All About Life Without Maids

[Hush]

Hi All Mummies / Daddies,


I need advises. I have been hving maid for the past 6 years and her WP is expiring this June and will return to get marry.

I have 2 kids (DS 6 yr old) (DD 3 yr old). They are currently in full day CC. I am staying in a EA and my parent (both 62 yr old) staying with me.

My DH is saying to forgo maid after current maid contract end. I am worry as i am a FTWM (stress and return home almost 8pm and totally drenched out). My parent are hawker and need to wake up early in the morning.

I should said i am so used to hving maid for usual housekeeping and preparing for kids school. My mum will cook for all and maid will do all the washing / cleaning.

When i am home everyday after work, i will hv my dinner, shower and start to supervise school work with my DS (spelling on Monday, chinese spelling on Tues). Berries, Piano etc etc etc…

How to survive life without maid??

[Vevey]

Can but tough. Another way is for your dh to b e stay at home maid lor..

Hush:

Hi All Mummies / Daddies,

I need advises. I have been hving maid for the past 6 years and her WP is expiring this June and will return to get marry.

I have 2 kids (DS 6 yr old) (DD 3 yr old). They are currently in full day CC. I am staying in a EA and my parent (both 62 yr old) staying with me.

My DH is saying to forgo maid after current maid contract end. I am worry as i am a FTWM (stress and return home almost 8pm and totally drenched out). My parent are hawker and need to wake up early in the morning.

I should said i am so used to hving maid for usual housekeeping and preparing for kids school. My mum will cook for all and maid will do all the washing / cleaning.

When i am home everyday after work, i will hv my dinner, shower and start to supervise school work with my DS (spelling on Monday, chinese spelling on Tues). Berries, Piano etc etc etc...

How to survive life without maid??

[Hush]

Hi Vevey,


I would rather be the one if i can kill another household incomes. We can’t afford to live on single income for the whole house hold of 4 adults (without maid) and 2 kids.

[Hush]

I am just afraid if we reli forgo maid, there will be alots of argument on who do wat…

[1amber]

Need to automate cleaning and have clear job description for all parties but if u r living with in law then tough.

[Hush]

Dear 1 amber,


Not in law but my parent stay with me when DS was born. On the other hand, i would like to try to forgo maid (their salary very high), however, on the other hand, i dun think i can push myself any further when i got home.

I am wondering will getting a part time helper does reli help…

[Vevey]

Part time maid will b useful when your kids r more independent in getting themselves ready for school etc.

U will also need to spare more time n energy when older kid start pri school.
So unless your parents r prepared to retire n n help to take care majority of e daily chores ( which I would feel bad if they r my parents n also depends on their health), daily help seems nec for the time being.

Work out your finances n c anywhere to cut that will enable to b a sahm. Eg. Would b easier if your dh can pay housing loan w his cpf alone.

Hush:

Dear 1 amber,

Not in law but my parent stay with me when DS was born. On the other hand, i would like to try to forgo maid (their salary very high), however, on the other hand, i dun think i can push myself any further when i got home.

I am wondering will getting a part time helper does reli help....

[Vevey]

Hush:

I am just afraid if we reli forgo maid, there will be alots of argument on who do wat...

Prepare for that day by getting ur kids to help out in simple chores n b independent even if u hv a maid. Adults too! I know... Not easy. Hee...
But it is really beneficial esp for the kids.

Ds1 gotten so reliant on my maid when we re employ 1 when ds2 was born so I had to retrain him to b independent when no more maid.

[1amber]

I still think it is tough with 2 young kids and you need to conserve energy for teaching and spending time with kids. The plus for you is that it is your mum who already does the cooking so you have one less transition problem. So if your parents are unable to help out more in housework then I think the best is just to keep status quo till your kids grow up a little more.


I was very challenged by one forummer to go maidless. So I am working towards that goal and stay permanently that way by doing/having done the following things. I think realistically it will take some time for adjustment.

1. Throw away things that I have not used for one year. Painful but helps with making house neater and tidier. I threw away so many things in my storeroom and now I can walk into it and better still know where to find my things.

2. Adjust my dietary standards. Get used to simple meals which are simple to prepare and simple to wash up. e.g. soups, boil and steam. Use deep pots to stir fry instead of the wok (in that way no need to wipe stove and mop floor of grease. Gotta eat out a bit more.

3. Train my kid to prepare for school the next day like having socks and shoes ready. Train kid to remove own shoes, socks and clear out all pockets before throwing into the laundry basket.

4. Organise kid’s stuff e.g. having in tray for her homework (yes she also has Berries, LWSC, school reader books and writing, mind stretcher etc.) so she knows where to get them.

5. Reorg her homework station near the kitchen when I am cooking or washing and also at the living room when I am ironing or doing my studies/work.

6. Gather utensils for washing instead of a cup here a plate there. Leave to soak overnight for burnt pots.

7. Get magic clean floor duster and the pink duster for high areas. Invest in machines eventually to help e.g iRobot, dishwasher, dryer.

8. Sub contract out laundry/dry cleaning of big items and those needing lots of ironing.

[Hush]

Dear Vevey,


Share the same sentiment on feeling bad to ask my parent for help. Infact, they have been helping to look after my kids (when maids tight up with other chores), cook and buying groceries for the family WITHOUT requesting for a single cent from me.

I tot the little thing i can do for them is to engage a maid to wait on them and not burdening my parent with too much chores.

Our housing loan is pay thru our CPF with without any cash payment so that i am not too worry.