Cleaner cancelled last minute due to childcare

[UmmUmar]

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?

Threads about cleaners always bring out the wankers on MN

People are strange. Very strange.

Op, people on aibu are really nasty to those who can afford cleaners, I think it is just jealousy. Or perhaps they are just nasty people altogether.

Nope. People on AIBU are 'nasty' to people who sound spoilt and entitled and don't treat their cleaners like actual human beings who have lives.

If someone started an "AIBU to give my fab cleaner a bonus because she's a wonderful woman", do you think people would pile on because they're jealous of the OP having a cleaner? No.

Skittlenommer doesn’t do “chores” or lift a finger and has a housekeeper, yet I just read a post by her saying “I angry clean to, I’ve done some of my best work when I’ve been pissed off with DH!!”

Interesting.

Yes life must be pretty awesome that you’re hanging around on a parenting forum. Living the dream

^fucking brilliant! ^

@Evertheconundrum Thank the good Lord above that you didn't!

Didn’t what? Have children? There is not a day that goes by that I’m not thankful for that!

@Biggobyboo angry cleaning is different. It’s about the only time I do any cleaning! And occasionally I have to do it if housekeeper goes on annual leave or something or if we have friends over and I have to clean up when they leave. I can do it, I just avoid it where possible!

@lazylinguist Nope. People on AIBU are 'nasty' to people who sound spoilt and entitled and don't treat their cleaners like actual human beings who have lives I’m definitely a spoiled brat but treat people who work for me very well.

My cleaner left to start a new job and I managed to get her back. She is absolutely fantastic and it's so so hard to come across amazing cleaners. You've just gotta let it go!

I haven't seen hate for people who have cleaners. As I said in my post, I have one. But employing a cleaner isn't really the same as employing someone to help run your business. It's not life and death if she's late or has to reschedule. It's not work that requires specialist knowledge, skills or qualifications, and nothing bad will happen if it's not done.

My cleaner's a bit flakey because she has some family issues too. If she didn't, she could be doing a better paid job. So if she cancels I just look at it as a bit of money saved this week, and clean my own house. She's nice, and as she appreciates my flexibility, she's flexible in return, so I'm not going to look for someone else.

You do not have to be rich to employ a cleaner! Plenty of quite ordinary working people do so, if they didn't the'd be spending every weekend cleaning. It makes sense to have somebody come in to do the necessary once a week or fortnight.

Well op I'm sorry your cleaner couldn't come but if she had no one to look after her sick child, it's understandable. She could hardly leave her or bring her to work.

I'm sure she'll come again soon, don't fret.

Yes life must be pretty awesome that you’re hanging around on a parenting forum. Living the dream
fucking brilliant! grin

Yup ^

*Yes life must be pretty awesome that you’re hanging around on a parenting forum. Living the dream

Mumsnet isn’t just about parenting though is it. Lots of issues get covered here and lots of childfree people are members. Don’t be so narrow minded!

It may be a luxury but if I’m paying for a service I expect it to be done! DH and I worked hard to get to a place where we don’t need to lift a finger at home. We’re not about to start doing chores now. We’d just hire someone else if our housekeeper became unreliable. Lucky for us our housekeeper is amazing so it’s all hypothetical!

God the op who wrote this needs a reality check. I’ve never rolled my eyes so hard in my life. Very upstairs downstairs !

I really hope you don’t go around telling your clients about your housekeeper and how they’ve made poor life choices in having children Skittlenommer. I didn’t know that social work paid well enough to hire staff and have 5 bedroom house. I’m obviously in the wrong job.

First time i started a thread on MN. Thanks everyone for demonstrating why it was a bad idea.

PS. Don't you all have things to do? Watching your kids, make dinner, or maybe even clean your houses? Or are you all watching your cleaners clean whilst judging me?

YABU. Clean yourself, I personally wouldn't live in a tip never mind allow my child to do it. I have five children and manage to clean, even managed when I had SPD and sciatica while 7 months pregnant and a toddler to look after. Childcare issues happen and personally I don't think you should grill her about her. Her private life is her own and she's given you a reason.

For fuck sake. Another 1st world problem. Get off your arse and do a bit of cleaning. Or is that a bit to much or a lower class thing to do

@myweechickens

Were you also fighting off a horde of invaders whilst maintaining a spotless house?

I completely understand the reason and that was not the issue. It was that she only mentioned it 10 mins before appt

Nice example of twattery on this thread.

Looks to me like skittle should be posting elsewhere. I'm sure this is for PARENTS! which they are not.

@Ohbehave1

you clearly haven't been to a developing country...

@Skittlenommer you sound delightful!

@saraclara - I haven't seen hate for people who have cleaners.

Really?Then you're reading a different thread to me.

@lazylinguist - Nope. People on AIBU are 'nasty' to people who sound spoilt and entitled and don't treat their cleaners like actual human beings who have lives.

How on earth did you read that into the op? She said I understand that with a kid, things get a bit difficult with work but a heads up would have been nice and asked was she unreasonable to be upset.

Hardly treated the cleaner as subhuman.

I think most of us have managed to clean a house when pregnant. I had SPD and didn't have the luxury of a cleaner (or a sympathetic husband). It's just a one off. I do feel your pain though when you are knackered, feel sick and feel like your hips are giving up and the house is a dump.

Are you near the end of pregnancy? Let's hope your nesting instinct will kick in soon.

@UmmUmar you wouldn't believe what I was going through at the times I've done it, didn't have a spotless house but definitely cleaned it. Just recently I've been cleaning at my job coming home and cleaning my house while looking after my autistic son and my husband who had a stroke in June. I've also been making dinner etc. Anyway that's off topic I just wanted to show you that it's possible.

I completely understand the reason and that was not the issue. It was that she only mentioned it 10 mins before appt

If you understand the reason, then you should understand why it was so short time.
Would it made a difference if it was 30 min instead? Doubt it.
And it's not as if she could have given a 24 hour notice.
Regardless, you wouldn't have been able to find a replacement, surely.