Should I Let Her Go?

[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.

[mummy so kiasu]

Hi Trina, Some maids take longer time to train, especially those without experience. You mentioned that her heart is not on the task. Could it due to she is new & she misses her family? Communication is very important. Have a good talk with her. Let her understand your position & find out her concern. By nagging or scolding the maid will not solve the problems. Treat her well so that she will take good care of your kids.

[st2]

I’ve bought some cookbooks from ‘Popular’, there is for Philipines and Indonesia maids, translation and Chinese…this was about 5 years ago, I don’t know if they still have them. It’s a Hong Kong publisher, so the dishes are more Hong Kong style/taste home cooked food. I have several of them.


I’m begining to think that sometimes the maid just test boundaries to see how low standards or how liberal they can be with us, that we will give in to…, else act gila crazy, forgetful etc. to get transfered.