I grew up in a modern family where housework and upbringing of children was shared between my parents. They were both working. My mum in the hospitality working two different shifts, 7am-2pm or 2pm-10pm and she was working on weekends, too. She loved it and she was well loved and known in her profession. My dad worked as an engineer designing portable units for chemical companies and experiments and worked 7am-3.30pm on weekdays. I liked that my father was willing to cook, clean, look after us, do anything that was needed to help mum. However, when she was free, she did all the work she was able and let my dad relax and enjoy his hobbies, writing poems, novels, build a radio and later, grow fresh produce in our hobby garden. Our family was doing very well for a working family in Hungary.
I don't think there and that time it would have been conceivable to have a cleaning lady. Probably, we did not even need one. I think my family coped very well with all the daily challenges thanks to mum's changing shifts. I really think, it helped her to be on top of things to be at home in the mornings when dad was working and I was at school, to do the housework and cook fresh food for us, daily.
I remember coming home from school and the freshly cooked, delicious food being left for us on the stove. Always at least two courses, a soup and a main and sometimes salad. Lots of variety but always simple and good food.
Keeping a cleaning lady, in my memories was associated with the aristocrats and a very well to do families. I can't think back that I knew anyone, who had a cleaning lady to help with housework, in my circle of friends in my childhood.
I remember this theory of earning well and making money when I was part of Herbalife and we had personal development sessions as part of our training. I remember the concept taught to us that when you start earning well, give away money and turn back money so it can multiply. Employ, help others earn well too.
Then as I traveled and worked in other countries, I saw that many families had help with housework and that it was a normal thing to do.
As I got more busy lecturing, traveling to other universities, giving workshops and conduct concerts and rehearsals, my schedule started to be really hectic. I always managed things pretty well on the home front but many of my creative works suffered because I could not start my writing or songwriting until my home was not in perfect order. It was simply part of my preparation rituals and procrastination.
I was living in Townsville when I got my first cleaning lady. A friend, who lived on the opposite side of road from me recommended this lady to try. She charged so little that it would have been really ridiculous not to use her services. A few times I was there and we did things together then she has got a key because I was away on the day when she came to do the cleaning. I remember, what an incredible nice feeling it was to get off the plane after a very busy concert period away, arrive with the taxi to my home, enter my house and see a sparklingly clean, tidy home. There was food in the fridge, ironed clothes and sheets in the wardrobe and fresh flowers on the table. It was worth every penny to me! All I needed to do is unpack my suitcase, put my things in the washing machine, eat something, have a shower and go to bed. I had the weekend to recover from my trip instead of cleaning, shopping, ironing, cooking etc.
Then life changed and I had a less stressful lifestyle and I managed things again pretty well.
However, recently things got too hectic again and I found things hard to manage at home when it came to cleaning and being on top of things. I did not even realise, just recently, that this caused me stress! I like to be on top of things and when I am not, I get stressed. You know, all those jobs that you delay or don't do because it is too hard, not that important right now or even too nasty....
It was time to look for a company I could trust and find a good cleaning lady to help with all the houseworks again!
I checked things on the Internet and found Absolute Domestics. I made the phone call and two days later, my lovely Russian helper knocked on my door. Life changed with that moment again for the better. The best $90 spent fortnightly! A few sessions and she felt at home, she knew what and how I like and like a whirlwind she worked in my home. I made the list what had to be done and she did it! Friday afternoons, I have a spotless, tidy, lovely home to enjoy! Crisp sheets, shiny tiles, nice smelling curtains and all in order!
In some ways, I still feel "guilty" for allowing myself to pay someone else to do my housework. This is what I grew up with. But my rational mind reasons that why would I spend my precious tine with cleaning when that time can be better used for my creative activities or even to rest and recharge.
I also help someone else to get a job, earn some income. It is interesting what happens when you put aside the conventional thinking and form your life the way it suits you.
My cleaning lady herself is an artist, too. She is a painter. She does that in her free time, around family. However, while her son is in school and her husband is working, she does house cleaning a few days a week to earn extra income. It suits her well because she decides her own hours. She finishes work for the time her son comes home from school. Strangely, she is a neighbour of one of my lovely students. How small the world is!
Many times we have a little chat with the parents who bring their children for piano lesson. It is great to exchange ideas and to learn from them about things. I love chatting with the kids and their parents. What amazed me lately, how many of the parents are struggling with work, family and housework and that many of them have a home helper to cope with the housework! Once you ask around, having a cleaning lady is actually quite common!
I just recommended to my very good friend to get a cleaning lady because she travels for work all the time and she struggles to cope with everything when on the weekends finally she is back in Melbourne and would be happy to relax before sitting on the next flight.
How did we get to make our lives so busy that we are not coping very well with running a household, raising a family and holding a full-time job? You must be a Superwoman to do this nowadays!
Two weeks ago I committed myself to a 10 week Paleo Program that involves a lot of food preparation and cooking, which I am not used to. The time that is now free from doing housework, can be used to prepare healthy and delicious meals, resting and doing the things that I enjoy doing. Everything has a value. For most of us, time is the most precious after our health. So saving our time for the things we need it the most, is priceless. So I decided that having a cleaning lady is absolutely not a luxury.
I don't think there and that time it would have been conceivable to have a cleaning lady. Probably, we did not even need one. I think my family coped very well with all the daily challenges thanks to mum's changing shifts. I really think, it helped her to be on top of things to be at home in the mornings when dad was working and I was at school, to do the housework and cook fresh food for us, daily.
I remember coming home from school and the freshly cooked, delicious food being left for us on the stove. Always at least two courses, a soup and a main and sometimes salad. Lots of variety but always simple and good food.
Keeping a cleaning lady, in my memories was associated with the aristocrats and a very well to do families. I can't think back that I knew anyone, who had a cleaning lady to help with housework, in my circle of friends in my childhood.
I remember this theory of earning well and making money when I was part of Herbalife and we had personal development sessions as part of our training. I remember the concept taught to us that when you start earning well, give away money and turn back money so it can multiply. Employ, help others earn well too.
Then as I traveled and worked in other countries, I saw that many families had help with housework and that it was a normal thing to do.
As I got more busy lecturing, traveling to other universities, giving workshops and conduct concerts and rehearsals, my schedule started to be really hectic. I always managed things pretty well on the home front but many of my creative works suffered because I could not start my writing or songwriting until my home was not in perfect order. It was simply part of my preparation rituals and procrastination.
I was living in Townsville when I got my first cleaning lady. A friend, who lived on the opposite side of road from me recommended this lady to try. She charged so little that it would have been really ridiculous not to use her services. A few times I was there and we did things together then she has got a key because I was away on the day when she came to do the cleaning. I remember, what an incredible nice feeling it was to get off the plane after a very busy concert period away, arrive with the taxi to my home, enter my house and see a sparklingly clean, tidy home. There was food in the fridge, ironed clothes and sheets in the wardrobe and fresh flowers on the table. It was worth every penny to me! All I needed to do is unpack my suitcase, put my things in the washing machine, eat something, have a shower and go to bed. I had the weekend to recover from my trip instead of cleaning, shopping, ironing, cooking etc.
Then life changed and I had a less stressful lifestyle and I managed things again pretty well.
However, recently things got too hectic again and I found things hard to manage at home when it came to cleaning and being on top of things. I did not even realise, just recently, that this caused me stress! I like to be on top of things and when I am not, I get stressed. You know, all those jobs that you delay or don't do because it is too hard, not that important right now or even too nasty....
It was time to look for a company I could trust and find a good cleaning lady to help with all the houseworks again!
I checked things on the Internet and found Absolute Domestics. I made the phone call and two days later, my lovely Russian helper knocked on my door. Life changed with that moment again for the better. The best $90 spent fortnightly! A few sessions and she felt at home, she knew what and how I like and like a whirlwind she worked in my home. I made the list what had to be done and she did it! Friday afternoons, I have a spotless, tidy, lovely home to enjoy! Crisp sheets, shiny tiles, nice smelling curtains and all in order!
In some ways, I still feel "guilty" for allowing myself to pay someone else to do my housework. This is what I grew up with. But my rational mind reasons that why would I spend my precious tine with cleaning when that time can be better used for my creative activities or even to rest and recharge.
I also help someone else to get a job, earn some income. It is interesting what happens when you put aside the conventional thinking and form your life the way it suits you.
My cleaning lady herself is an artist, too. She is a painter. She does that in her free time, around family. However, while her son is in school and her husband is working, she does house cleaning a few days a week to earn extra income. It suits her well because she decides her own hours. She finishes work for the time her son comes home from school. Strangely, she is a neighbour of one of my lovely students. How small the world is!
Many times we have a little chat with the parents who bring their children for piano lesson. It is great to exchange ideas and to learn from them about things. I love chatting with the kids and their parents. What amazed me lately, how many of the parents are struggling with work, family and housework and that many of them have a home helper to cope with the housework! Once you ask around, having a cleaning lady is actually quite common!
I just recommended to my very good friend to get a cleaning lady because she travels for work all the time and she struggles to cope with everything when on the weekends finally she is back in Melbourne and would be happy to relax before sitting on the next flight.
How did we get to make our lives so busy that we are not coping very well with running a household, raising a family and holding a full-time job? You must be a Superwoman to do this nowadays!
Two weeks ago I committed myself to a 10 week Paleo Program that involves a lot of food preparation and cooking, which I am not used to. The time that is now free from doing housework, can be used to prepare healthy and delicious meals, resting and doing the things that I enjoy doing. Everything has a value. For most of us, time is the most precious after our health. So saving our time for the things we need it the most, is priceless. So I decided that having a cleaning lady is absolutely not a luxury.
