Page 7 | My housekeeper is vey religious and it’s causing issues

Claradiplomatique · 2026-01-15T11:15:04+00:00

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? 🧿🪬

DrToothandtheElectricMayhem · 15/01/2026 14:25

I’d worry about the housekeeper. If her own husband, the driver, thinks she’s batshit, that’s a sign. Maybe from Jesus.

Glitterella · 15/01/2026 14:22

Gahr · 15/01/2026 14:21

Was she in love with him, or did she just resent the new order?

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The new order.

My husband was newly divorced and she moved with him to his new home. She went from cleaning a 5 bedroom home with 3 children to just my husband. She wasn’t keen on a repeat!

MinnieMountain · 15/01/2026 14:22

Which country are you in OP?

Gahr · 15/01/2026 14:21

Glitterella · 15/01/2026 14:19

Well it’s hard to work out really.

He got really bad allergies and there was some sort of powder and snuff like substance in our bed between the mattress and sheet. So I just say he got sick, I’m sure her intention was to get rid of the new lady of the house not give her employer the sneezes.

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Was she in love with him, or did she just resent the new order?

Gahr · 15/01/2026 14:20

Glitterella · 15/01/2026 14:19

Well it’s hard to work out really.

He got really bad allergies and there was some sort of powder and snuff like substance in our bed between the mattress and sheet. So I just say he got sick, I’m sure her intention was to get rid of the new lady of the house not give her employer the sneezes.

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Ah, that makes sense!

SapphireSeptember · 15/01/2026 14:19

As a Christian who loves anything witchy and Halloweeny (and who has a deck of tarot cards and lots of crystals) send her my way. 😁

Ferrfoxache · 15/01/2026 14:19

GarlicSound · 15/01/2026 14:05

If they're committed to their religions - especially the Catholic housekeeper, as her faith has a long list of specific regulations - they'll be unable to see this as anything they can leave at the door. It will permeate their entire lives and they'll feel morally obliged to 'protect' OP's family from the errors of their ways.

Since the two rub along okay, I'm assuming the nanny's more flexible in her outlook and well-versed in what to say and what to ignore. I'd be concerned about what the DC are absorbing - the 'fear of god' can be very literal to a child. The best defence might be, as modelled by PPs upthread, to introduce them to a wide range of belief systems, showing that no single one can be 'right' but it's all rather interesting.

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No one should have a free pass to spew their bile in someone else's home no matter how devout. I'm not religious at all and i respect those who are but start shoving it in my face then that's a whole other ball game. So, yes they can and should leave it on the doorstep.

Glitterella · 15/01/2026 14:19

Gahr · 15/01/2026 14:17

His being sick must have been a coincidence, unless tried to poison you and somehow got him instead. Witchcraft isn't real. I don't mean that people don't really believe it and do a lot of terrible things in its name, but you can't make someone sick by cursing them.

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Well it’s hard to work out really.

He got really bad allergies and there was some sort of powder and snuff like substance in our bed between the mattress and sheet. So I just say he got sick, I’m sure her intention was to get rid of the new lady of the house not give her employer the sneezes.

CallItLoneliness · 15/01/2026 14:19

Claradiplomatique · 15/01/2026 14:17

Of course! She had pet passport and microchip, she’ll come to our next posting even if it costs $2000 and a lot of admin, 😍

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Hopefully it won't be that much! I am not a diplomat, but I have moved a cat internationally and it wasn't huuugely pricey. He was worth all I paid and more, though :)

tellmewhenthespaceshiplandscoz · 15/01/2026 14:17

I don’t work but if I was offered a full time housekeeper tomorrow I’d snap it up 😁

Gahr · 15/01/2026 14:17

Glitterella · 15/01/2026 13:56

OP my husbands housekeeper cast a spell on me when we met. I can only assume it was to make me leave but it ended up making him sick. The new housekeeper found all sorts of witchcraft in our bed, birds nests buried outside our front door and other strange items in her vacated room.

I got stories!

His being sick must have been a coincidence, unless tried to poison you and somehow got him instead. Witchcraft isn't real. I don't mean that people don't really believe it and do a lot of terrible things in its name, but you can't make someone sick by cursing them.

Original poster

Claradiplomatique · 15/01/2026 14:17

CallItLoneliness · 15/01/2026 14:15

She is beautiful! Please tell me she does actually get to stay with you when you get posted somewhere else,,,

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Of course! She had pet passport and microchip, she’ll come to our next posting even if it costs $2000 and a lot of admin, 😍

OP posts:

sueelleker · 15/01/2026 14:15

Claradiplomatique · 15/01/2026 11:54

I do go to Orthodox Church here as it’s beautiful and I have an evil eye charm and jewellery so I’m embracing the culture. Religion here is considered a private matter so outside the home you don’t really discuss it if that makes sense.

Does your housekeeper live in? If not, it's not her home; and she shouldn't be wittering on about it.

CallItLoneliness · 15/01/2026 14:15

Claradiplomatique · 15/01/2026 11:45

This is the cat. Apparently she repels demons.

She was injured living on the street and now she is very happy and loved.

She is beautiful! Please tell me she does actually get to stay with you when you get posted somewhere else,,,

tellmewhenthespaceshiplandscoz · 15/01/2026 14:13

Claradiplomatique · 15/01/2026 12:29

I like the use of the word immigrant as if to make a point. Nothing wrong with being an immigrant but technically we are not subject to immigration law, have diplomatic immunity and are here for a set amount of time. We have not relocated on a permanent basis. But I have seen this snark a few times on Mumsnet to put people in their place or something.

Anyway this post is meant to be a lighthearted (?) question not discussing people’s parenting choices.

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Quite OP, I don’t k ow why some posters are taking such umbridge at your living situation. I was an army brat growing up and my school years were almost of a different planet compared to people I know now. Agree it’s enriching for your children to experience this.

Also - your cat is absolutely beautiful. I’m generally not a cat person but would happily adopt 100 black cats. Reckon I was a witch on a previous life 😁

GarlicSound · 15/01/2026 14:10

Someone left a curse (chicken entrails, etc) on my doorstep in Brazil. I caused consternation by sweeping it up, binning it and washing the step without dying.

I ditched the bloke anyway, as I didn't need to be dealing with that shit. So perhaps it did work, in a way!

CrazyCatLady13 · 15/01/2026 14:10

EmpressaurusKitty · 15/01/2026 12:11

Your housekeeper wouldn’t approve of my cat, she’s got a Ouija board & knows how to use it.

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Wow 😊 can I ask where you got it from please?

GarlicSound · 15/01/2026 14:05

Ferrfoxache · 15/01/2026 13:52

Your house, Your rules.
Tell the housekeeper and Co to leave their religious beliefs at the front door. Sounds like they've already got a free pass to spout their bile ( I'm not religious) If they don't like it they can go elsewhere. Hate folk ramming their beliefs down other's throats.

If they're committed to their religions - especially the Catholic housekeeper, as her faith has a long list of specific regulations - they'll be unable to see this as anything they can leave at the door. It will permeate their entire lives and they'll feel morally obliged to 'protect' OP's family from the errors of their ways.

Since the two rub along okay, I'm assuming the nanny's more flexible in her outlook and well-versed in what to say and what to ignore. I'd be concerned about what the DC are absorbing - the 'fear of god' can be very literal to a child. The best defence might be, as modelled by PPs upthread, to introduce them to a wide range of belief systems, showing that no single one can be 'right' but it's all rather interesting.

Glitterella · 15/01/2026 13:59

Claradiplomatique · 15/01/2026 13:57

I think we need stories!

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I’ll have to try remember them all…

Most recent is the guy who couldn’t arrive to work on time because he was too afraid to walk past the recently filled lake (we have been in drought and have had heavy rains) because of the 7 headed snake that lives there.

ProfessionalPirate · 15/01/2026 13:58

Balkancity · 15/01/2026 13:46

Did you struggle to read the entire thread? A couple of people were questioning OP for exposing her children to different "batshit" views and not being available 24/7 to her children and daring to have a career. OP herself has said this is essentially a lighthearted thread and that being the case, yes I do think there is scope for some tolerance and alternative viewpoints are typically welcome - even if there is a need to then discuss and counterbalance.

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No I didn’t struggle to read the entire thread, I just struggled to read a point in your random monologue. If you are responding to specific posts rather than contributing to the OP’s particular problem, it would make more sense to quote one of them.

Original poster

Claradiplomatique · 15/01/2026 13:57

Glitterella · 15/01/2026 13:56

OP my husbands housekeeper cast a spell on me when we met. I can only assume it was to make me leave but it ended up making him sick. The new housekeeper found all sorts of witchcraft in our bed, birds nests buried outside our front door and other strange items in her vacated room.

I got stories!

I think we need stories!

OP posts:

Glitterella · 15/01/2026 13:56

OP my husbands housekeeper cast a spell on me when we met. I can only assume it was to make me leave but it ended up making him sick. The new housekeeper found all sorts of witchcraft in our bed, birds nests buried outside our front door and other strange items in her vacated room.

I got stories!

Strangeencounter · 15/01/2026 13:52

Well I think if only for due diligence you must record all batshit interaction here for the foreseeable future 😂

Ferrfoxache · 15/01/2026 13:52

Your house, Your rules.
Tell the housekeeper and Co to leave their religious beliefs at the front door. Sounds like they've already got a free pass to spout their bile ( I'm not religious) If they don't like it they can go elsewhere. Hate folk ramming their beliefs down other's throats.

Gahr · 15/01/2026 13:51

WednesdayAllTheWay · 15/01/2026 13:50

Beat me to it 🤓

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See my post above.