16
I haven't contributed to the forum for a while as I have been a) incredibly busy at work and b) more importantly, been even busier at home.
I need some advice. My twins are now 6 and my now that my house cleaners have gone on their annual 5 week holiday I am spending an inordinate amount of time cleaning up after my kids. Having never had cleaners come to my house until I became virtually full time back at work, I figure that now I would much rather pay cleaners to do all the menial jobs around the house eg cleaning toilets, bathrooms etc so that the spare time I have I can spend it with my kids. I would never have a cleaner if I wasn't working and the expense of the cleaners is trivial compared to the invaluable time I get to spend with my kids instead. Now that my cleaners are away I still turn a blind eye towards a lot of the mess but the areas I do clean regularly get 'trashed' by the kids 5 minutes later!!!
What does everyone else do to get their kids to help? ie obviously I don't expect 6 year olds to do a lot but I have at least one of them who loves using the DustBuster and the other doesn't mind using a duster etc. I also have a rewards chart for jobs done etc. Even before my cleaners left I always expect my kids to do certain things around the house eg tidy their room. I have even tried the "cleaning olympics" recently to see who could tidy up the fastest!!
Anyway, I'd be grateful for any advice. Please note- I am not an obsessive- compulsive cleaning freak who has to have everything like 'home beautiful' but I do expect certain areas of the house to remain hygienic and clean beyond reproach!! Also, I apologise to everyone who thinks that I am whingeing and selfish for complaining about such a topic, especially as I can afford to have house cleaners and I know others that can't. Thanks everyone!!!
PS Thank goodness for the miracle spray- I have gone through litres of the stuff since my cleaners have been gone!!!
I need some advice. My twins are now 6 and my now that my house cleaners have gone on their annual 5 week holiday I am spending an inordinate amount of time cleaning up after my kids. Having never had cleaners come to my house until I became virtually full time back at work, I figure that now I would much rather pay cleaners to do all the menial jobs around the house eg cleaning toilets, bathrooms etc so that the spare time I have I can spend it with my kids. I would never have a cleaner if I wasn't working and the expense of the cleaners is trivial compared to the invaluable time I get to spend with my kids instead. Now that my cleaners are away I still turn a blind eye towards a lot of the mess but the areas I do clean regularly get 'trashed' by the kids 5 minutes later!!!
What does everyone else do to get their kids to help? ie obviously I don't expect 6 year olds to do a lot but I have at least one of them who loves using the DustBuster and the other doesn't mind using a duster etc. I also have a rewards chart for jobs done etc. Even before my cleaners left I always expect my kids to do certain things around the house eg tidy their room. I have even tried the "cleaning olympics" recently to see who could tidy up the fastest!!
Anyway, I'd be grateful for any advice. Please note- I am not an obsessive- compulsive cleaning freak who has to have everything like 'home beautiful' but I do expect certain areas of the house to remain hygienic and clean beyond reproach!! Also, I apologise to everyone who thinks that I am whingeing and selfish for complaining about such a topic, especially as I can afford to have house cleaners and I know others that can't. Thanks everyone!!!
PS Thank goodness for the miracle spray- I have gone through litres of the stuff since my cleaners have been gone!!!