If you are truly sure you want to take a chance on Lisa staying around a while, I would go back to her. I would talk to Lisa and ask her what her long term plans are. It really sounds like you are not as happy and never will be with Nikki as your permanent housekeeper. It’s complicated.

It’s really plain and simple to me. Lisa isn’t just a housekeeper, she’s like an extended member of your family, someone you trust. Take Outsideplaying’s advise, talk to Lisa to see what her long term plans are and follow your gut.

I like the idea of talking to her directly about her plans. May help her too in deciding whether she really can come back.

Lukki, yes, she’s far more than a housekeeper. She’s a cross between a very competent personal assistant and a family member.

How often do they work for you? Weekly? How about reducing Nikki to 2x a month and hiring Lisa 2x a month. Neither needs to know of the other, but if/when Lisa disappears, you'll still have a relationship with Nikki and can see if she can increase her hours.

I like what Olychick and Fun just wrote, great compromise.

If you went back to Lisa full time and she left again - would you feel comfortable asking Nikki to return?

While more competent, Lisa is not completely reliable. At 72 she is also nearing retirement age for the kind of work she does. I would do as Maire Care suggested, keep Nikki as your housekeeper and hire Lisa for house sitting, organizing projects, etc.

Also, very few people drop their livelihoods in response to a call from God, especially older people. She may have a family member in that other state with a chronic illness, or maybe a drug habit. Or maybe one of her other families wanted to go to their vacation house for a few months during the previous lockdown and offered her huge incentives to go with them and live in for a time. I would be very leery of someone who was not honest or forthright about her reasons for disappearing suddenly.

Personally, I think it very unfair to Nikki to drop her and pick up Lisa again. She has done nothing wrong. Since you feel close to Lisa, I would maybe use her if i needed extra help, or just stay in contact as a friend.

I agree that it would be unfair to Nikki. We had a very similar situation. We had a housekeeper for years that we really loved and trusted. She left us for a full time job, which we totally understood. When the full time job did not work out as she expected and she wanted to come back, we told her that we really missed her but that it would be unfair to the new person that we hired if we just dropped her for no good reason. I wrestled with that decision but ultimately think I did the right thing.

could Nikki clean and Lisa be hired to care for DS, etc? If Nikki has been reliable, I‘d stay with her. Lisa could be gone again and then where would you be?

These things get right to our emotions. I have to agree with those who mentioned age. At 72, anything can happen medically. But, she also showed that she could potentially leave at a moments notice again.

I agree with Ded,

I like the idea of hiring Lisa for the extras that Nikki can’t do.

Your input greatly clarifies the issue for me. I too didn’t feel good about letting the new one go, but Thought I’d get her other clients, side there are plenty of friends looking for good housekeepers.

Oly, Fun, I like the idea of getting my old housekeeper to help with special projects (of which there are many) because she also needs to earn a living. I and another client of hers help her out from time to time, and have even thought about helping her set up a business to hire and train a couple of people to help her.

Tina, Ded, agree that it’s not fair to Nikki, who’s been good and reliable, if limited even in cleaning.

Great ideas, Thank you!

After reading your post, I was going to say what many others have already said. Keep Nikki for the day to day, mundane stuff, but hire Lisa for the extras.

Kswl, you’re spot on about upping and leaving upon the Lord’s call. With this person, any reasoning that’d be a practical, secular decision comes out in religious terms, terms, if that makes sense. She went to this new state, because there was a possibility of her managing a new church that was being built. She did work there for a short time though not in the role she had anticipated. Then COVID happened.

My guess is that she’s looking for a manager role, for which she’s amply qualified, if not by education, by her experience and abilities. That’s a very reasonable thing to do, which is why I and another one of her clients suggested forming a business and hiring a couple of people so that she doesn’t have to do all the physical work.

Sas, Eld, Bb, Ded, Marie-cate, I completely agree about being fair to the new one and the old one’s age and tendency to make abrupt decisions.

Those are huge factors. Thanks for clarifying the issue for me.

Nuts about plants, you’re a good egg. 👍

Awww... thanks kswl!

Late to the conversation but no where in your post did you say whether Lisa asked for her job back. If you choose Lisa over Nikki don't be surprised if Nikki doesn't want to work for you if/when Lisa leaves again.

Thank you for responding! Yes, Lisa does want her job back.