All About Full-Time Maids
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hi purpleflower,
rants aside…if she were to leave, would you miss her work? thing is that she is essentially a stranger living in our house - her habits, her ways are foreign to us as ours is to hers.
My ex-maids weren’t very clean either and all they were supposed to do is to clean the house. baby they don’t need to take care (feeding, bathing, changing included), at tops they play with babies or watch while baby is playing. Mine didn’t even have to cook! A pleasant surprise was when my last helper (Myanmar) taught DS2 spelling while I was at work…she was way more patient than me.
That she is humble (dun chut pattern, dun show black face) I think is a great bonus and yours can even cook! Try to close some eyes except where non-nego (eg baby safety). Just remember what’s important at the end of the day. For me, it was that someone help with the cleaning so my mum can focus on the kids. -
Hi hquek,
Yes already closing both eyes on many occasions. Her main job which I have also emphasize to her is to take care of the baby, housework and anything else is secondary. Sometimes these maids just need to be reminded that they aren’t here for holiday and is a stayin helper. What I can’t stand the most is she is always glue to the phone no matter what time of the day. Need to also be firm and strict with her or she think I can give in to whatever requests. i just cannot reconcile why she make those requests.
To answer your question, I will not miss her. Lol so once my LO is ready to go to cc, I will not want a maid anymore since my older ones can take care of themselves. -
wow…why are you paying her $50 a day for working on her off day? The most she should get is $20-$25 based on her pay. which means if she decides not to go for any off days in a month, she will get additional $200! and based on what you say about her being on the phone all the time and not doing a clean job, you are being very nice to her…
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it’s not surprising that she’s glued to the phone. I was told many times by other FTWMs that their maids cook and talk at the same time…oftentimes I see maids chatting with each other, or on the phone when they are walking on the road.
just endure, time will fly very fast. -
If the domestic helper is already "glued" to the phone when you are around, who knows what they can be up to when you are not around. I think its time to change a new helper…
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FACT: I caught my maid taking R-rated selfies, sending to local numbers. There’s other scary things which I won’t elaborate.
SPECULATION: She is having extramarital affair in SG.
Enough was enough. Sent her off and had been maidless since. Level of cleanliness have to compromise, more work in terms of preparing ingredients, daily laundry, etc. But I won’t go back to having maids, unless I have become really incapable of doing physical tasks myself. A stranger is a stranger. If I won’t leave my money and diamonds with them, why would I leave my children with them - esp on the days when the kids are sick and grumpy (cos I send mine to full day infantcare/childcare etc)
Purpleflower… consider sending to full day infantcare. I used to send mine to Sparkletots. Special fees for citizens. $1200 less $600 subsidy. More if you qualify for higher subsidy. Peace of mind. -
Sunnysideup, I also think $50 is way too much. Anyway, I think she prefers to be out of the house going out with her friends and her sis. So usually she would not work on off days. At most, it’s twice a month. Not motivated monetarily I would say… Lol or maybe the extra $100 for going to my in law place is already enough for her. Actually at my in law place, the work is not tough as only 3 adults in the household and no need to cook or wash dishes i.e. In law house doesn’t cook anyway. My fil even gave her $50 ang pow during CNY. Me and husband also would give her gifts during festive.
My friends said maybe I am too lenient with her that’s why she dared to make those requests and use the hp heavily thinking mam is ok. How can she use her work time to do personal thing? Feel disrespected especially when she used the earphones to listen to the music and couldn’t hear what I am talking. Bestspycam, the only thing I am worried about is my baby’s safety is compromised. Have been discussing with husband to get a webcam.
Totally agree with you, straffan23, they are stranger in the house, and can’t be trusted fully. At the moment, I couldn’t go maidless yet, becoz husband travel overseas regularly for business trip and I need the extra pair of hands to help me with the 2 primary school kids and a baby. I am counting down to that day when my baby turn 2 yo, and I will send her to the full day childcare. Also trying not to rely too much on the maid to do the stuff, so that when the day arrives, I will not be found stranded. Lol Anyway, FDW will never be able to meet our standard. I still does some of the housework myself. Meanwhile, have to be strict and firm with her so that she would not come up with requests like need to use my kitchen to cook a feast for her sis’s birthday.
Or if I still intend to get a maid after this current contract have ended, I will get non-Ex-sin maid. Should be able save substantially and they usually are okay to not having off days. There will be a list of job pre-requisites and not going to let the next one take care of my little one as intend to send her to full day childcare after that. -
These days, the helpers are getting more and more fortunate. Mine collected almost $400 of ang bow money which I think is really quite a lot. My family also gives her gifts during festive season and on her birthday. When she went back for home leave, my parents and I also give her red packets as spending money.
However, over time I feel disheartened that no matter how good we are to them, it is never enough and they do not appreciate it. Now that she is going out on alternate Sun, money is forever not enough. I was shocked when my "obedient" maid took some of my daughters’ savings! It was caught on webcab as I guess she must have thought that corner was a blind spot. When questioned, she said she is just "borrowing" and will put back the money when she gets the next pay. My innocent younger girl who is very close with the helper says never mind, she can share her money with auntie.
As I stay in an estate with a couple of ang mo families, the influence is really bad. People who does not have maids will never understand. You know how lenient those ang mos are. Their maids can do anything and everything! They are also allow to go out on all public holidays. Everyday at around 2pm to 5pm, their maids will gather at the pool side, chit chatting and playing with their phones. Now, my helper also ask me if she can also go out on public holidays? She also told me those maids are getting $1000 pay per month with weekly and public holidays off. I told her that her pay is also above market rate. I really do not think I shortchanged her. At $750 per month + 2 days off is ok right? Furthermore, we also bring her along on family trips to Seoul, Hokkaido, Gold Coast, Perth and Taipei but reality is no matter how good we are to them, they will never appreciate. My colleague once says, when we treat a dog well, they will be loyal to the 主人 but maids, no!
Anyway, I think when my kids enter secondary school, I will switch to part time helpers. I heard it is better and lesser headache. Just have to endure for a few more years. -
Love1001, you are indeed paying a lot to your helper. If my guess is correct yours is a Pinoy. My first maid was also a Pinoy and we paid her $700 and she is off every Sunday and entitled to public holidays, and similarly $50 if she work on these days. She has over 10 years of experience here and all are expat families. As you pointed out, the ang mo gave them lots of freedom and benefits. She was quite daring and during her 1.5 mths stay with us, we spent so much money on her, namely medical bills, supplement pills, food especially rice, and our utility bills shook up 2 times. I nearly fainted when I received the bill. She has far more requests including wanting aircon to be installed in her quarter. She was also rude to my husband and confinement lady. I knew it was not right when I started to feel uneasy with her around at home and I couldn’t imagine entrusting me baby in her care. So decided to transfer her out and got my current maid.
Only good point about her is she is super clean and that’s one of the reason why the pub bill went up so much as she her water usage is very high. -
Yes you are right Purpleflower. Mine is Pinoy. They are smarter but confirm much more demanding and will always argue. We should never choose a maid with past experience working with ang mo families. The word ‘discipline’ does not appear in those people dictionary. Anyway, I am just waiting for a few years then I can do away with maids.
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