The Downside of Full-time Help

For those women who do their own cleaning, be grateful as you sweat. There's a downside to having cleaning help.

For those women who do have help and fear that they won't show up, know that there's a downside to relying on someone else.

When a maid cooks your meals, washes your dishes and does your laundry, do you think that you are living in reality?

When your worst fears are breaking your diet, ruining your nail polish or messing your hair, do you think that the sun and moon revolve around you?

Oh, how we wish to always live in the world of fantasy, of dreams come true and life in the castle in the sky!

But there is a price to be paid.

When you are busy elsewhere, whether the department store or the career track, your personal life is beginning to crack.

You may lose sight of the kids, if you don't sit down with them every day. Chauffeuring them around just doesn't sway.

Your children in turn will forget how to share, how to clean their own rooms or show that they care.

They will take all you give for granted, forget what responsibility means, because you have paid another to keep everything clean.

When they go to school and told to follow the rules, they'll respond, "Why?" instead of "Yes," and will treat the teacher like a fool.

The family is like a house that needs tendering and care. Be careful what you delegate because there is no substitute for a mother being there.