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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:
ScienceIsTruth · 02/03/2018 17:33

I wouldn't want them to be live in though, except maybe the housekeeper.

Riverside2 · 02/03/2018 17:37

If I lived in a big house I'd like a housekeeper but more for shopping and cooking, I don't mind cleaning, it's kind of therapeutic

and then someone to help with the garden but I'd mostly want to do that myself - so someone in for that a couple of times a week?

and I guess I'd want to take a lot of taxis.

Quickerthanavicar · 02/03/2018 17:37

I'd pat someone to wipe my £$%@

GreatDuckCookery6211 · 02/03/2018 17:37

Oh yes. Someone to rustle me up cheese on toast late at night when I cba getting up from the sofa Wink

But yes I'd love someone to think about meals, do the food shopping, sort out all the washing and ironing. Run me a bath and lay my PJ's out on the radiator.

onemorecakeplease · 02/03/2018 17:41

Maybe a cleaner twice a week and a cook to make my dinners!

But I wouldn’t have live in staff

ToadOfToadHallSingsTillLate · 02/03/2018 17:43

Wow OP! You've got me guessing who you work for!! :)

Hidethecrisps · 02/03/2018 17:46

Yes! Probably live out staff though so that we could have privacy and family time in evening but so that all the cooking, cleaning gardening/general boring crap would all be done. Would spend my days on hobbies and some charity work if I didn’t need to earn a wage. Sounds perfect, got my euromillions ticket for tonight, wish me luck!

MrsDilber · 02/03/2018 17:47

Yes, yes, yes. I'm sure I'd find plenty of ways to occupy myself if time and money were no obstacle.

NapQueen · 02/03/2018 17:50

I would have a housekeeper to clean and tidy five days a week.
I would have someone who sorts my hair, nails, make up and manages my clothes (five days a week) because im shit at all that.
Id have a chef to cook breakfast and dinner each day (lunch out).

bananaberyl · 02/03/2018 17:50

I don't know that I could find jobs for 20 people, no matter how wealthy I was.

I think definitely;
cleaner, gardener, ironing service (I have these already :) ), and my top priority would then be a chef, on demand. More cleaning and laundry services would be good. Do trainers, masseuse, beauty therapists count - I wouldn't need them to live in. Driver, for sure - traffic in London is a nightmare.

I had an au pair when my kids were little, but that was really to help me with the house rather than with the kids. I always valued my time with my kids. Although the babysitting in the evening was wonderful.

OP, can I ask about the family you work for please... are they 'normal'? I mean, obviously they aren't quite 'normal', and are very wealthy/privileged, but are they normal as in, neither famous, nor royalty, and either family money, or fabulously high earner?

musicposy · 02/03/2018 17:52

Yes, I'd love a cleaner, a cook, a gardener, a chauffeur, an occasional dog walker and someone to sort out all the odd jobs for me.

I wouldn't want a Nanny - I've always wanted to spend as much time as possible with my DCs - though I've had moments when it might appeal! I wouldn't want a dog walker for every walk or there'd be nothing to get me out there myself.

I think I'd also want the house to myself sometimes- but perhaps that would be different if I had a big enough house!

I think if you can afford it and you're good to your staff, why not? It's providing employment to someone which is way more worthwhile than many of the things you could spend a lot of money on.

TrollTheRespawnJeremy · 02/03/2018 17:54

We're a pretty normal family and we have 'staff'... we never refer to them as that though.
They don't live in, although two live in properties that we own.

They are very much like one of the family, particularly the ones that have been with us for a long time. It doesn't feel like £££ for a service exchange, we're just lucky enough to be able to afford to employ these people that we love to do stuff that we either can't do or don't have time for.

If we're at home or whatnot we'll have lunch together and we tend to invite them to all of the larger friends and family get-togethers. There's no guilt, I certainly don't feel 'lazy' as they know how hard we work to be able to keep things afloat.

NukaColaGirl · 02/03/2018 17:55

YES. It would make the next 5 years (starting Uni in September) a lot easier if I had a nanny or two and a full time cleaner and didn’t have to worry about childcare or housework.

headoutofthesand · 02/03/2018 17:56

Oh yes. It would be bliss. I have it all planned for when I win the lottery which I don't even play or something.
Basically my staff would fulfil the role in my life that I currently occupy in my children's life. So the staff would do all of the tidying up and sorting out and thinking whilst I just drift around doing the nice bits.
So I'd get up in the morning and make breakfast & stuff for the children as I enjoy that but someone else would have already made sure there was milk in the fridge & deal with the toast crumbs & dropped blueberries afterwards. Also, whilst I would make the DC put their dishes in the dishwasher & that sort of thing - I wouldn't want them to become lazy & entitled after all - someone else would be in charge of re-stacking the dishwasher, putting it on & emptying it later. My staff would also have double checked all the stuff the children have put out the night before to make sure it is actually all there. Oh, and make the packed lunches. The staff could also run around once I've left for work (I love my job) making the beds properly (again, the kids do it but they're not exactly straight), picking up the stray tie which got dropped, hanging up whichever scarf or cardigan or something which I decided against at the last minute and generally get everything just so.
Another morning thing is that I would shower and then they could blow dry my hair whilst I check my emails, news headlines etc so actually get to work properly prepared for the day and with amazing hair.
Ahhh... there are so many things staff could do.
A new thing I've just thought of - there could be a wing or an annex or something where a member of staff sleep as do the DC on weekend so I get to sleep until 9am (actually, anything after 7am would do) or read the paper which another member of staff would have provided. They would also be very good at making eggs benedict so I could have that for breakfast.
Staff could also do some of the taxiing of children to activities so I'm not trying to be in two places at once or constantly rushing or just having my evening constantly interrupted.
Does anyone think I may have put too much thought into this?!!

kaytee87 · 02/03/2018 17:57

I wouldn't like live in staff but we have a cleaner and gardener, not sure if they count though.
I wouldn't have a nanny as I'm currently a sahm and ds is at nursery 2 days a week anyway so don't feel the need for one.

HermioneWeasley · 02/03/2018 17:57

Oh god yes. Housekeeper, chef, driver, Gardner and masseuse.

StellaWouldYouTakeMeHome · 02/03/2018 17:58

If money were no object I’d have a cleaner who also tidied, gardener, someone to do laundry and put it away, a cook, fitness coach and personal driver. I’d have them available daily. I’d want to be the one doing the childcare for my children so I’d employ others to do the other tasks daily.

As it is my cleaner comes twice a week (and tidies too) and I’m more than grateful for that as I’m unable to clean much on my own

MyBrilliantDisguise · 02/03/2018 18:06

One thing though is that it's natural for people to take against their boss and to think they have an easy life etc. I wouldn't want to live in a house where virtually every adult was in a gang together and I was the one outside it. To that extent I'd rather work in the gang than be the employer.

Also although my kids were buggers at night, I liked that they needed me. It would have been great if I didn't need to work when they were young or if someone was there to cook breakfast and do the housework, but at night... I wanted to be there for them. I wouldn't want them to want another woman instead.

Loonoon · 02/03/2018 18:07

I have a cleaner once a fortnight. If money was no object I'd have her two,or three times a week and she'd do the laundry and change the beds as well as doing the cleaning.

We used to have someone to take care of our small garden but he retired and I miss him. It doesn't look as nice now and I would love to get someone else. preferably someone with DIY skills too who could do all the niggling jobs around the house.

MyBrilliantDisguise · 02/03/2018 18:07

That programme on violent children the other day, though, showed how much easier it was to tackle a problem with children if there was more than one adult there. I think it would be much easier to deal with bored children if there were more adults, too.

InRainbows · 02/03/2018 18:08

My ideal setup would be...

Hot Gardener in daily.

A team of deep cleaners in once a month while I stay a night in a hotel!

Car Mechanic to wash / service / maintain my car.

Remote PA who I could send life admin off to when I CBA.

Finally a crack team of beauticians in once a week to sort me out facial /massage / Mani / pedi and maintain the wardrobe!

The time I would have on my hands with this set up would be a dream!!

Biggreygoose · 02/03/2018 18:11

Absolutely.

I would have a butler. They run your house and are a PA for your personal life. You can forget about insurance, scheduling appointments, utilities, buying food and drink, light bulbs and the shitty batteries for the smoke alarm, organising household maintenance and basically anything that makes being an adult sucky. They also organise the rest of the staff. Boiler breaks? You have someone shuffle up and tell you that is broken, but the plumber will be there in an hour. Fancy a holiday? Give the destination and accommodation requirements to the butler, a few days later the itinerary drops into your inbox.

A good butler is an amazing help.

I would also have a cook and housekeeper. Also a nanny, gardener and gamekeeper (because obv I'm having shit loads of land in this fantasy) .

ScienceIsTruth · 02/03/2018 18:20

Also, my memory is so poor due to fibromyalgia ( and probably from all the drugs I'm on), that having someone to organise me and remind me about appointments, etc, would be a lifesaver.

I'm constantly forgetting to pick up the dc, go to appointments, buy cards in time, etc, and I find it really depressing and demoralising, so that would be a big help.

OhCarrieMathison · 02/03/2018 18:25

Absolutely.
If money were no object then yes.
My house being a mess and feeling overwhelmed with housework totally depresses me.

thecatsthecats · 02/03/2018 18:35

Yes. I consider it a highly moral redistribution of wealth that I have a cleaner Grin

I would have ironing, gardening and more diy covered, and an on call chef too. I'd probably want to buy a bit of freedom with a nanny too one day.

I don't think there's any moral superiority in keeping your own house.

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