My housekeeper is vey religious and it’s causing issues

[Claradiplomatique]

We live overseas btw for anyone wondering.

So I have a lovely housekeeper who is very…religious.

She tells me off when she sees the children’s toys with horns (dragons, dinosaurs, Yoga Goat) or if she sees any children’s books about magic or witches. My own tarot cards and crystals are tucked into a drawer.

There is somewhat of a language barrier as I think we are having a normal conversation and she says “Jesus is coming soon” out of the blue.

There is also an ongoing battle between the nanny (different religion) and the housekeeper as nanny believes in evil eye etc and has given charms to me and the housekeeper says they are “satan’s work.” Nanny took the children to a Halloween craft workshop and came back with witchy dolls and a pumpkin which housekeeper said we should burn.

They do however both agree that our rescue street cat is sent from God to protect us.

AIBU? Do I double down on the no religion talk or let her go?

🧿🪬

Goodness me!! Depending on what your views are, every other view could be bat shit!! I think the OPs kids are going to have an amazing rich experience learning for more than most. Lucky them.

OP, I’d opt for sceptical tolerance unless it affects you or the children detrimentally. The driver is your best friend !

If you are a fiction writer, or maybe even not, I think you need to document your experiences and use them one day. My life as a diplomat’s wife type of thing.

You’ll get all sorts of daft responses here from people who don’t understand the mechanics of living in different countries, dealing with different cultures etc. Although the world has changed, there are still places where ‘privileged’ visitors are expected to contribute to the local economy and professions where they are expected to have household staff.

Many years ago my sister and her husband went to South Africa and she was taken aback that she was expected to have a cleaner, despite not working herself. Also that she had to have a nanny when my nephew was born. Her husband wasn’t even in the diplomatic service, just a middle ranking chemist. Had they not had ‘staff’ they would have been shunned by their peers for being tight or common and by the locals for not ploughing money back into the community.

My late sister-in-law’s father was in the Diplomatic Service and it was normal to have a whole raft of household staff despite his wife not working.

Enjoy living in your current country, I’d love to know your nationality and where you are living but understand if you don’t feel you can tell us.

I think the nanny is fine and the housekeeper either has to go or has to stop proselytising.

At a guess you’re posted in a part of E.Europe/E.Med that was once part of the Ottoman Empire thus has Islam and also Orthodox Church?

Either way, this has the makings of a Henry James novella: “What Clara Knew”. As long as it doesn’t go “Turn of the Screw”.

Believing a cat has been sent by God as a protector is batshit, however you want to dress that up.

Great answer 🤣🤣🤣

You should.

This sounds like something from a Victorian children’s novel… I love it! I’d just enjoy the drama

😂

I believed that about my cat.

I would not have such batshit ideas around my DC, ever. My cousin had a very strict Catholic nanny and my cousin has terrible MH issues linked to female guilt and shame all caused by that unpleasant woman, it has ruined her life.

Trust the cat’s judgement.

Gorgeous cat!

What's on Jesus' business card? Is it carpenter or Messiah?

I would tell them that religion is not to be discussed in the workplace. And your home is their workplace. We tend to bend over backwards to accommodate other cultures but in our homes they need to accommodate us.

Yes, the OP should not look out of the window, ever, for fear the malicious spirits of the last housekeeper and nanny are haunting her children. Maybe that's why the cat has been sent by God to protect the household?

Can you just have a calm conversation and remind both that you respect their beliefs, but to treat your house as a workplace where its best they are not discussed or bickered about, and that you would be grateful if they can also respect your beliefs (or lack thereof).

I like the use of the word immigrant as if to make a point. Nothing wrong with being an immigrant but technically we are not subject to immigration law, have diplomatic immunity and are here for a set amount of time. We have not relocated on a permanent basis. But I have seen this snark a few times on Mumsnet to put people in their place or something.

Anyway this post is meant to be a lighthearted (?) question not discussing people’s parenting choices.

find another housekeeper.
they are meant to make your life easier, not more difficult with their criticism and opinions

Go Pagan. I don't know much about it, but am fond of a Green Man and a bit of mistletoe. Adorn your home with shrines to nature. If nothing else this might unite the nanny and the housekeeper, and give the cat some new objects to knock down.

Oh now I'm curious where you are and whether I should bid it.

My guess is... Ethiopia?

I’m 99% sure she made them herself but they had a prayer on one side and some bible quotes about Jesus coming back on the other side. Very nice paper as well, Patrick Bateman would have loved them.

Thank you!

Yes, we are encouraged very strongly to employ staff to help the local economy.

I can't believe this is real, but if it is, tell them to keep quiet. I wouldn't want that bullshit spoken about around my children. They are entitled to their private beliefs, but they need to remain private.

Let the gardener bury the witchy dolls in the garden and light the pumpkin in the porch. Tell the driver to take the housemaid far away then send the nanny to go and work with your friend's butler and cook. Promote the cat as head of household and enjoy high tea with the cat and the children.

Let the gardener bury the witchy dolls in the garden and light the pumpkin in the porch. Tell the driver to take the housemaid far away then send the nanny to go and work with your friend's butler and cook. Promote the cat as head of household and enjoy high tea with the cat and the children.

This thread is making me laugh out loud. Which is ironic as my religious relative would give me (silent) rage when they started spouting their nonsense.