One plate, one spoon... and other new house rules

They say it is important to be aware of the changing times and seasons, and to move with them. A while ago I started to feel that it was time to transition from full-time housekeeper to less frequent help. It was not an easy thought to contend with because we have been used to having someone employed to do the house chores ever since our oldest made his appearance in the world.

That, however, has never stopped me from teaching our young ones all there is to know about managing a home, and I often reminded them that the housekeeper was there for me, not them. Indeed, as soon as they hit their teen years, I would announce that if they required their rooms cleaned, they would have to cough up some of their allowance to facilitate the favour. They were not amused, but neither was I trying to be amusing. I’ve always warned them that as far as running a home is concerned, they should never hire someone because they don’t know how to do something; rather because they don’t want to otherwise they will be paralysed when that person is unavailable.