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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

would you employ household staff if money were no object?

266 replies

UnsuspectedItem · 02/03/2018 14:51

I'm a Nanny and I work in a household of 20+ staff. Mum doesn't work.
I was wondering today whether, if money were no object, I'd have a similar set up or not.

For context, there are several children, each with their own nanny and I manage those nannies, in a "Head Nanny" role.
There are also several housekeepers, butlers, maids, chauffeurs etc.
The family consists of the children and both parents.

I think I'd HAVE to go out to work, even though I wouldn't need to, as I get bored incredibly easily. But I suspect that I'd get bored of my job and then end up starting new things again and again. (In short, I'd suck at being wealthy)

Before anyone gets their knickers in a twist, this is in AIBU because it was going to be "AIBU to be uncomfortable with the idea of household staff?" but then I thought I'd get ripped apart for not being neutral

OP posts:
bridgetreilly · 02/03/2018 15:56

Yes, but with caveats.

I would employ people to do cleaning and other household chores in a heart beat. I would employ people to help with childcare, but I would not want them to be the primary caregivers. I would LOVE to have a chauffeur! And a private jet!

Oh, and I would have a gardener to mow the lawn and do heavy digging, but I would still do the planting and pruning and so on.

Personwithhorse · 02/03/2018 15:57

No, I like our house to ourselves, we had a cleaner when we both worked full time, but do things ourselves. Also the garden is one of my hobbies so I do that too.

I think part of the Being wealthy thing is having staff, the more the more prestigious. However they do like moaning about the staff’s shortcomings >.....

expatmigrant · 02/03/2018 15:58

Absolutely. I was a pampered expat for quite a long time and have come down to earth with a massive bump Grin

UnsuspectedItem · 02/03/2018 15:58

SimplyJaded May I ask what you feel the kids are missing out on? I don't ask to be argumentative, I'm genuinely interested.

OP posts:
bridgetreilly · 02/03/2018 15:58

And I wouldn't need to go out to work to find plenty of things to fill my days productively!

k2p2k2tog · 02/03/2018 15:59

I already have a cleaner once a week - does that count as "household staff?" If money were no object I'd have her coming in three times a week at least and she could also do the rest of the jobs she doesn't do at present - like laundry and changing beds.

I wouldn't have a chef or cook, I don't mind doing that myself and I'd just eat out a lot. Yes to a gardener, definitely. My youngest is 10 so past the nanny stage of things really.

MargeryFenworthy · 02/03/2018 15:59

We have staff, though not in those numbers and not live-in anymore. For us, it's essential as we both have full on, senior level careers as well as two busy young DC. At times you can feel like the house isn't your own when you have gardener, housekeeper, PA etc on hand but am very aware that it is very much a first world complaint!

IJustLostTheGame · 02/03/2018 16:01

I would have:
A gardener
A chef/cook
Cleaners, but they wouldn't be live in
Laundry people, but they wouldn't be live in

BoomBoomsCousin · 02/03/2018 16:08

Housekeeper sounds appealing, maybe a snr housekeeper/jr housekeeper set up so there's someone available 7 days a week (is that a thing that's done)?. Also, 24/7 childcare on tap so sick days, evenings I'm going out, holidays, etc don't have to involve massive juggling routines and have consistency for the kids with someone with decent parenting skills. I'm kind of resistant to the idea of a nanny - that's probably just because of the word, rather than not actually wanting that sort of help! And I'd like the gardening sorted and dinner most nights (but I like to cook sometimes!).

That's a lot more staff than I originally thought I'd want when I started reading this thread!

TalkinPeace · 02/03/2018 16:09

I love to cook but I'd love a washer upper and person who would serve food at parties.

I'd love a cleaner

I love gardening but somebody to do the boring stuff like weeding paths would be lovely

I love driving but I'd love a driver for the runs to London

its about balance

UtterlyUnimaginativeUsername · 02/03/2018 16:09

I wouldn't have anyone living in but I could easily get used to the sort of routine where I'd be in the breakfast room in the mornings, then in my home gym, then out or whatever, so the staff would be able to work around me. I'd dearly love to have my house pristine and dust free all the time not consistently covered in cat hair and crumbs like it is now. I might just have a crew in in the mornings to blitz it all and look after the laundry.

I'd definitely have gardeners for the grounds, that wouldn't bother me in the least.

I wouldn't want anyone in my kitchen, and I'd have the most fantastic ingredients and equipment so would love cooking anyway. And we could afford to eat out if I didn't feel like cooking.

DH and I both like driving so wouldn't bother with a chauffeur, and driving the kids to activities is a good chance to natter with them so we'd keep doing that.

I wouldn't bother with anything more than occasional childcare.

I'd DEFINITELY have an interior designer. I fecking hate making decisions about that stuff, and get so bogged down in the tiny details that I never get anything finished. In fact I'd sooner have an interior designer than a cleaner.

NotUmbongoUnchained · 02/03/2018 16:13

I would have nannies, cleaners, chefs, drivers, Gardner’s, personal trainers, personal masseuse, someone to do my hair and makeup and someone to fan me and feed my chicken wings.

KalaLaka · 02/03/2018 16:13

I'd have the housekeeper from Paddington live in with us.

KalaLaka · 02/03/2018 16:13

And a private snack-chef for the evenings

SimplyJaded · 02/03/2018 16:15

Unsuspected...time alone with their parent/s, un-interfered in family time. Being looked after by someone out of love rather than because they're paid to. Having shared experiences with their siblings (as they all have different nannies). So many things...having 24/7 childcare for your dc is a very sad way for a child to be raised IMO.

Thatoneoverthere · 02/03/2018 16:17

I wouldn't have live in but I would have staff no question. I'm a nanny too but look after an older kid so really I'm more of a 'household manager/home PA'. Which really means I do school run, sit about for a bit on Mumsnet/Twitter, sort out the alarm when its going off in the middle of the night, take the car in for MOT/service, take in parcels and do returns, doing food shopping and cooking for the whole family, take the dog out for walks and to the vet, make sure the house keeper is doing the right things and has the right stuff, sort builders, plumbers, window cleaners and gardeners and the odd jobs like making a batch of frozen dinners for family who are poorly. Really its just a matter of freeing up the wife work from my bosses brain and as my boss says why wouldn't you want more people to love your kids.

EbonyJade · 02/03/2018 16:26

I would like a cleaner!

Honeyishrunkthekids · 02/03/2018 16:31

Oh yes , if I won the lottery tomorrow I’d like to travel but would need some kind of tutor and nanny and someone to organise flights etc so a pa? Once home I’d like a personal trainer, cook , on tap childcare for when I choose to pop out, I’d love a driver,someone to do the food shop,And a cleaner .

NerrSnerr · 02/03/2018 16:33

I’d have someone do all the cleaning, tidying and laundry, probably 2-3 hours every weekday morning. I’d have a gardener as needed. I wouldn’t want anyone living in and I wouldn’t want a nanny.

Mrsemcgregor · 02/03/2018 16:37

Money no object. I would use taxis all the time and use services such as Deliveroo to bring me restaurant food if I wasn’t eating out somewhere very naice. So no need for a driver or chef.

Nanny - yes
Cleaners - yes
Housekeeper -yes
Gardener - yes

AgnesBrownsCat · 02/03/2018 16:38

If have a housekeeper and a cook . And someone to clean .

southeastlondonmum · 02/03/2018 16:39

Hell yes but not live in. I had major surgery a few months ago and my husband had just started a massive job and couldn't take time off..
we employed someone to come in for two hours every morning to do the washing, tidy, make the beds and change sheets, and daily cleaning. We also had a weekly cleaning. It was absolutely amazing and I wish we could afford it forever. She'd make my lunch before I went and a cup of tea in a flask ( I was v ill)

AgnesBrownsCat · 02/03/2018 16:39

I love gardening so I’d do that myself . Maybe get Monty over for a few days every year to give me pointers though .

Skiiltan · 02/03/2018 16:41

No. Even waiters make me uncomfortable.

Magmatic80 · 02/03/2018 16:44

I’d have a personal stylist I reckon for special occasions. They could teach me how to do make up for ordinary days.

I’d have a deep clean cleaner once a month

I’d have a decorator/handy person

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