I am an embarrassment to a long line of impeccable, capable homemakers.
 

Then again, I don't think they homeschooled.

Ok, they had to churn their butter and milk a cow before getting certain items into their kitchen. They didn't have a washer or a dryer.

When we had 3 babies, I could see this coming. I told my husband if we are going to homeschool, this day would come. And it has. It is 11 years late, if you ask me:

I HAVE HIRED HOUSECLEANERS!!!

I can't take it anymore. I have humbled myself and learned to live with dust. I have trained my boys to sweep, vacuum, and do dishes. They take over their own laundry at age 12 1/2. Still, it is not enough...

Here is a proposition for any mother: how about you leave your house for an average of 6 hours a day, leaving your kids at home the whole time you are gone? Then when you return, you have that whole mess to deal with, as well as dinner, laundry, and quality time with your husband. You must wrap it all into the few hours left at the end of a day.

Of course no mother would take this up and few, if any, live it. That is because most children are away at the government institution all day while mom and dad are out or at home cleaning, etc. Nobody is home making a mess all day.

The scenario above is what we sign up for by homeschooling. We are home, but we are teaching. I am unavailable for anything else, on average, 6 hours a day.

I know other moms and other families have found other answers. We used to do the big Saturday cleaning, but my husband has his own projects (related to a family farm life) to do in the little time he gets on the weekend. My Saturdays are pretty devoted to interior painting our home, and Sundays are for training the horses. Nobody has time to clean.

I found a very affordable, flexible service. I figure if they help with my regular cleaning, I'll get to the project cleaning, like my oven. Or vice-versa: they will do any job with the time I pay for.

It felt good to get the unreal expectation off myself: homeschool, horses in training,  husband starting a company, and a house I can live in. I don't see dust as a blessed, temporary condition anymore. I'd rather be blessed in the tightening of a budget and pay for housecleaners. I don't have what it takes right now to get my sons dusting or vacuuming blinds, etc. Also, they're busy, too-- they are getting older, and they have lives. It is a blessing to free up my husband's time and worries about me and the house.

And I'm not too proud to get help in my home! After all, we are homeschoolers! Why live with the craziness anymore if we can do something about it and get some real help? Teacher + housekeeper = two careers. I have read the books: there are many of them telling homeschool moms how to do it. Well, you know what my answer is...an affordable cleaning service. They're out there!

And the money we save on gas by being home all the time will help pay for it.

Think about it, ladies!
Allison