All About Life Without Maids

[BeContented]

LOLMum:

definitely not going to be easy the first few weeks, but be positive. am sure you could handle it.


read the various posts in this thread and i am sure you are able to pick up a tip or two on how to cope with all the hair tearing, nite biting situations.

always remember to take a step back, a huge breath and relax. :celebrate:

Agree......beginning will be tough but should get easier along the way. Must learn to let go a bit (esp. if you are the clean-freak kind :), step back and relax, it'll help. I was maidless for 1+year, enjoyed my life cos' peace and privacy at own time own target. Add PIL and maid now....xiong......would anytime swap to go back maidless and without the PIL.
If you can get the family members to just contribute a little, you'll be surprise how much it may help at times esp. when you are tired.

Not sure if this helps, but these were some of the little stuff which my kids started since P1. They may look insignificant, but somehow I feel relieved cos' sometimes when there's too many little little stuff, it irks me
a) I arranged their school/PE uniform, socks, undies, handky etc at a fixed place. Every morning, after brushing teeth they would auto pick up all these from the wardrobe instead of calling/waiting for me to bring to them.
b) Stack and fold their own blankets, hang up pj after waking up (it may not be done well at young age, but later they'll only get better)
c) Once back from school, take out waterbottle & leave at basin. Put all their dirty clothes into laundry basket. For shorts/skirts (wear 2 days), hang up on hanger themselves.
d) Every night, they packed their own schoolbag. Anything forgotten, too bad, get punished.....I would only make special trip for really important stuff.

Frankly, the kids were easier to train, it's the DH that cannot be corrected :slapshead: He would just take off and throw everything on the floor, the kids followed initially, but managed to correct them.....but DH really bad example. :mad: Anyway, kids have to be independent eventually, cannot always depend on maid/mommy to do everything for them.....at least, that's my thinking. Dun worry, am sure you can handle with time.

[wildboys]

cwc:

Frankly, the kids were easier to train, it's the DH that cannot be corrected :slapshead: He would just take off and throw everything on the floor, the kids followed initially, but managed to correct them.....but DH really bad example. :mad:

I totally agree with the above!!! Kids are easiest to train, followed by DH, and as for PIL, can forget about any form of 'training'... :frustrated:

[yenny99]

Recently i hired a part time cleaner from http://www.facebook.com/parttimemaid and i find their service quite okay... Maybe you guys can give them a try

[yqyq]

Me too…engaged a domestic auntie cleaner for housekeeping once a week for 4 hrs…love the current arrangement, instead of get a maid…

[contact12]

I am so worried as my maid leaving for home leave this afternoon. For all other times when my maid goes on home leave, I will engage a domestic auntie cleaner. But I have decided against having an auntie cleaner this time because my children are teenagers and they should not be so reliant on help . I am really apprehensive because all household chores will fall on me if they do not co-operate.

[i3mum]

Hi all,


I m looking for an experienced Indonesian maid who has worked in Singapore as soon as possible for transfer.

Her working duties :
1) To look after my 3 kids (aged 5- 6, but my parents in laws are here to help everyday except weekend when I m not working)
2) Know simple cooking/ Do housechores
3) Able to communicate in basic English
4) No off day & no Handphone

Please recommend & pm me if anyone has a good maid whom you do not need her service anymore.

Thanks!

i3mum

[Diesel]

yqyq:

Me too..engaged a domestic auntie cleaner for housekeeping once a week for 4 hrs..love the current arrangement, instead of get a maid...

Yes, I really am confident that I made the right decision. Without a maid, although it is extra tiring doing all chores on our own, but we really enjoy the privacy. The kids are also pulled in helping a bit of the chores. Even our youngest 4 year old has a role to play. It indirectly made everyone disciplined and learn about being a team player. On top of that, I get to enjoy the kitchen to myself, improve me cooking skills and maintained the kitchen the way I always wanted , wihout having to tell / keep on instructing someone else to clean up certain spots the way I want it to...

[contact12]

I have survived about 10 days without a maid. It is very tiring. There are so many things to do like doing two loads of laundry everyday, cooking and cleaning. I hate to take out the garbage every night. The maid’s room became a "walk-in wardrobe" for our clothes until my youngest daughter decided to fold and sort out the clothes. Everyone in the family must play their part to put away their things to keep the house tidy. But I think it is worthwhile. I cook healthy meals that are low in salt and oil. There is a kind of freedom when you do not have a maid in the house; you can turn on the TV volume and not worry of disturbing the maid’s rest. The children learn to be responsible and independent and this is the most important reason not to have a maid. Given a choice, I will employ a cleaning auntie to help out. But none of my family members share my belief…

[fifiyeo]

A word of encouragement…you can make it without the maid. Just hang in there for a few weeks, re-organise your home and it’ll be ok after that. If your kids are old enough to help, it’s a good time to get them to share some responsibilities.


I survive without one for 6 months already! So much happier now without a maid. Used to play hide and seek in the house with my maids 'cos if I have to see the way they work (or rather damage my house)…I would be so stressed up.

[contact12]

Thanks for your encouragement! Yes, I will try to broach the subject again with my family members next week.


Btw, I have accidentally pressed the submit button twice so the post appears two times, but I will try to resolve this technical glitch asap. Apologies from the digital immigrant.