Olivia and Isaac

We have a lady named Olivia who comes to clean our house every two weeks. Olivia is lovely. Olivia's English is poor at best. (Steve and I have come to terms with the sad but true reality that employing Olivia will preclude either of us from serving our great nation as Secretary of Homeland Security or Secretary of Labor. So don't even try to nominate us.)


We have a son named Isaac who dirties our house every day of the week. (As I write this, Isaac is taking orange highlighter to the green couch.) Isaac is lovely. Isaac's English is understandable to some, but not so much to the lovely Olivia from Mexico, who understands precious little English, even when it is clear-spoken and well-articulated.

Each time Olivia comes, Isaac follows her from room to room and talks to her incessantly as she washes the windows and sweeps the floors. He doesn't care that there is a Great Communication Divide.

Every two weeks, I can count on being cheered by a clean house, and a delightful and entertaining exchange of two lovely people who haven't the foggiest what the other is talking about.

Comments

Anonymous said…
you have a regular maid?
Neil and Diana said…
daaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaang!
Emily said…
D, what are you danging about?
I can see this as a short film.
Bek said…
I think that every one should have regular housecleaning. It doesn't mean that you can't keep it clean yourself, it means that the magical cleaning fairys that my husband and kids seem to think live in our house (the ones that wipe the toothpaste out of the sink and pick up dropped treats...) work for me as well. What I love about it is that it means that the cleaning clock resets itself once a week (like in Lost...right...when the clock flipped back after they punched the numbers....my own personal Lost). It means that of my life gets busy or gets away from me I don't have to spend extra hours doing the extra cleaning (those hours usually come out of sleeping time for me..).

At least in our house, the clean part doesn't last very long anyway, but it is nice to spend a day out with my kids instead of cleaning and STILL get to come home to the smell of Pinesol and fresh vacuume marks on the carpet.
I have talked to many moms in many stages of life (older kids, lots of kids..) and they all said that if they had to do it over again they would get a cleaning lady. The ones who had it felt it was a worthwhile investment. In fact, one mother even said "it's like I have a wife..you know, that person who comes behind you and helps you with the stuff you can't finish yourself?". True, huh? Anyone can clean your house but you are the only one that can mother your kids.

Our cleaning lady, Norma, came to us a few years ago when we found out that she needed some extra hours inbetween jobs (she is in our ward). We loved her. My daughter would also follow her around and talk, talk, talk and practice her Dora words. She feels like family. She just left us to persue a home sewing business and we miss her. I need to find someone else..pronto.

Good for you.

P.S. We won't be running for political office either... sigh. :-_)
Anonymous said…
I have always wondered who cleans the cleaning ladies houses?
Emily said…
Thanks for backing me up, Bek. I agree wholeheartedly.
Anonymous said…
I've been in a deposition all day, so I have a particular desire for a clear and true record. So the record is clear, I have not come to terms with not being the secretary of state or homeland security. I'm not sure what you're talking about. If you are talking about Olivia's immigration status, I can only say that I do not know Olivia's immigration status, nor do I care to. She seems an upstanding citizen to me--does a great job with the mirrors.
Emily said…
Now we're talking!

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