A Little Update
Posted on May 6, 2009 - Filed Under Guatemala, Homeschool, Mom Stuff | 4 Comments
I promise I`ll put up a real post shortly, things are really hectic around here at the moment! I just got started on a huge project for my new job and that is taking up a LOT of my time.
The new muchacha started on Monday and she`s shown up for work every day, which is a huge plus. 
However, there are definitely some issues with communication. For example, I wanted her to come from 9-1 . . . she stayed til five and apparently thinks that this is a full-time job. Whatever, Irving and I talked it over and decided to just go with it since we had planned to bump her to full time if it worked out. What we don`t understand is WHY she took the job thinking 8 hours a day and only 800Q (roughly $100) a month! Obviously, we`ll pay her more than that, but it did surprise me that she would work for so little when the other girls couldn`t even be bothered to show up for the same amount and half the time.
I have to say, three days into this new thing . . . I HATE having someone else in the house. Absolutely detest it. We live in essentially one room, with two bedrooms off the back and that means we`re on top of each other. It makes me nervous, it makes the woman nervous. BUT, that being said, I LOVE not having to think about dishes or stress out about whether or not I should write articles or mop the floor. Definitely good. So, I`m kinda hoping that we will eventually just get used to it all.
In other news, Dorian is starting to read on his own. He`s been trying to sound out words in his books. Which is great, but it would probably help if he actually knew all his letters instead of just a few, so we`re working on that. Up until now, I haven`t focused heavily on that area, we`ve been working on other skills, but if the kid is just going to up and start reading on his own, I suppose I could help out a bit!
The bathroom roof is still leaking, but it`s raining so much that I can`t get up and lay down a layer of concrete to waterproof it. We`re thinking a big tarp might be a reasonable solution for now. We don`t have the electric hooked up yet, but that`s coming, we have the stuff needed, we`re just lacking juice! So we`re still on cold showers and the neighbor`s electric.
And that, my friends, is pretty much what is going on around here. I`ll try to write something a little more interesting soon.
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4 Responses to “A Little Update”
Talk to Me, People!
This is the interesting stuff. Try duct tape on the leak. Pitch a tent for the girl to hang out in, they have those screened ones…
One thing that we discovered today is that she`s not working full time . . . just until she finishes what she thinks is necessary to do. I have NO IDEA why. We`ve talked to her a couple of times about it, but the whole specific hours thing didn`t seem to sink in. It`s kind of weird, but I guess it works and the fact that she does show up is a very good thing.
Genesis, a couple of things hit close to home on this one. First, the Wife says exactly the same things to me about not liking having another woman in the house all the time. She’s on edge all the time. It must be a female thing, it doesn’t bother me at all except I try to keep my shirt on lest I tempt her…
Secondly, your f/u comment regarding her working until she thinks she’s done is definitely something we’ve learned too. I hate to say it, but I have to think of her as a child in terms of giving directions, very specific, in the order I want it done, without too much leeway, etc. I’d like to ‘hire and forget’, but it doesn’t work that way.
Good she shows up and gets done what she thinks needs doing. This could be a very good thing. I like a maid with initiative because I do not like to have to repeat myself.. you know, yes, I want you to do this obvious and simple thing, again, every day, really, yes, even though you did it yesterday, and please remember it tomorrow…It was especially important for me as I was usually OUT of the house and unable to micromanage! I’ve watched some of my friends with staff who need to be constantly directed and that would drive me batty!
I’ve been blessed with maids/nannies who just come in and start doing what needs done. That saying, you may have to make sure she knows how you want specific things handled, what things you do NOT want her to do, etc. I’ve also had staff who had to be chased out at the end of the day because they wanted to stay past 7pm!
“Really, go on home… this can wait!”
I am totally with you on the ‘having someone underfoot’ issue. I think once you get used to the idea that you can be totally occupied with YOUR work, your kids, and your home improvement stuff, it will be easier to forget the housework and let her do her thing. My problem with keeping someone on when I quit work was that I was at the house doing the housework too, unless I had something at or after school. Housework is not something I play well with others with.
Two things to consider about her staying late. One is she really wants/needs the job and is working extra hard to impress you. Two, your home is better than what she has to go home to.