I made a mistake - please help

[Anonymous]

Earlier this summer I mentioned that I needed to mow our lawn, and my nanny gave me her husband's business card who does landscaping. I figured I'd give it a try, and it's really not working out. At all.

But now I feel stuck using him. I don't know of a good way to say that I don't want to use his services any more. Do I have to "fire" someone who hasn't bothered contacting me in 3 weeks? Normally I wouldn't, but my nanny will see if someone else is taking care of the lawn and it feels rude somehow.

Lesson learned on keeping relationships separate going forward. But advice on extricating myself from this would be appreciated. And yes, I know... first world problems. I'm embarrassed even writing this.

[Anonymous]

Not sure which one of you is at fault. Did you tell him, "If you'd like to mow our lawn, please call me by Aug 6th, or whatever?

[Anonymous]

I said "every 2 weeks"

[Anonymous]

You need to come up with a random excuse to go with someone else that is in no way related to him.

I dunno...
"We got free mowing for the year by buying some landscaping."

"My sister in law is starting a mowing business and will do ours for free"

"I've decided that it is good for me or my husband to mow the lawn because my doctor says I need to spend more time outside otherwise I am at higher risk for xyz disease."

"Turns out I overpaid my last guy and he told me I have 3 free mowings so I'm going to use him for the rest of the season."

[Anonymous]

They are adults too and probably embarrassed about not following up. I'll bet the husband got busy but knows he should be doing it. If you give any kind of excuse at all that allows them to save face (by blaming it on something else), they should just understand and let it go.

[Anonymous]

How many times did he already mow the lawn?

[Anonymous]

I would ask the nanny if her husband was still interested in mowing since it's been 3 weeks.

Chances are there was a misunderstanding along the way. Maybe he thought you didn't like his services after the first time and didn't want him back. Who knows.

Give it another chance - mention it to the nanny and see what she says.

[Anonymous]

Tell her that you won or were gifted a year of landscaping services.

[Anonymous]

Be direct. Either call and ask him when he's coming or ask the nanny when he's coming or if you should look for another service. Maybe he under quoted and realized the job is worth more or something like that.

[Anonymous]

Why is this hard? Tell him it's not working out and move on. If your nanny doesn't like it, so be it.

[Anonymous]

If you can, try to see if things can be worked out between both you AND her husband. Perhaps it is just a bad case of miscommunication.

However, if you are sure that he is not competent enough to perform what you need....Then I would just gently let your nanny know that you have decided to go w/another person.

And leave it at that. No big explanations needed, your words should speak volumes to her.

If she does insist on knowing why you won't be using her hubby, simply respond that you just found someone else better suited to your landscaping needs.

[Anonymous]

I would just hire someone else. If she asks, just say you went with someone else. You don't have to give her an explanation. I don't get it when people make up lies when they don't need too.

[Anonymous]

What country is your nanny and her husband from?