I was thinking back recently to times gone by (I do that a lot nowadays) to when I was working and I had two small sons at school.
I had a very demanding medical job and I eventually found that trying to do everything at home as well was pretty stressful.
I advertised for a lady who does housework (this was the early seventies).
The first two replies were from young women who much preferred to paint their nails (no iphones in those days!).
Then a wonderful lady turned up on the doorstep. I will call her Hetty to preserve anonimity.
She was a retired civil servant and had worked in Africa in a diplomatic position, so I told her that, frankly, she would not be suitable.
Well, she persauded me otherwise, and started on three hours a week.
As time went by, she came more and more frequently, in spite of me saying we could not afford more hours.
She took over shopping, cleaning and even collected the children if I was held up.
She became a much loved member of our family and stayed for eight years until we moved away from the area.
But she had just started out as the "lady who does!".
Anyone else have a story about the home help?
Things you find stressful that other people don't notice.