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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to think that a SAHP of school aged children really doesn't need a cleaner.

172 replies

leeds79 · 04/11/2011 10:42

I know of a few mums at school who have 2/3 dc who are school aged. Neither work but they they still have a cleaner. Obv know its their choice but it does seem crazy to me.

OP posts:
TheScaryJessie · 04/11/2011 10:50

If I won the lottery, I'd have a cleaner, and a cook. So there.

diddl · 04/11/2011 10:51

Oh me too, Jessie-and a gardener, & my husband would retire!

Ephiny · 04/11/2011 10:52

If they can afford it, what's the problem? No they may not 'need' a cleaner, but surely we all spend money sometimes on things we don't absolutely need?

Personally I hate cleaning and never intend to do any as long as I can pay someone else to!

manicbmc · 04/11/2011 10:52

Sod having a cleaner! If I had the money I'd have 2! Grin

Not a cook though, I like my own cooking plus I enjoy doing it, mainly.

anonymousbird · 04/11/2011 10:53

Crikey, if you can afford it, then why not?! I am a SAHM, two children at school, but don't have a cleaner. Wish I did! Due to my own physical constraints instead I have regular help in the garden as I can cover the cleaning myself, but can't do the gardening to any great degree...

If funds allowed, I would definitely have a cleaner, even if were every fortnight or something.

So no, they may not need the cleaner, but YABU to think that they should choose not to have a cleaner just because they are "at home".

AurraSing · 04/11/2011 10:53

I would love a cleaner. Actually, I need a cleaner. Sitting here, I can see countless things that need doing but know that they wont get done. It would be bliss to give someone a list, go out shopping and come back to a lovely clean house. But no, through no fault of my own, I'm going to come back to a tip. How is that fair?

Becaroooo · 04/11/2011 10:54

Could be for lots of reasons....

Maybe they work from home and you just dont know about it?

Maybe they have a disability and you just dont know about it?

Mabye they are just v v lazy???

Whichever it is, none of your business really, is it?

Rollergirl1 · 04/11/2011 10:54

I work 3 days a week and have a cleaner who is incredibly efficient and no-nonsence. But I think even if I stopped work (hopeful) I would keep my cleaner on. Personally I would much rather pay £40 a week and know that a good job is done then spend hours doing it myself. We have a fairly sizeable house with 2 bathrooms/2 seperate toilets. It would take me forever to do it and I can think of far better ways to spend my time.

RubberDuck · 04/11/2011 10:54

While we're making lists I'd like a handyman and a decorator too.

Thehusbandsatcricketagain · 04/11/2011 10:54

I am with rubberduck & whoever else has said it....if I had more money I would totally have a cleaner,gardner ect as I dislike doing it & I am a sahp of school age children but I do work weekends

so yes yabu,it's their choice & if they despise it as much as me then I can see why they do it

Envy just a little bit.

cat64 · 04/11/2011 10:55

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

samandi · 04/11/2011 10:56

YANBU. I can't imagine why a SAHP of school aged kids would need a cleaner.

Just because they don't need one they shouldn't not have one if they like though.

HeresTheThingBooyhoo · 04/11/2011 10:56

i'd have a cook, cleaner, gardener, nanny, bath runner, and someone to type the words and click the mouse for me on MN.

Shanghaidiva · 04/11/2011 10:57

I have 2 children at school and a cleaner who comes in for 12 hours per week - so am clearly bonkers. Thanks for clearing that up.

Lookattheears · 04/11/2011 10:57

Ooh, touch of the old green eye, OP? Grin.

I am a lady of leisure SAHM with kids at school and I have a cleaner because I can.

Thehusbandsatcricketagain · 04/11/2011 10:59

HeresTheThing a bath runner,hmm interesting,I may have one of those too as I have no patience waiting for the bath to run

issynoko · 04/11/2011 11:00

I had a cleaner when I had my 3rd baby and was a SAHM with her. I was also looking after my mum who had advanced Alzheimers and knowing the house would be cleaned once a week saved my sanity. We could afford it - £30 a week which is less than, say, a 20 a day smoking habit. It gave someone a job. She was also a great person and cried when we moved house - she had got to love the children so much.

OP - stupid comment. You don't know the woman's circumstances. We all pay for things we don't want to do/can't do ourselves and would probably pay for more if we could afford it. It's not a crime to employ someone to work you know.

RubberDuck · 04/11/2011 11:01

"someone to type the words and click the mouse for me on MN"

Which reminds me, when is the mumsnet app going to be Siri enabled? Grin

HeidiKat · 04/11/2011 11:01

YANBU OP, I don't see the need for it either barring disability or other physical difficulties. I take other posters point though about the income being important to the cleaner and all of us buying luxuries we don't need sometimes, don't think I would get a cleaner though as cleaning is my main form of exercise and I would probably pile on the pounds without it Grin.

iwantbrie · 04/11/2011 11:02

I'm definitly jealous Envy
I want a cleaner. I hate cleaning with a passion..

issynoko · 04/11/2011 11:03

PS I now work from home - am sitting here a slattern in my dressing gown looking at this instead of this month's accounts. And we have a cleaner 3 hours a weeks again. Shame on me eh?!

Pollykitten · 04/11/2011 11:05

Sounds like middle-class hand-wringing to me. I'm a bit posh and I've both been a cleaner and I've had a cleaner and it seems to be a storm in a teacup. You don't worry about employing someone to cut your hair, or service your car, or grow your food for that matter! Cleaning definitely doesn't make you a better person!

TheScaryJessie · 04/11/2011 11:06

Would the MN person be an amanuensis? Or an MN Secretary?

harassedandherbug · 04/11/2011 11:06

They may not need a cleaner, and neither do I, but I'd love to have one! I hate cleaning, especially as I have to catch up at weekends due to work. And it's harder now I'm preg and on crutches with spd. I mentioned a cleaner to dh, so he's doing most of it now Grin.

HeresTheThingBooyhoo · 04/11/2011 11:06

oh yes and a washing hanger upper. fucking hate that job!!