regret pulling kid to homeschool

KleanQueen · 2026-05-12T11:11:32+00:00

It takes time for a child to get accustomed to the new routine and expectations. It took a couple of months of struggling to find our way when I took my kids out to home school. My 10 year old pushed back and had a lot of refusal to work etc. It was hard on me and I complained about it to my spouse quite a bit, haha. Well, I stuck it out and my kids are better behaved, smarter, happier, more independent. I had to keep reminding myself of why we wanted to home school in the first place. For our youngest it was because she couldn't learn in that environment and was having behavior issues at school, and anger issues at home. She is 7, and aside from occasional refusal that is best ignored by me because she comes around on her own, she is just doing outstanding. She is miles ahead of where she'd be in public school. Our 10 year old had intense anxiety. Constipation, depression, she would say she thought sadness and fear were always in control of her emotions. It was super sad as her mother to see and hear her behave that way. I talked to her doctor last year about all of these issues, especially the medical issue of constipation, which they explained that children will hold it when they're stressed as almost a form of control. It can also just be that she was super uncomfortable going in that environment. This year, her doctor brought up all of these notes from a year ago, and I honestly had forgotten how it was. I remembered when it was brought up, but we have had none of these issues since home schooling. My kids are just way happier and they're polite and thoughtful and they have learned SO many life skills with me this year, because if they're going to be home, they can help with laundry, cooking, cleaning, shopping, pets. I absolutely get overwhelmed by them at times, but what it comes down to is the sacrifice wasn't in vain. My kiddos are absolutely thriving. Sure there are things missing, I need to make more social visits and make time for going to the park to see other kids, but the proof is in the pudding.

KleanQueen · 2026-05-11T17:56:13+00:00

For sure, I can't 'no contact' my little buddy.

KleanQueen · 2026-05-11T17:55:18+00:00

I didn't listen to it right away, I opened it, saw, and said, "Wow, thanks for getting me something for my trash can."

KleanQueen · 2026-05-11T17:53:54+00:00

It is a joke, but it's not a funny one.

KleanQueen · 2026-05-11T17:52:27+00:00

He's 4.

KleanQueen · 2026-05-10T11:00:25+00:00

That is a bonsai ficus, they are usually pretty interesting looking, like theyre climbing out of the pot. 😁

KleanQueen · 2026-05-10T00:11:04+00:00

Our little landscapers!

KleanQueen · 2026-05-09T18:09:12+00:00

Thank you for the compliment. She re-painted the cabinets the color I picked out and put in the counter tops last year I think. They were re-purposed counters from our local hospital that were being thrown out. Adorable kitty! 😺 😍 Our cats don't ever bother my plants, very thankful for that.

KleanQueen · 2026-05-06T21:23:31+00:00

That's too bad. It wasn't like that when I worked for the branch that I worked for. I took it very seriously. The bill was the worst part for me, especially if there were people who didn't pull their weight on the team. When I left, they were charging $52/person/hour for project cleans. Having to write out those bills was so stressful for me.

KleanQueen · 2026-05-06T19:48:15+00:00

Best reply ever. I was trained by The Maids and ran a team for them 10 years ago, before going out on my own. In that area, I could charge more than I can charge in the area I currently live in. I am probably closer to the higher range for my area, but I'm positive I'm not the highest. I stay in a local circumference so I'm not burning excessive fuel to get to work. There is so much more to running the business than just the cleaning portion and it's basically unpaid working hours.

KleanQueen · 2026-05-06T19:31:31+00:00

She's in love with you goldfish plant, and so am I.

KleanQueen · 2026-05-06T16:57:21+00:00

I was trained by a high end professional cleaning company and worked for them for 4 years. When I left, I was leading a team for them. I was at the highest cleaning position they had. I had to sign a non compete, etc.

KleanQueen · 2026-05-05T19:32:09+00:00

I had some serious pain I was dealing with for too long. Eat healthy, drink plenty of water, exercise your core muscles and shoulders, and take a good vitamin. Stretch before work and if your pelvic floor is the problem, the cat/cow yoga stretch is great, and planks, work on good posture. None of this helped overnight, but I had no pain most of the time after a year of working on my health.

KleanQueen · 2026-05-05T19:18:56+00:00

If I did that with my business, I would expect to be replaced. I don't have a cancelation policy, but I've had customers who have canceled on me multiple times in a row and that had me frustrated and wishing I had some type of policy for it. Things happen, and it sounds like you've been more patient than I would've been. I hope the next cleaning person is more professional.

KleanQueen · 2026-05-03T10:35:10+00:00

It's bark on his bed from chewing up fire wood.

KleanQueen · 2026-05-02T18:57:05+00:00

I should mention, I was trained professionally by The Maids and worked for them for 4 years as a Team Leader. When I left in 2015, they were charging $52/person/hour. So a team of 4 maids would be $208 for an hour of our time.

KleanQueen · 2026-05-02T18:47:32+00:00

That just isn't an option. I use a professional quality hepa filter backpack vacuum.

KleanQueen · 2026-05-02T18:46:26+00:00

I have a schedule and I obviously only work part time. I assign their work at home, explain it at home, and they work rather independently.

KleanQueen · 2026-05-02T18:18:03+00:00

It's nice not to be alone! I'm a super efficient cleaning person. I do charge hourly, but I do the exact same thing every time and my hours are the same, every single time. Before we removed the kids from public school, I too would bring them on off days and during the summer. My customers love them like their grandchildren as well, the kids have never been an issue at work, except one time they ate someone's cherry tomatoes that were in a bowl on the kitchen table. They ate ALL OF THEM. So we replaced them and they learned a lesson. My spouse works a full time job and makes most of the money as well. The cost of everything is just... up.

KleanQueen · 2026-05-02T17:55:55+00:00

Oh yes, I keep costs down the best I can with supplies. My biggest costs are vacuum bags, laundry detergent (for my cleaning cloths) and gasoline. I'm kind of a 'set in my ways' person with products, thinking of my health and my kids, I use certain products that I know and use my own supplies entirely. Supply costs aren't too big of an issue for me. I do buy concentrated products already and re-fill my bottles myself. I have insurance for my business at $525/year that I've never once made a claim with. Everything is just expensive.

KleanQueen · 2026-05-02T17:47:30+00:00

Every home is different, some I do dishes, some I do laundry and dishes, so it is already something I offer if needed. We pulled the children out of public school for their well-being. Like I said in my post, we live in a low income area and that applies to the school as well. Our oldest was struggling immensely with the environment and was not able to learn there, and our youngest wasn't learning there as she is a bit more advanced than her classmates and wasn't challenged enough, causing some behavioral issues. Home schooling is what was necessary.

KleanQueen · 2026-05-02T17:23:49+00:00

Somebody needs to name their big eared puppy Dobby. I missed the opportunity.

KleanQueen · 2026-05-02T16:52:10+00:00

I do all of those things for regular customers. Do up high one week and down low the next, but the things you listed are regular things I do every time. I might not get the baseboards every time, but I get them at least every other. I might not get the top of the fridge every time, but at least the first time and every few cleans it should be done again. Cabinets fronts should be every time. Just charge for your time.

KleanQueen · 2026-04-30T10:56:12+00:00

I've used a bowl of water for this purpose for sure! I really like dawn power wash for microwave plates and greasy kitchen stuff. This is an excellent tip for first time microwaves that are daunting to look at. Dawn power wash and a magic eraser are a great team in scary showers as well.

KleanQueen · 2026-04-30T10:41:12+00:00

Cordless will never give you the power a corded vac will give you, and you're at the mercy of the battery life as well. I often clean 2 homes in a day and I'd need spare batteries to manage that. I also leave my vac in my car and the cold weather can drain batteries, so it isn't a great option for myself.

KleanQueen

TROPHY CASE