All About Full-Time Maids

[hquek]

i3mum:

Thanks for your advice, hquek. I will explain to her & note it down from now on.


Our family will be going away from today till end of the week, no need to see her face!

Think both sides cheering.

[hquek]

jollyme:

my indon helper current salary is S$350 a month. her 2-year contract will end early next year and she's asking for a S$50/mth increase in salary. anyone knows what's the market rate for indon now?

Think you should just consider if she is worth it. How is her work attitude? How is her fit with the family? $400 I feel is worth not having to go through trauma of having to change, and coach new maid. You got to factor in also the saved agent fees on your side.

[Breadandmuffins]

[quote]My 3rd kid is exhibiting jealous tantrums cuz she is 18 months so age gap pretty close and that is also new to me so I have to figure out how to deal with that. I have two older kids with their own issues, a newborn and now a maid to mind. She sleeps with the two older kids but I am paranoid that she will go crazy for whatever reason and harm my kids so when hubby is not around tomorrow onwards, they are all sleeping in my room and I am locking the door. I figured if she wants to steal things or run away, things can be replaced and I have the runaway bond so I don't really worry but my kids can never be replaced.


So maybe with the post pregnancy hormones, I am feeling very overwhelmed with the 4 kids and minding another person. She is so far ok albeit forgetful which is expected but than again it's only been 3 weeks and hubby is at home so she wouldn't dare pull any stunts. Figured only after 8 months than I can assess her character better before trusting her.
BTW, do you keep your housekeys with you? Or you leave it out in the open cuz she has to open the door for my son to go out to school in the early morning. Any advise? My hubby thinks I'm over paranoid[/quote]Hi noximl
When I have no.4 2 yrs ago, it is also quite overwelming as my no 3 is also in his terrible 2s and my other 2 are only 4 and 6 then. My maid was with me since no 2 was born. She also came shortly after i deliver and is with me 7 yrs now. Although I have some problems with her now, she was of a great help to me during the last 7 yrs and helped me thru with no 2, 3 & 4. From your post, you do not seem to have any major problems with her yet. You may want to give her the benefit of doubt & let her try it out with you first. If you are worried that they are homesick, you can always let her call home/friends at nite if this can help her adjust to life here better. As for the sleeping, I also do not let my kids sleep with maid. What abt letting the older ones sleep in another room and get them to lock it at nite while sleeping and you sleep with no 3 & baby? Even with my maid leaving end of this yr, I will still use another maid for the next two yrs although I am also fearful that it turn out otherwise. IMHO, I think we can sort of assess their character quite quickly in 1-2mths as we are SAHM and we deal with her every day. Of course, after knowing you better, they will have some demands but if they really know their \"standing\" they will not go too far off. I do think we need some help as mothers of 4 young kids. As for the keys, you can get the boy to open the door himself ? Hope it helps.

[i3mum]

Whaha you are right!

hquek:

i3mum:

Thanks for your advice, hquek. I will explain to her & note it down from now on.


Our family will be going away from today till end of the week, no need to see her face!

Think both sides cheering.

[hquek]

i3mum:

Whaha you are right!

I very pai. Anyway, have a good time away from here and enjoy yourself! :celebrate:

[janet88]

jollyme:

my indon helper current salary is S$350 a month. her 2-year contract will end early next year and she's asking for a S$50/mth increase in salary. anyone knows what's the market rate for indon now?

How is her work attitude ? Is she willing to learn ? If so, you can consider extending her for 1 year.

[duriz]

Sep 28, 2010

The Straits Times
By Elena Chong

Maid broke toddler's bone

A FILIPINO maid who was massaging her employer's three-year-old son pulled his leg so forcefully that his right thigh bone was broken.

Myla Cabradilla Cabuenas, 30, then told her employer that the toddler had fallen at home and injured his knee.

But the employer, who had wired her home with cameras, viewed the video footage and saw what the maid had done to the boy. He has a history of developmental delay and suffers from epilepsy.

She told her husband, a 36-year-old engineer, who then called the police.

Yesterday, the maid was jailed nine months for ill-treating the child under her care at her employer's home on July 1.

Assistant Public Prosecutor Asran Samad said the maid was alone with the boy when she placed him on a mattress and began massaging his legs. She had been hired three months earlier to perform basic physiotherapy techniques, including massaging the boy, and caring for him.

[janet88]

When maids scald kids with hot water, caused them to fall, break their bones or even kill them, they will NEVER admit…naturally.

If found out, all they will do is say SORRY, but damage is already done.

[janet88]

I don’t use my Corelle bowls when I had maids. Of course I still wanted them to wash properly and not chip the bowls/plates. But when it comes to my kids, I will not accept SORRY bcos I always reminded them that SAFETY FIRST.


Told the maids, don’t let me find out they lied, bcos I will be very angry. Be honest upfront.

On the sideline, this thread as well as ‘to work or not to work’ will allow me to graduate to ‘Kiasu Grand Master III’. HaHaHa.

[jollyme]

hi hquek & janet_lee88,


thank you for your advice. my maid gets along fine with our family (only 3 of us at home), attitude so far ok though sometimes tends to be forgetful. She likes to eat spicy and fried heaty stuff, so will fall sick every alternate month or so. forgot to mention also that she requested for 2 days off a month instead of the usual once a month as she wants to attend english & cooking classes to upgrade herself.