The Balancing Act

One of the reasons that I started this business a couple of years ago (yes, it's been two years! How time has flown) was so that I could have a more flexible schedule and spend more time with my four children - especially my last two. At that time they were soon-to-be two years old and soon-to-be four years old. So it seemed that this working from home thing would meet my needs.

I even felt that I could help more working mothers spend more time with THEIR little ones - it was even a tag line on some of my Facebook ads - "Come Home to a Clean House". The idea being that you came home and there would be nothing to do but homework with the children and getting in some much-needed quality time with your family (maybe even catch some of that elusive thing called SLEEP).

Well, as I said it's been two years - and so many changes have taken place that I felt the need just to purge and talk. And I know it's just between us - so I am safe to talk right?

I have had to learn how to be firm, how to be gracious, grateful and humble no matter the situation and I have learned that life really can be a juggling act.

You see in the last two years I have acquired three more children. And yes I mean acquired as they did not come from my womb. So my house is now bursting at the seams with SEVEN children (and NO this is does NOT include my absolutely awesome husband as some like to joke and add).

Additionally, the business has grown, amazingly so. I suspected, but never fully realized just how many families needed a service like Heavenly Hands. And I have been happy to meet those needs. It is that joy that has kept me going through the MANY frustrating moments.

Frustrating because the balancing act has begun. In the circus I prefer the lion tamers - juggling clowns and those who walk the tight rope have always left me feeling anxious. But now I am becoming them - I am walking the tight rope and I am balancing.

Balancing between the visions I have in my head for my company versus the reality of the resources at my disposal. Balancing between my desire to be with my wonderful family versus my growing obsession with my business. Balancing between the "me" I am versus the "me" I need to be.

Starting this business has made me come face to face with my personal shortcomings. Being a "visionary thinker" and "artistic" doesn't help you balance the books. Or keep a proper schedule. Or plan for the year ahead, or the month ahead - heck even the week ahead. So I have had to buckle down and master tasks that make me feel like pulling my eyes out - I am now the queen of scheduling and filing (my girlfriend V would be proud).

Starting this business has also made me realize how others see me (trust me when I say that people who live in their own heads do NOT have a realistic picture of what others think of them). You want to know how people see you - try taking their money.

Starting this business has brought me face to face with what prioritizing REALLY means - I have three hours, should I: go over the schedule for next week... make that call I've been meaning to for the longest while... spend some time with my 16 year old (or any of the seven for that matter)... spend some time with my husband... sleep?

I recently attended a workshop on Multitasking. And even while the facilitator was speaking I was thinking "Lists! Doesn't she know I am the QUEEN of lists?! I have lists on what lists I need to make!".

But really, all joking aside - I realized I needed to pare down.

I have been living and thinking in compartments.

It's time that my family and my Ministry is incorporated into my business. 

I spent this first week since school has closed using my older children as members of staff - and they have been LOVING it! They come home tired but satisfied - and I am able to spend time with at least five out of the seven. We laugh, we talk, we clean.

I have also decided to set aside at least two days a month to help some of the moms who may not be able to afford my service.

I have worked out what I hope is a great schedule with my husband in how we spend time with the two little ones.

But it's only Wednesday.

I think it's working because I managed to get some sleep and I found the time to chat with you guys - so it's working right?

Right?

Life After Death

I felt it only fitting to write this post now - at this time - coming out of the Easter holiday. 

I know I have not posted a blog or anything to my Facebook page for a while but this is because I recently suffered a great loss in my family - my youngest brother passed away - snatched from us too soon and too suddenly.

Following this tragedy I found it difficult to work, to write - to breathe. It's been a little over a month and the pain is as fresh as if I had only received the call today.

However, life goes on. And I must go on. And as a Christian I feel comforted knowing that Jesus conquered death so that we may have life eternal. And it is from this knowledge I draw my strength.

I know I sound sad - and I am. I think that this sadness will occupy the part of my heart that I had saved especially for him - alongside all the wonderful memories of his laughter, his smile and his love. But he was living proof that great things can come out of ANY bad situation - and I intend to follow his example of optimism.

So we press on because there IS life after death - and life goes on - even after the death of a loved one.

Fridge Placement 101

Here I was sitting at my desk trying to figure out what would be latest and exciting new 4H (Heavenly Hands Helpful Hint) to share with the world... AND I WAS STUCK!

So I look across at my husband and brother and asked what THEY thought should be the topic of my newest hint - pets, toys, storage? They rolled their eyes because they felt that all my hints were catering for women (hmm housework and women - what's the connection I wonder?). So my brother felt I should share about Refrigerator Placement!?!?

Until he said it I never knew that it mattered where you placed your fridge! I always thought that you placed it where it can fit and still allow you to have access to its contents. My brother went into GREAT  DETAIL about why and where one should place one's fridge. I have shortened this into the pretty little hint below.

Bottom line, proper placement of your fridge not only allows it to operate more efficiently - but it also extends the life cycle of your appliance!

So to my male followers out there - I hope you found this post more to you standards.

GO OUTSIDE!!!

I haven't written a blog entry for quite awhile. Reality is - trying to balance home and a new business whilst trying to create a social media presence is harder than I thought.

But no worries! I'm gonna play with my kids today! Cheers to the weekend!

Hope you enjoy yours too ;-)

Whap Cocoyea!

I spent the lat few weeks researching what folk remedies or traditions there are with regard to cleaning, and discovered two things. 

Firstly, from my research via the internet it would appear that the four major ingredients used to clean were vinegar, baking soda, lemon and salt! That will be another posting altogether.

Secondly, from my research interviewing our older local population those ingredients were seldom used at all! In fact the most popular tools or ingredients were a cocoyea broom, a scrubbing brush and blue soap! 

Today I will deal with the cocoyea broom.

The cocoyea broom is a broom made from the centre spine of the leaves from a coconut tree branch. These shafts or sticks are tied together and so make a broom. The average household would have two types of brooms - one soft (not very dry with the curls at the end) and one hard (very, VERY dry). 

The soft broom was used for cobwebbing and sweeping the (oftentimes) wooden floors of the home. However the broom could also be used quite safely on tiles and terrazzo floors. The hard one was used for scrubbing - mats, bathrooms and anything that needed a little pep and vigour. The brooms were also used to maintain the exterior of the house - so the yard, roof and walls of the house were also subject to the ministrations from the cocoyea broom.

However, there were other reasons that a cocoyea broom was so popular in the average home - apart from its duties as an essential household tool - it was also used for spiritual and disciplinary measures.

Many a Trini child would've found themselves at the punishing end of a cocoyea broom wielded by his mother, aunt, grandmother or godmother (or as we say here "he mudder, tantie, granny or nenen"). And of course the broom in question would NOT be the soft broom. 

Often times there would be a disciplinary ritual to be played out (and over seven of my interviewees confirmed this ritual). The child in question would be sent to fetch the broom before the punishment was administered - and this going to get the object of your punishment was used as a sort of torture or punishment in and of itself.

The man who found himself in the centre of a series of unfortunate events would also be subject to a beating from a cocoyea broom - administered most times by the self same individuals identified above - if it was home remedy. Sometimes the person would go off and find the nearest Obeah Man (witch doctor) who would use the cocoyea broom as part of the cleansing ritual to rid the person of bad luck. The Mighty Shadow (a local calypsonian) sang a humorous story about the ritual here.

However, if his mudder, tantie, nenen or granny found that things weren't going to well with Johnny she would decide to administer the home version of the ritual and would prepare herself by prayer and fasting and plan for the day of the beating.

It was always important that Johnny never knew of the plan and that he be caught off-guard - usually just as he entered the home. Then his mudder et al would subject him to a furious beating about his body after which he needed to take a cleansing bath - either in the sea or with blue soap - but that's tomorrow's post. 

Thank You!

Sometimes a little support goes a long way...

A lot of the times we don't know how that smile, that hug, that phone call can carry a person through the roughest of times. Sometimes I think we can underestimate or even take for granted the love and support we get from friends and family - even from our dedicated clients who stick with us and go through those teething problems with us - helping us to get it right.

I just wanted to take a little time out to say thank you to my supporters out there - especially Merrell, Priscilla, Michele, Melissa and Vanecia.

Thanks guys for taking time out to let me believe that the impossible CAN happen!

I hope the rest of you take time out to tell your favourite people "Thank You" for their love and support.

And if you didn't see your name here - don't worry you are in my heart.

There Is Only One Me!

For those of you who grew up on daily installations of Sesame Street - you will know that the title of this blog is really a song from (my favourite) childhood show. However for the month of March this phrase became my lament! To say March was hectic is like asking if the sea has salt!

Coming out of it I was reminded why HHCS came in to existence in the first place - we business owners need help! If only there was someone to take care of some of the little details of my life so I could just do my thing!

Well here's your chance guys - until April 30th, 2012 - business owners living in Trinidad have the opportunity to save on their First Time Cleanings with us.

I know it will not cure Cancer - but for a lot of us a clean home goes a long way :-).