Anonymous wrote:OP here. I didn't walk around and micromanage. (For one thing, I had a preschooler to manage). The first day's tasks were tidying, laundry, and some kitchen cleaning, so I showed her where everything was, how our appliances worked, etc.

I wouldn't be comfortable leaving a stranger in my house just yet, but napping feels weird just because it's weird to sleep while someone is working and they know you're right there, asleep. Feels like bad optics.... If you leave, you might be lazing about or working or who knows, but it's not in-your-face.

So your plan is to stay in the house with your preschooler while she cleans- making it more difficult for both the cleaner , yourself, and your preschooler who doesn’t like new people. Or, to have her come and you sit there and … not nap… while you wish you were napping…. And just watch the cleaner? Or pretend to work even though you’re a SAHM and your kid is in school? Or clean along side her? What’s your actual plan here, if not to leave the house like every single person in this scenario wants you to do

Anonymous wrote:OP here. I didn't walk around and micromanage. (For one thing, I had a preschooler to manage). The first day's tasks were tidying, laundry, and some kitchen cleaning, so I showed her where everything was, how our appliances worked, etc.

I wouldn't be comfortable leaving a stranger in my house just yet, but napping feels weird just because it's weird to sleep while someone is working and they know you're right there, asleep. Feels like bad optics.... If you leave, you might be lazing about or working or who knows, but it's not in-your-face.

Please get help for your anxiety.

OP here. I didn't walk around and micromanage. (For one thing, I had a preschooler to manage). The first day's tasks were tidying, laundry, and some kitchen cleaning, so I showed her where everything was, how our appliances worked, etc.

I wouldn't be comfortable leaving a stranger in my house just yet, but napping feels weird just because it's weird to sleep while someone is working and they know you're right there, asleep. Feels like bad optics.... If you leave, you might be lazing about or working or who knows, but it's not in-your-face.

It’s fine but I would close the door on the room where you’re sleeping, so have her clean it first.

Not sure I’m understanding the issue here. I’m a SAH (not remotely pregnant) and nap all the time while our housekeeper cleans. We pay her to work, why would it matter what I’m doing?

Or do you just not want to nap because she’s new and you think she’ll steal something/clean improperly? I think when you hire someone to clean you kind of just let them do their thing, other than specific ask(s) at the beginning of the day (eg “oven needs cleaning today”). I’d never follow her around and micromanage. That’s annoying. And not worth it—the whole point is paying someone so it’s off your plate.

It's strange.

I've never stayed in the house while it's cleaned

Once I had a handyman come out to fix two things but I had a horrible migraine . I told him when I opened the door. I went to bed, he fixed and left, no problem.

It’s fine for a heavily pregnant woman to nap. Soon you won’t be able to.

When she arrives, ask her to clean your room first. Then while she's cleaning the rest of the house, you can do anything you want in your room, including nap.

Send or leave her a checklist, saying not to clean your room as you will be in it catching up on some much needed sleep.

You’re paying her - of course you can nap.

The point of a cleaner is to get some things off of your plate. Why are you following her around?

You leave the home with your preschooler while she cleans and then enjoy your alone time on the days she is at school. This is simple. Leave a list of tasks for the cleaner on your way out.

How bad is it to sleep while someone is cleaning our home?
I am very pregnant - due date soon. We are very lucky to be able to have a lady come to help with "whatever I need help with" - cleaning, laundry - 2x a week. I'm a SAHM but my older one is in preschool 3x a week, which we started so I had some breaks, ability to get chores done, and time to actually go to the doctor for this pregnancy.

Lately though, I use the preschool time just to eat, sleep and don't get much else done.

If I have the cleaner come during non-preschool days, I'm managing my older child who is shy of strangers and needs constant supervision and attention. I'm working on getting her to be more self -sufficient and this lady is new so I am not comfortable leaving the house with her here yet and I still need to supervise and show her where things are kept in my house, what I need done, etc.

If she comes during a pre-school day, I lose the sleep day. But maybe I don't have to, once I establish her in her work? Or is that really bad form?

Last time she was here the lady was very solicitous. But I do look very pregnant. Perhaps she'll understand?