I've got to tell you I had the strangest morning yesterday. I blame Groupon.
About 500 years ago, there was this daily offer in my inbox for house cleaning. It was a great deal. And my fantasy - to have someone else clean up after my crazy family for once. But could I really invite strangers in to see the kind of dust we kick up? I'd click on the Groupon. Then I'd close it. Then I'd click on it. This went on all day.
Finally, I got up my nerve and I bought that fricking thing at about 11:00 p.m., right before the offer expired. So then I had this Groupon, but it seemed so indulgent. And it was kind of outside my comfort zone. And shouldn't I be doing my own cleaning anyway? So I buried it in my organizer to use, "when I really need it."
God, I'm such a dork.
Anyway, when we were on vacation last week, I started thinking of that Erma Bombeck essay that she wrote late in life about how she wished she would have relaxed more, and not put off so much and how she wishes she would have burned the candles that were too good to light but instead got put away in the closet to gather dust. That was my coupon. Oh I'd put it away, but I hadn't forgotten about it.
So I pulled out my little Groupon and scheduled the cleaners.
I wish I'd have been suave from that moment on, but baby steps, right? I cleaned the house last night, just to be ready for the maid service. We don't want them to see a crummy stove, right? Or dust on the window sills? Or...?
Gah. They arrived, bright and cheery yesterday morning and I tried to write and I tried to think of other things, but all I could think about was how wild it was to have them here. And that I wanted to see them scrub that front entry way, even though I didn't want them to see me seeing them scrub the front entryway. Finally, I spared all of us and left to run errands.
In the end, the house looks great. Better than I could have made it. And I hope I've grown a little bit. Maybe. Stepped outside the old comfort zone? At least I finally used the Groupon.
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
The great Groupon debate
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You crack me up, Angie, because I can see me doing exactly what you did. I would totally clean the house before the housekeepers showed up and then I would pull up a chair and watch them (just like I do with the repair dudes in my house). I am not a neat-freak by any stretch of the imagination, but I absolutely will not let anyone see my house unless it is at least picked up and you can't write your name on the coffee table. I even clean my house before we leave on vacation because I hate to come home to a mess, and what if someone broke into the house? What would they think if there were newspapers lying on the living room floor or the bathroom was messy?
I've used a cleaning service for years and years. I've never outgrown the awkward feeling of having people in my house (those days that I'm working from home when they come to clean) doing something I really should be doing. I also "pick up" before they come, as I figured out early on that most cleaning people will work around a mess and not move things to clean under or whatever.
I always find it a hoot that people clean before their cleaning people come to clean. Knew someone else who did it every other week and I would think, "How silly. That person is there to do that."
But I know if it were me, I'd do the exact same thing. Then again, not even that would get me to clean the bathrooms. I wonder how much it would cost to have my bathrooms cleaned by someone else.
Hmmmm.....
We had a cleaning lady when I was a teenager, her name was Carol and I adored her. Never thought to clean before she came, but my dad was a neat freak so everything had to be perfect all the time. Well, everything except my room. Carol had a way of putting things to right that still alludes me. She could do in ten minutes what I couldn't do in ten hours. Thank God my husband has the gift I lack. But I'd really love to have another cleaning lady like Carol!
I almost bought that one, too! Funny - I opened my Killer Fiction browser right after checking my daily Groupons. ;) That place is scary addicting.
LOL Kima. We must impress the robbers. Perhaps then they'd feel some guilt. But really, I refuse to be judged by the crumbs on my kitchen counter (and with two kids, there are always crumbs). Then again, with two kids, there are a lot more things for the housekeepers to clean, too.
Well yes, it is awkward because you feel like you should be helping. But then that's just silly. It's nice to know I'm not the only crazy one. ;)
Now that you mention it, Terri. I didn't really clean the bathrooms. I can't stand doing them. Especially the floors. It was so amazingly grand to have someone else do it for once.
That was our house, Robin. Only it was my mom - she's gifted with a cleaning cloth. And she loves doing it. Our house was spotless. To the point where I used to think houses were just naturally that way. Ha.
Oh I love Groupon. Where else can you get $30 worth of Mexican food for only $20? Or a day of bungee jumping half off? Or... It's like all the things you never knew you wanted, at a discount.
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