Kitchen

[Desertdi]

On 2/16/2015 house_cat said:

On 2/16/2015 chickenbutt said:

On 2/16/2015 Sooner said:

I think that whether people do or don't do chores doesn't make them a saint or a sinner. I also don't think about that--other than thinking about it would be absolutely none of my business. What possible difference to me would it make whether someone does their laundry or sends it out, or mows the yard or goes to Disneyland?

Yeah, all of this. I just don't get the notion that something is wrong with you, or bad about you, if you pay people to clean, mow the lawn, whatever. I don't understand this line of thinking that tells those of us who get help from others with stuff we could do ourselves that we are bad/wrong.

I don't even want to try and make the call for what others should do, not do, pay somebody else to do, etc, because it is absolutely none of my affair, nor is it for me to judge.

What is right for me doesn't have to be what is right for somebody else. It just seems to be harshly judgmental to say what others should do with their money/time.

Maybe I missed something. Did anyone say there was something wrong with those who hire help?

Not here.......but my friends and neighbors call me "cheap" for cleaning up my own yard. At least I "bag it".........their gardeners just blow the debris right out into the street.

[Sweetbay magnolia]

I love cleaning and cooking (except when I'm in the mood that I do not!). I also love my plumber, painter, appliance guy, electrician, roofer - they know things I don't and I learn from them.

If I need help in the home I look for people who are good at their craft, and I treat them as guests so they will return when I need them! It's my home. I consider that important to my survival and happiness. I want them to care as if it were their own. If they do the right thing and know what they are doing, those go hand-in-hand.

I have worked service jobs and it was sometimes amazing to me the amount of fairly young people who had no "chops" for any sort of "work".

[Sooner]

On 2/16/2015 chickenbutt said:

On 2/16/2015 Sooner said:

I think that whether people do or don't do chores doesn't make them a saint or a sinner. I also don't think about that--other than thinking about it would be absolutely none of my business. What possible difference to me would it make whether someone does their laundry or sends it out, or mows the yard or goes to Disneyland?

Yeah, all of this. I just don't get the notion that something is wrong with you, or bad about you, if you pay people to clean, mow the lawn, whatever. I don't understand this line of thinking that tells those of us who get help from others with stuff we could do ourselves that we are bad/wrong.

I don't even want to try and make the call for what others should do, not do, pay somebody else to do, etc, because it is absolutely none of my affair, nor is it for me to judge.

What is right for me doesn't have to be what is right for somebody else. It just seems to be harshly judgmental to say what others should do with their money/time.

You even love me and my canned soup, don't 'ya?

[glmama]

I used to say that if we had a ton of $$ and could hire regular "help" I would still continue to cook and take care of my children myself, but I would hire a housekeeper asap!

[blueroses47]

For me, it's more psychological than anything else. I like the feeling of independence that I feel when I can do as much as possible for myself. I have never liked paying for services that I can do for myself, and that includes just about everything.

I'm also a person of average means, so I like not spending money on services that I can perform for myself, but it's more the self-sufficiency I feel. It makes me feel more in control.

I would never want a cleaning person in my home, especially my private areas where I keep what to me are valuable and personal things. Actually, I don't want any workers in my home if I'm not right there.

I like knowing I can do all my gardening, washing my cars, doing my own nails, and now even cutting my own hair. I sew, so I can make something if I really want a particular thing, for myself and my home. I refinish furniture, paint, do everything I am able to. I don't have to rely on anyone. I love that.

Now, there are things I can't do myself, and I have to admit to those (one small thing is grooming my own dog, she's just too squirmy and will even nip me, or my husband when he tries to hold her still), so that's one thing I have to pay to have done. But, believe me, if I could, I would happily groom her myself.

I've paid for expensive haircuts and other hair things in the past, and I've had cosmetic surgery procedures (needless to say can't do that myself), so I'm not opposed to spending money on myself, just not on the things I'm able to do well myself.

Someday I might no longer be so self-sufficient, but I'll deal with that when the time comes.

I've never enjoyed having other people do things for me, or pamper me, I don't even enjoy over the top waiter "services". Recently my friends and I went to a more up scale restaurant than we usually do, and the servers were so cloyingly attentive to us, it just made me feel uncomfortable.

It's just my personality, I guess.

I certainly think it's fine if others like to spend their time differently, and pay for services. It's very individual.

Edited to add to my already too-long post, that I actually enjoy doing all these things for myself, so it's no burden. Now, if I could only pay someone to go to the gym for me, and do my workout for me, I'd do it in the blink of an eye. I really hate exercising!

[Kitlynn]

We have a housekeeper and love it! We also have a guy that does our lawn and all that entails. I do all the flowers and I love doing that. We do automatic car washes and I get pedicures. We did everything ourselves for twenty five years and then decided that we just wanted to spend our free time doing what we want. It is wonderful. We own a business and when we have free time we want it to just be that. I still do all the laundry and cooking. I think it just depends on what works for each individual and that is what they should do.

[Sooner]

What I really want is a butler. That person would take my calls, get the mail and sort it out, manage the supplies we need and see that we have them, take my car to the car wash, take the cleaning out, pay the bills, deal with people like plumbers and other repair people when they need to be in the house, bring me food and drink, etc. etc. Oh, and manage the "maid" and cook! LOL!!!!

The butler would meet me at the door and take my coat, purse and bag, have a drink ready for me, update me on the days mail and such and bring me the paper. Then leave. The butler would have tidied up, hung up a few clothes etc. So there would be no clutter of mail and such.

In the mornings, the butler would meet me at the door, hand me an iced latte, hand me my purse and bag and note what kind of sandwich I was having that day, and have added a yogurt and a cookie or two to the bag. The butler would then be there to deal with all the "stuff" during the day--the stuff that eats up your day and you hate doing. Not the cleaning, that other "stuff".

That's better than a housekeeper to me.

[chickenbutt]

On 2/17/2015 Sooner said:

On 2/16/2015 chickenbutt said:

On 2/16/2015 Sooner said:

I think that whether people do or don't do chores doesn't make them a saint or a sinner. I also don't think about that--other than thinking about it would be absolutely none of my business. What possible difference to me would it make whether someone does their laundry or sends it out, or mows the yard or goes to Disneyland?

Yeah, all of this. I just don't get the notion that something is wrong with you, or bad about you, if you pay people to clean, mow the lawn, whatever. I don't understand this line of thinking that tells those of us who get help from others with stuff we could do ourselves that we are bad/wrong.

I don't even want to try and make the call for what others should do, not do, pay somebody else to do, etc, because it is absolutely none of my affair, nor is it for me to judge.

What is right for me doesn't have to be what is right for somebody else. It just seems to be harshly judgmental to say what others should do with their money/time.

You even love me and my canned soup, don't 'ya?

Ha! Indeed I do, you silly girl.

[DiAnne]

This is a timely subject. I love to cook but hate anything to do with housekeeping. Most of friends have help and belong to a gym – so I just turn energetic CD up loud and vacuum away trying to convince myself it is better than paying for a gym!!

[sunnysw]

On 2/17/2015 Sooner said:

What I really want is a butler. That person would take my calls, get the mail and sort it out, manage the supplies we need and see that we have them, take my car to the car wash, take the cleaning out, pay the bills, deal with people like plumbers and other repair people when they need to be in the house, bring me food and drink, etc. etc. Oh, and manage the "maid" and cook! LOL!!!!

The butler would meet me at the door and take my coat, purse and bag, have a drink ready for me, update me on the days mail and such and bring me the paper. Then leave. The butler would have tidied up, hung up a few clothes etc. So there would be no clutter of mail and such.

In the mornings, the butler would meet me at the door, hand me an iced latte, hand me my purse and bag and note what kind of sandwich I was having that day, and have added a yogurt and a cookie or two to the bag. The butler would then be there to deal with all the "stuff" during the day--the stuff that eats up your day and you hate doing. Not the cleaning, that other "stuff".

That's better than a housekeeper to me.

Sooner, you just described a "wife"!! Ha Ha!!