There is a cleaning frenzy going on in here!!!!!

So, I survived the dreaded opening of the front door to see my cleaning lady. 

I praise God right now that I did not have to say any of the things that I rehearsed all morning.  Let's just say - I am not the best under pressure.  I tend to say WAY more than I should and I tend to say all the wrong things when I feel nervous.  I mean well but this girl does more harm than good in this type situation.  God granted me the gift of "shut up stupid and just let it be what it is."  Meaning, just LISTEN.  Which is another area I struggle in.  So this is how it went....

I opened the door to a very excited cleaner.  She hugged my neck (we do that each time she comes, which makes the whole calling her out thing feel like I am calling out my mom or something) and thanked me over and over again for calling her and apologizes for the whole thing. 

My first words, "You know how hard it was to call you, don't you?  I did not want to have to call you to come back because you have always done such a great job."

"No worries.  We are here to fix everything.  You just show me what you want fixed."

"Okay, well this and this and well this and oh yeah this," as I point out things like Vanna White. 

But by this time, I was okay with where I was at.  I was okay with just letting her apologize and fix it. And not trying to make her feel better but letting her just do her job.  And it felt good to know she would fix it.  I did not have to apologize and beg her to forgive me for calling her back.  She just wanted to correct it and make me happy. 

She actually brought 2 different girls with her than the one she brought with her on Monday.  They went right to work and even cleaned somethings that were cleaned on Monday (SCORE).  They did not stop until it was all done.  They even mopped, which then left the smell of - oh yeah I am house that has been clean - throughout the house!  The stairs were vacuumed and all the wooden blinds were dusted.

And in the end when they were about to leave, I was asked to walk around to make sure it was perfect.  I did not need to though.  I knew it was (but she made me).  I knew it was because the only goal of my sweet cleaner was to do the job right!  She did admit that she failed to check the house before they left on Monday to make sure her girl had done the job she was supposed to do.  She agreed the downstairs was not done correctly and she was sorry for how it was left.  She thanked me for calling her and asked me to always call.  "Never be worried to call if it is not right." 

So, to some of you this may not seem like a big deal.  For me it was a HUGE deal. I think I learned somethings with this one.  Taking Chan to school, I asked him to pray for me this morning to handle the situation as God would want me too.  Ummm again my mouth gets me into trouble way more than it should.  Lesson 1:  Pray to God to shut my mouth up when my talking doesn't help the situation.  

Chan's response was one of probably any 12 year old, "Ok but why?  She is just coming to clean not fight and wasn't she here like just last week?" 

"Ummm, that was on Monday, this week, that she was here and I do not want her feelings hurt."  Lesson 2: Most cleaners (and people) aren't looking for a fight and she after all was just coming to clean (and she cleaned with a joy in her heart that I called her).

Lesson 3: Is to just listen.  Be ready because here it comes - I TALK TOO MUCH!  It used to hurt my feelings if someone would say that but after having my sweet daughter, I SO GET IT. (that is a story for another day)  Point being - God allowed me to just listen to the apologies and accept them.  NOT OWN THEM (which I so do.  I try to make other's mistakes mine and apologize profusely to them. WHY?  so they will feel better!) but just accept the person's apologies as theirs to own. 

Now, I am quite sure I am not cured from my renegade mouth, my failure to listen, or even my wanting to take on other's mistakes as my own, but I will say my heart is filled with joy.  It is filled with joy because I kept a housekeeper that was gracious in accepting her role in the situation, corrected it and that I did not take on the extra burden that was not mine to own. Also, that I listened to God's voice in telling me when to be quiet, when to speak, and that I made it through a "confrontation" with not even a scratch.  But most importantly, my heart is filled with joy in knowing that God is still here and continues to work on me daily.  I am sure it will be a long work in progress but it is where I am!

Disclaimer - I am not the best at grammar, spelling, or science.  Thank you for understanding. 

I am sorry but.....

I am sorry - let me clean that for you after I just paid you to clean my house.  Ok so I do not think I am a pushover at all but I DO NOT like confrontation at all (I know a few of you may think differently but you just saw me in a rare moment).  Generally, I do not like hurting people's feelings.  I get sad and very very nervous having to confront someone.  I would rather just let things slide than have to call you out, but will if pressed.  I just don't want to.


I was soooo excited for the day, my cleaning lady would once again waltz into my home and clean until everything had a perfect sparkle.  I had let her go almost 2 years ago when my husband had lost his job.  He was without a legal job (not that he did illegal jobs during the layoff, he is an attorney) for 13 months.  Believe me, a maid was not on the budget.  But oh how the kids and I loved her.  We would dream of the day she would be back.  So the very first thing out of my son, Chan's, mouth when he heard Daddy had a job was "Can we get our cleaner back".  John has been working for a year now but I found it hard to run out and spend the money on someone to clean when I had done such a fabul - oh who am I kidding - I suck at cleaning but still, it is a lot of money when you are used to counting every penny to buy food and the such. 


So I just finally broke down and called my sweet cleaning lady whom I adore.  The BIG day was this past Monday!  I woke up so excited, making sure the kids had there rooms ready to be clean (b/c you have to clean before they come to clean), and the dogs were outside.  She showed up and got to work. 


Life was perfect in my little world.  Ahhhhh crap.  They did not mop, dust, empty the trash in all the barely used rooms, or clean the kitchen sink.  I am sure if I kept looking I would find more stuff but I am not picky!  "Well, I guess I will get to work cleaning seeing as how I just handed you a nice little check and I am stupid for not stopping you from leaving," I thought. A little later my mother showed up and made the comment that she thought the cleaner was supposed to come.  Ok really!  It is that bad.  Time to grow a pair.  It only took me 2 and half days to call her.  I hung up twice before she answered and then prayed really hard that God would give me the right words so I would not hurt her feelings.  It went somewhat like this -


"Ummmm hey, It's Jennifer and ummmmmm well ummmmm I am not sure if everything was done on Monday.  Ummmmmm, I am so sorry to bother you about this but ummmmmmm did you mop or dust at all.  I mean if you did great but if not, I noticed.  (yay me!  I got through that)


"You do not like how it is clean?"


"Ummmmmmm, you have always done a great job in the past but I am not happy with Monday's work."  There I said it!  Now what you gotta say for yourself? (That was just in my head.  Made me feel like I could take NO Prisoners.)


"Ok, I come back tomorrow, and I make it all perfect for you."


You Dang right you will and you will work until I say quit. (again in my head).
"Ummmmmm, I am really sorry about this and me not liking it and you having to come back over to redo it and all.  I feel horrible."


So, lessons learned from this little exchange -


1.  I am a wimp.  I said it.  I am learning to sit with it.  I just want everyone to be happy. 


2.  I was not happy so me wanting everyone to be happy wasn't working.


3.  I really should not apologize for others mistakes.


4.  I really over used ummmmm in this conversation and wonder if I overuse it in every conversation. 


5.  I really love my cleaner and really want her to clean well but I will fight any urge I have to come and clean behind her. 


God works on me daily and this is a learning moment for me.  I know this is her job and if she wants to keep her job she would want to make her clients happy.  We have several friends who have used her as well from our recommendations.  I will apologize less tomorrow and just be honest with what I would like different.  Hoping no feelings are hurt and a job will be done well.  And that would make me HAPPY!

For my friends....

For my friends who have asked I start writing again, this is for you guys.  I will try to be better about how often I write.   I have been told many times that I need to write some of the crazy things I get myself into.  I guess I am the only one that can manage to totally embarrass myself with the most normal things in life.  I really try hard to have a NORMAL calm life but the older I get I am slowly realizing this is my NORMAL.  I hope you enjoy my life and stories.  I can't guarantee laughs all the time but I am sure there will be plenty of giggles sprinkled throughout.