What You Don't Know About Your House Cleaning Lady
I think I started cleaning houses with my mom when I was in middle school. I would go during the weekends, or any day I didn't have work. It wasn't my favorite, it still isn't, but I knew it was necessary. In my community, and culture, it's common for young children to aid their parents in work. But I soon found out that the same did not apply to everyone. I made the mistake of telling another girl in one of my classes, who then proceeded to convince me it was illegal and a form of child labor. Looking back, I can see where she was coming from, but that wasn't the case for most of us. For us it was about survival. We would see our parents work multiple jobs, long hours and with too low of a pay. Working with them was our way of lightening the load. It wasn't always grueling work either. Cleaning can be quite therapeutic, especially when accompanied by the correct music. Sometimes, my parents would even use some of the money we made to buy my sister and I Starbucks after work. A frozen drink, containing more sugar than coffee, was my top order.