Mackenzie, hire a housekeeper

I know what ALL of you are thinking. Seriously, a housekeeper? For someone who doesn't work? My thoughts exactly. Life is so different for ex pats here in Switzerland. A lot of Americans hire housekeepers even when they don't work. There is a lot of money here and it is easy to get sucked into this, I deserve this lifestyle.... Shocking, yes. I am not pointing fingers at the mother's who have children. This is a different story. If you need a housekeeper then so be it. I am talking about us wives that don't have jobs or kids.

When I think of hiring a housekeeper, I think well then what would I do? So much of my time is spent cleaning this house. I will admit I am a bit OCD. I think because I don't work and therefore don't have an outside office this becomes my haven. I am hard on myself when it comes to this house. This is MY job. Andy leaves for work everyday and I am here. Here to tend to the wifely duties. I remember reading a chapter in The Duggars book where Michelle talked about how God will reward her one day for her wifely duties. She doesn't need nor want a pat on the back from anyone down here on earth. She knows that in God's eyes she is doing exactly what she needs to do. They are God's chores. When I look at it from this perspective I almost get giddy inside. To think that God is proud of me because I am attending to my role in the family. Now if the mother works OBVIOUSLY the duties are different. This is not a blog on women shouldn't work outside the home. I am merely talking about myself. I have to admit if a person came in my house every 2 weeks and cleaned it would make for a lot of extra free time. Free time I don't want. I have been trying to hide from free time for a year now. I have tried everything to make my life busier. At the end of the day I feel such a sense of accomplishment knowing I vacuumed the bathroom floor and did the laundry. I ironed the duvet cover (and it only took me a million hours) and I feel that I am contributing to my little family. I remember reading in a Christian book that we as wives are our husbands safe haven from the outside world. Wow, now that is shocking. WE are their safe haven. That there are so many evil beings in the outside world that when our men come home we have an enormous job on our hands. We have to fill our house with love and joy. The second Andy walks through the door I can't shout at him to put the dishes away. Who knows what he has been dealing with all day. It is up for me to be a listening ear and to fill his heart up with joy. One day I can remember being really down and sad about how I felt I hadn't done anything of substance in the past year. It can be really tough on someone's self esteem when they are not working and don't have kids. You find yourself constantly trying to find out who you are. Andy came over to me and said Mackenzie you have supported me for the past year. You have been a wife for the past year. It really hit hard for me. I was so happy that he noticed that and I knew it was true. Being a good wife and supporter is not easy at all.