Cleaning Pro/Pro Organizer

[writing_minutia]

I am hesitant to ask this after a previous post, but ironically it reminded me of something I was meaning to ask.

Comments

[hallwayjulie]

If she's a neat freak, she might not take well to someone coming in and cleaning/reorganizing her stuff in a way other than how she likes it. If there's any doubt in your mind whether she'll be thrilled or territorial, I'd do something else.

What about like, a spa day or something for the two of you to do together? Tickets to a play or a concert? Something that's not material, but that she can still enjoy.

[alice_bunnie]

IAWTC, as a fellow neat freak, no one can do it to my standards and I really don't care for other people telling me what to do with my stuff. :)

[writing_minutia]

I don't think she would be as sensitive. As a PO, she tells other people what to do, and she often has to work in groups to come up with a concept. You should see how excited she gets when someone comes up with an idea she hadn't. As a hobby, she reads organizing magazines and shops at organization stores.

Seriously- hobby. Our place will be fine, we'll be bored and she'll exclaim "let's go to [the organizational store] and see if they've invented something new!"

POs don't tell you what to do anyway- they don't know you. A good PO works with you to develop a system, then will set up the physical system and help you incorporated it.

[writing_minutia]

Yeah, ordinarily those are good ideas, but she hates the spa and the (good) theatre season starts weeks after Mother's Day. I'll keep thinking.

Part of my thought was that she does complain about the cleaning. In particular, she will be complaining since it will be right after moving and she'll be exhausted (part of the reason I won't be able to get her out of the house- her friends are married so they don't go out, and it would be hard to get her out when she's so rundown).

[center]

Well, 'ideas for maximizing our small apartment' .. microliving

[writing_minutia]

Hmm, good point. I'll have to check it out.

[doorinward]

I dunno...I am not a neat freak myself and I would object to some "professional organizer" messing with my master system.

Hang in there...something really good will occur to you.

[writing_minutia]

Yeah, I guess.

I just thought since all through reading a certain self-help book, which repeatedly recommends a PO, and she complains about the cleaning, she might want it.

However, I always complain that I want a tutor. If I really had one, I'm not sure if I would like someone as I find it hard to study with others.

[ravrhi]

I hired a professional organizer and I loved her! It was well worth the money and I haven't regretted it. I checked my yellow pages and came up with Clutter busters. They may have a franchise in your area. I wouldn't recomend excluding your mom, though. My step-mom once decided to redecorate my bedroom as a "present" and I flipped out. I am not a neat freak, nor was I amazingly attached to the furniture I had, but more because it was supposed to be MY area in the house. Had she taken me shopping with her and let me pick some stuff out, I would have been thrilled. Your mom has the right to decide what goes on in her space, so I'd include her in the process- or hire the organizer and go treat yourself, letting them do their thing.

[ravrhi]

oops. that one doesn't work. I found one in Canada. try this one, instead.

[writing_minutia]

I would never do that, nor should a good professional organizer (I know some things because she is one, I know how they work, just not how to pick the right one for you). A good professional organizer always works with you- because you won't use the system if it doesn't work for YOU as you are an individual person.

I would either present a gift certificate or put the appointment card in a box (and "borrow" her planner so as to schedule something good for her. I'd write in something like "Lauren's Open College Night" so she doesn't book it.)

[atropos_lee]

In my experience professional cleaners come in two varities - those who clean really well, and those who tidy/organise very well. If you are a neat freak, get a cleaner. If you are disorganised but hygenice in your habits, get an organiser.

Warning: If I was a houseproud type, and a relative brought in a pro to "sort me out" I would be both hurt and pissed off. Don't guess - discuss it with her, say you want to treat her.

Why not a spa day instead - a few hours out of the house to relax in the hands of a professional masseur?

[writing_minutia]

I've offered spa in the past, and she always refuses

[atropos_lee]

I've offered spa in the past, and she always refuses.

Mothers! Mine is the same... won't accept gifts, won't let me help in the house because I don't do it properly, still thinks I'm 6 years old...

I think your idea is great - I just wanted to raise that little warning flag in case it backfired.

[writing_minutia]

Yeah, part of the spa thing is the tools. She's afraid of the tools ;-)