 17:57

Claradiplomatique · 15/01/2026 11:18

The cat loves them both.

Show quote history

Trust the cat, they know people

Daygloboo · 15/01/2026 17:55

Balloonhearts · 15/01/2026 11:23

I'd tell the pair of them that I don't want them filling the children's heads with tales of Satan and to keep their religious beliefs to themselves. If they can't, I'd let them both go. I wouldn't want anyone filling my children's heads with religious nonsense about Jesus and Satan and evil.

Rather !

Hopelesscase32 · 15/01/2026 17:55

hyco · 15/01/2026 17:53

Have you asked how much your brother in law pays his 'housekeeper'? Does she have set hours, get to keep her own passport?

Show quote history

😂 of course she has her own passport.

hyco · 15/01/2026 17:53

Hopelesscase32 · 15/01/2026 17:49

Why is everyone so bothered about having a nanny and a housekeeper
My brother in law works in Oman and they are encouraged by the employer to do so as it helps the local economy

Edited

Have you asked how much your brother in law pays his 'housekeeper'? Does she have set hours, get to keep her own passport?

Hopelesscase32 · 15/01/2026 17:49

Why is everyone so bothered about having a nanny and a housekeeper
My brother in law works in Oman and they are encouraged by the employer to do so as it helps the local economy

Maggispice · 15/01/2026 17:46

Claradiplomatique · 15/01/2026 11:47

I know to a lot of people it seems funny but this is how a lot of people live overseas. Diplomats, people working in oil or banking etc. And when you have people in your home wittering on about religion it’s annoying.

Show quote history

You don't have to be a diplomat to afford a nanny, cook, housemaid, driver, gardener, security guards etc in Africa, Middle East, Asia and South America. There's no minimum wage in most of the countries and the few that recently instituted it apply it only to the civil service.
In Nigeria for example it's N70,000 last year. Most domestic staff earn half of that and many find people to house their children as long as they provide accommodation and feeding. Ofcourse the senior politicians ensure their renumeration and benefits surpass that of any Western country.

drspouse · 15/01/2026 17:44

herefortheclicks · 15/01/2026 17:34

I am Christian and do believe that any yoga, taro and other such things do open portals to the evil in your life, and from what you are saying.....

I am also Christian and don't believe any of that.
Yoga is exercise and can be meditation. Tarot is just bunkum. Like astrology.

dogsarebetterthanppl · 15/01/2026 17:43

herefortheclicks · 15/01/2026 17:34

I am Christian and do believe that any yoga, taro and other such things do open portals to the evil in your life, and from what you are saying.....

i sort of understand why christian people think that about tarot since afaik it goes against their religion, but i don't get why it extends to yoga? you're the first person i've heard mention yoga in that context, i don't practice yoga and never have but i don't understand how an exercise can be thought of as opening a portal, unless you mean kundalini etc. for reference, i attend a spiritualist church and have many card decks and i'm also reiki attuned, have spiritual healing regularly, read lots of spiritual/metaphysical/angel books and have plenty of friends with similar beliefs as me but never would do anything that doesn't come from light or isn't for the highest good.

heretowin · 15/01/2026 17:42

That black cat looks familiar to me.

Hopelesscase32 · 15/01/2026 17:40

I would actually find this quite enjoyable

herefortheclicks · 15/01/2026 17:34

I am Christian and do believe that any yoga, taro and other such things do open portals to the evil in your life, and from what you are saying.....

Ketzele · 15/01/2026 17:25

Ladamesansmerci · 15/01/2026 12:36

I can't believe this is real, but if it is, tell them to keep quiet. I wouldn't want that bullshit spoken about around my children. They are entitled to their private beliefs, but they need to remain private.

Absolutely not, it would tickle me pink to hear it!

My ex dp was from the Caribbean and we often went there to visit family. One of her aunts was a fabulously evil woman who had a big reputation on the island as being Obeah (similar to voodoo). She wasn't Obeah, but my christ she enjoyed the reputation and being able to send gangs of teenagers screaming for their mums just by gazing at them and muttering.