Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

See all MNHQ comments on this thread

Original poster

Cleaner cancelled last minute due to childcare

488 replies

UmmUmar · 05/09/2019 16:05

I've found a fantastic cleaner, single mum by the sounds of it, brings her daughter with her (I don't mind), you can tell she is struggling financially and with her little one.

Today she cancelled on me 10 mins before the appt because of childcare. I understand that with a kid, things get a bit difficult with work but a heads up would have been nice!

Since my house has been a tip I've got to do it all by myself (pregnant + toddler, and dh works long hours)

AIBU to be upset?

OP posts:
Original poster
UmmUmar · 05/09/2019 20:55

@lweji

Why not? Yes he would have napped an hour before the arranged time that she gave if I took him for a walk, which I couldnt do because I had to be home to receive her.
I could have cancelled at last minute and like you, and any reasonable person, I would have paid.

OP posts:
Original poster
UmmUmar · 05/09/2019 20:55

@lweji

Why not? Yes he would have napped an hour before the arranged time that she gave if I took him for a walk, which I couldnt do because I had to be home to receive her.
I could have cancelled at last minute and like you, and any reasonable person, I would have paid.

OP posts:
Original poster
UmmUmar · 05/09/2019 20:55

@lweji

Why not? Yes he would have napped an hour before the arranged time that she gave if I took him for a walk, which I couldnt do because I had to be home to receive her.
I could have cancelled at last minute and like you, and any reasonable person, I would have paid.

OP posts:
mathanxiety · 05/09/2019 20:56

ds has asthma and i cant use cleaning products whilst he is behind me when i clean.

Can you plonk him in front of the TV?

Clean it when your DH takes him out for some fun on the weekend?

Or can you and DS go out and DH can do it on Saturday morning?

Original poster
UmmUmar · 05/09/2019 20:57

@MrsNotNice

Thank you....

She's been late 2/3 times but things like this doesnt matter to me

OP posts:
Lweji · 05/09/2019 20:59

Sorry to be a pain, but I don't get this (despite the echo Wink)

If he could have napped one hour before she was supposed to arrive if you took him for a walk, surely you'd be at home by then.
Or did you mean if you took him for a walk after the nap?

Original poster
UmmUmar · 05/09/2019 20:59

@mathanxiety

No, I cannot plonk him in front of the TV, we have controlled screen time in this household.

If DH/me takes him out for fun, I'd/DH would like to be there too and not Cinderella-ing if we can afford a cleaner.

OP posts:
Lweji · 05/09/2019 21:04

No, I cannot plonk him in front of the TV, we have controlled screen time in this household.

Oh dear, there you go again... brace yourself.

Anyway...
Can't the screen time be when you clean once a week? Or clean when he has his bit of screen time?
Or is it more banned than controlled?

mathanxiety · 05/09/2019 21:05

You could easily uncontrol the TV time just in order to get the bathroom cleaned this one time. You just don't want to.

Also this one time, you or DH could take care of DS on his own at the weekend.

Your objections to practical solutions to this really solvable problem are very silly.

Do you want a clean bathroom? Are you happy to live with soap scum building up and mould spores multi[lying in the grouting?

It's not Cindrella-ing to clean your own bathroom. It's called 'showing a little self respect'.

MrsNotNice · 05/09/2019 21:11

Lweji

What’s wrong with controlled screen time Hmm

MrsNotNice · 05/09/2019 21:16

mathanxiety... this thread is about the OP being more worried about the behaviour of the cleaner who could’ve given more of a heads up. I’m pretty sure she is right but let’s excuse this once..

I’m pretty sure none of us expect to cancel 10 mins before even meeting up a friend or whatever because of childcare reasons... unless it’s an emergency... which hopefully won’t be too frequent.

The OP has valid worries about this cleaner not taking her job seriously.. she doesn’t sound like she worked for her for long and when you start a job you do have to have your behaviour questioned if it’s inconvenience.

It’s no ones business whether OP or her Cinderella husband are running their household adequately or their parenting style is to everyone’s liking.

Unsolicited advice clearly..

OP I see you have made many mothers here feel insecure.

C8H10N4O2 · 05/09/2019 21:16

Next week in CleanerGate - Cleaner leaves dust on the silver photo frames. How will I cope?

Luv,

Cinders

TheoriginalLEM · 05/09/2019 21:16
  1. I am.very jealous of you having a cleaner. Even if i could afford one my house is simply too untidy. Blush
  1. Of course you would be pissed off with her not giving more than ten minutes notice. I know i would. Howrver I'd be pissed off with the situation, not her
  1. BUT you would be unreasonable to do anything other than say that you hope all is well and see you next time, especially if she is otherwise reliable.

If it happens again however you would be well within your rights to pull her up on it. I just think it might make things uncomfortable to say something this time.

My reaction if i had a build up.of mess would have been to have rearranged and lived with the mess a but longer

Lweji · 05/09/2019 21:19

What’s wrong with controlled screen time

Nothing. Everything wrong with that sentence, though.

Schuyler · 05/09/2019 21:20

I don’t have a problem with people have cleaners but it’s the attitude some people get at having to clean Shock if the cleaner cancels. That said, I do agree that I’d be miffed at 10 minutes notice but as a fellow parent, I’d understand. Shit happens.

As for @Skittlenommer I’m sure they’re not a social worker, unless I read that incorrectly?!

Biggobyboo · 05/09/2019 21:33

Skittlenommer clearly posted they are a social worker on a previous post. You can do a search for it.

Bellisima234 · 05/09/2019 21:33

Get a cleaner from an agency so there will always be back up if your regular has to cancel.

YABVU as these things happen and can’t be helped if you have a cleaner who works on a sole basis. I have one and she doesn’t work school holidays but she is such a shit hot cleaner and a lovely person it doesn’t matter that my house looks like shit until she starts back next week.

It’s a very first world issue OP.

TwatCat · 05/09/2019 21:39

You get my first ever Biscuit

Biggobyboo · 05/09/2019 22:18

I’m a student, WIBU to get a cleaner? Discuss.

mathanxiety · 05/09/2019 23:27

MrsNotNice

It's one thing to have concerns about a cleaner's unreliability

It's another thing entirely to consider yourself too superior to clean your own bathroom one time when the alternative is to wallow in your own dirt for another week.

And while advice was not solicited, so too is responding to other posters on behalf of the OP.

mathanxiety · 05/09/2019 23:31

MrsNotNice
It’s no ones business whether OP or her Cinderella husband are running their household adequately or their parenting style is to everyone’s liking

If the OP has made comments on these topics then other people are free to respond.

She has, and they have.

Indiebear · 06/09/2019 00:37

I run my own cleaning business. I do it alone and to a very HIGH STANDARD. I also have a son. He is 14. BUT he is my world. There is no way I would leave him I'll to come and clean your shit stained bog.
I think your cleaner should get rid of you as a totally unreasonable human being. I would.
P.S Get over yourself!

Indiebear · 06/09/2019 00:39

YOUR very unreasonable

Ohthatsfabulousdarling · 06/09/2019 00:51

I'd have said YABU, but I've been there many times with my old cleaner, if you think it's going to become a routine, get rid of her and get a new one.

As mercenary as it sounds, she has a job to do, and if she cant be relied upon, she will have to figure it out herself.

areukiddingme · 06/09/2019 00:54

Hey snowflake, how’s it going.

Please create an account

To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.

Join Mumsnet Log In

This thread is closed and is no longer accepting replies. Click here to start a new thread.