Should I Let Her Go?

[Hiaweh]

PhoBIA:

lowfatlatte:

I am also considering other options of
(1) hire part-time cleaner to come to the house 1-2 times a week,

If your children are big, go for option 1. Since the helper can't cook, why do you need her anyway? Those that really want to learn would have learnt by 6 months....
I may sound harsh but I have had really bad experience with maids even when I treated them very nicely.

Yes. I agree. If they really keen to learn they will but it seems that if yr children doesn't want to eat what she cook then she has one chore less to do so there's no incentive for her to improve. On the other hand, one thing less to do since they would rather eat out.

[Coolkidsrock2]

Hi lowfatlatte, I’m new here and not sure of the protocol for posting. I do need a maid who is able to perform housekeeping well. Cooking is not a priority for me. As my existing maid is leaving next week and the passport of the new maid is not ready, perhaps you may wish to transfer her to me, temporarily, while you try out option 1? I have tried option 1 myself previously and it can be quite tough on a permanent basis so you may wish to try before giving up maid for good. Apologise if this seem rude or opportunistic.

[lowfatlatte]

Thank you for all you inputs.


I am holding her till October as I have no time to train a new one till then. There were on 2 occasions when I get so angry that I would pinch her. I feel really bad for that. That was initially when she was 4-5 months-old. I had NEVER done that to my 3 previous helpers who served be between 2-6 years each. I am running on a Windows 8 schedule but she is only running on 386... :rotflmao:

One of the concerns of my sister and my 13-yr-old is that I have a blood mole in my brain and they are afraid that it would \"burst\" if i got angry/upset too often. I know i have probably given her a lot of chances, just 1 more i guess and i'll send her to a proper cooking course and see how it goes...

[PhoBIA]

Coolkidsrock2:

Hi lowfatlatte, I'm new here and not sure of the protocol for posting. I do need a maid who is able to perform housekeeping well. Cooking is not a priority for me. As my existing maid is leaving next week and the passport of the new maid is not ready, perhaps you may wish to transfer her to me, temporarily, while you try out option 1? I have tried option 1 myself previously and it can be quite tough on a permanent basis so you may wish to try before giving up maid for good. Apologise if this seem rude or opportunistic.

Transferring of maid is not so easy....
You need to buy the insurance, pay for transfer of employer....etc. lots of paper work. You may want to get from a transfer maid from a trusted agency. Slightly better control. In case things don't work out, can throw back to the agency.

[Coolkidsrock2]

Thanks lowfatlatte and PhoBIA for advice. Honestly, am very afraid each time I have to change maid cos I had 2 encounters with maids who showed symptoms of unsound mind after arriving to Singapore. My experience with transfer maids had not been good too - agency not honest with reason for the transfer. But I guess, what’s new.

[Trina]

lowfatlatte


When I read your post, I was thinking that I could be the one writing it! I am experiencing exactly the same thing with my maid!!

Have my maid for 4 months, mainly to look after the baby. Like you say, mine can't cook and is extremely forgetful. It's very frustrating as I am a FTWM and there's so many things to do without having to constantly checking on her and nagging her to get things done. I have written procedural manual, step-by-step guides, cue cards reminders, checklist etc etc. There's improvement but she still forgets....Her heart is really not on her tasks and she can't focus or want to learn. But she is honest and doesn't talk back hence I am still hanging onto her.
However I don't know how long this can go on without losing my sanity. After 4 months, she still can't cook a decent bowl of porridge for my baby. We use a slow cooker so it's basically throwing everything into it. Somehow it will ends up too diluted or concentrated, depending on how much water she puts in. Every weekend is a marathon for me, with marketing, cooking, supervising the cleaning, coaching my older one, rushing for classes. Last sunday I took out the iron to ensure that my new clothes don't get burnt and my older girl asked why I employ a maid when I have to do the chores myself. i really couldn't answer her.... :stupid:

We are in the same boat so I totally know how you feel. Unfortunately having a maid is a necessary evil...at else for now...

[lowfatlatte]

Trina:

....Her heart is really not on her tasks and she can't focus or want to learn. But she is honest and doesn't talk back hence I am still hanging onto her.

Trina, you hit the nail on the head. No heart. Im hanging on to mine coz she is honest (which is a very very valuable characteristic) and don't show face when scolded...

[Minstral]

That’s very kind of you to think about her circumstances.


From first hand experience, the most important thing to look for in a maid is honesty. I have a maid who lies and she makes me so mad!

You might want to consider sending her for cooking lessons and english classes if you intend to hire her for a long time. That said, it’s ridiculous how maid agencies are these days. They just bring in anyone who’s anyone without bothering to assess how suitable they are to work as maids!

[dokomo]

Hi Lowfatlatte,

My opinion is having honest maid is very impt above all else.
Mine very efficient in tasks, cooking skills improve, but also good at lying and denying. It’s tiring to live with someone dishonest. Cooking skills can b trained.

Jus my 2cts.

[mummy so kiasu]

lowfatlatte:

Lynn2010:

There's another one:

http://www.fast.org.sg/index.php/trainees/join-our-courses

Thank you for the link Lynn. I will look into getting her to attend the courses.

I think your maid is a good helper in a way & honest helper is hard to come by. Are you able to cope if you get a part time cleaner instead of a full time maid? I agree with Lynn, giving her time off to upgrade her self is a good solution. Nagging & scolding the maid will not solve the problems. Sign her up for a cookery class & English conversation class will help.