All About Life Without Maids
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yo Pam, as usual, you have good sharing! :rahrah:
2ppaamm:
I was trying to type fast and couldn't recall the name but it's the thermomix. I had it imported from UK, but quite a white elephant since I have not used it for a while now. I am getting it shipped to me again, since I no longer reside in Singapore, and start using it here.
Yes, the big pot is so useful, that I have retired my wok. Now the wok is a white elephant. I use a non-stick big pot, and it is great for fried rice, fried noodles and fried everything. But I still use a pan for eggs and fish and fried chicken. I think I'll never use a wok again.
Another important gadget I left out is an oven. I have two. Every time I am about to start cooking, I turn on the stove to heat up all the pans, and the oven. Then I cook in 45 minutes (faster than driving out, queue up and buy), including the desserts. I also keep an oven warm at about 60 to 80 degrees and put stuff that I want to keep warm in there. I don't like food cold. Sometimes, I bake pizza or pies and I put them in there for the children to go grab one the whole day. Better than keeping biscuits or snacks in the house.
Some people invest in a warming drawer, I didn't and it worked well. I might consider one in future, though. -
Dekora:
Yup! Roomba Scooba can Robotic Cleaner would definitely be of great help in keeping your homes clean and dust free.MizzNAH:
After having a maid for more than 16 years, its really madness going maidless.
Start by getting a part time help to come in and also get technology to help! Scooba roomba whatever u can get! Come in frequently and get support from the experts here!
For videos and specifications of a range of robotic cleaners, Do checkout http://www.Autovacstore.com -
Autovacstore:
Parallel importer?Dekora:
Yup! Roomba Scooba can Robotic Cleaner would definitely be of great help in keeping your homes clean and dust free.
For videos and specifications of a range of robotic cleaners, Do checkout http://www.Autovacstore.com -
You ladies use washing machine cleaners? I think mine needs a good cleaning up but I am hesitating as it is a front load one.
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2ppaamm:
Hi, can I check what is the brand of the non-stick big pot you use? Also, if you keep the oven on all the time, won't it increase your electricity bill?
Yes, the big pot is so useful, that I have retired my wok. Now the wok is a white elephant. I use a non-stick big pot, and it is great for fried rice, fried noodles and fried everything. But I still use a pan for eggs and fish and fried chicken. I think I'll never use a wok again.
Another important gadget I left out is an oven. I have two. Every time I am about to start cooking, I turn on the stove to heat up all the pans, and the oven. Then I cook in 45 minutes (faster than driving out, queue up and buy), including the desserts. I also keep an oven warm at about 60 to 80 degrees and put stuff that I want to keep warm in there. I don't like food cold. Sometimes, I bake pizza or pies and I put them in there for the children to go grab one the whole day. Better than keeping biscuits or snacks in the house. Some people invest in a warming drawer, I didn't and it worked well. I might consider one in future, though.
Thanks for your sharing. -
Hi Mummy 2ppaamm,
You are an encouragement to me cos i'm going maidless soon. Was it tough in the beginning without a maid? Does your hubby help with housework?2ppaamm:
Hehe... I know, I had two maids for 14 years and maids since a child, but now I have no maid for almost 3 years already. Can do it!MizzNAH:
After having a maid for more than 16 years, its really madness going maidless.
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Angelight:
Hi,Hi Mummy 2ppaamm,
You are an encouragement to me cos i'm going maidless soon. Was it tough in the beginning without a maid? Does your hubby help with housework?
I cannot really remember if it was tough or not anymore, because it has been a while and I am so used to having no maid, I can no longer imagine having to live with one again...
It was difficult living with maids towards the end. I had a good maid one time, for seven years, and every time another maid comes to assist her, she will take good care of things, teach the other maid and get things organized, so things were good. However, after she left, I could never find good maids. I had two maids who quarreled, I decided to try and live with one. When I had one, she refused to work because she said the work load was too much. When two maids were good friends, they talked the whole day and not work. In the end, I planned to be maidless.
I started by introducing the technologies even when the maids were still around. Making them see that the robot can do just as much. They still didn't get the hint. Then, I started to pack the house, still didn't get the hint. Started to cook more often, they eat more. I started to bring the kids everywhere I went, they happy, happy just chatted more. Then one day, I got the agent over and said goodbye. By then, I had already taken over much of the work and was confident enough.
My mother, sister, mother-in-law, sis-in-law, my neighbours, my neighbours' maids (most of my neighbours have multiple maids), all thought that I was very brave and probably could not survive. My mom moved in to live with me for 3 months thinking I would crumble. My sis asked my mum if it was even possible. But hey... three years later, nobody can doubt that it is! And, my house is sparkling clean and my kids are well-fed, and my kids still do well in school without tuition, and I still keep my full-time job.
My husband helps! Of course. He mops the floor whenever I cannot. He will make sure the garden is taken care of. When I saw that he had to water the plants till late, I ordered the DIY irrigation system and installed it myself. Heh heh... I turned into a handy woman! Even my mom was suitably impressed. Now, even when I am overseas, the garden gets irrigated everyday on a timer, so it is green. My husband trims once a month or so.
There is so much joy in being self-reliant. The maids did help when the kids were very small, and I had 5 all very close in age. But, it is time I teach my children rather than maids. It is time to take back the household and put things in order. Time to bring up the kids up with my own values. Taking back the household is the best thing I think I have done.
It is difficult, perhaps. But I have forgotten how difficult it was. I can only now appreciate how fun it is to cook, bake, clean, polish, decorate and still be able to hold down a job. And then tell those younger or those starting out that they can. If only I had known it is not so hard, I would not have been held ransom by maids and their agents for so many years, and over about 15 maids? Enough was certainly enough.
So :rahrah: go for it, it is not easy, but certainly worth the while! If it cannot work out, look for a maid or look for part-time help. Heh heh.... you won't be worse off.
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*3 Cheers for 2ppaamm!!!! :rahrah: :rahrah:
U really inspired us all!
Will look forward to the day of being maidless.. U r a GREAT EXAMPLE for all of us!
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2ppaamm:
Good one! And I really salute you!
Hi,Angelight:
Hi Mummy 2ppaamm,
You are an encouragement to me cos i'm going maidless soon. Was it tough in the beginning without a maid? Does your hubby help with housework?
I cannot really remember if it was tough or not anymore, because it has been a while and I am so used to having no maid, I can no longer imagine having to live with one again...
It was difficult living with maids towards the end. I had a good maid one time, for seven years, and every time another maid comes to assist her, she will take good care of things, teach the other maid and get things organized, so things were good. However, after she left, I could never find good maids. I had two maids who quarreled, I decided to try and live with one. When I had one, she refused to work because she said the work load was too much. When two maids were good friends, they talked the whole day and not work. In the end, I planned to be maidless.
I started by introducing the technologies even when the maids were still around. Making them see that the robot can do just as much. They still didn't get the hint. Then, I started to pack the house, still didn't get the hint. Started to cook more often, they eat more. I started to bring the kids everywhere I went, they happy, happy just chatted more. Then one day, I got the agent over and said goodbye. By then, I had already taken over much of the work and was confident enough.
My mother, sister, mother-in-law, sis-in-law, my neighbours, my neighbours' maids (most of my neighbours have multiple maids), all thought that I was very brave and probably could not survive. My mom moved in to live with me for 3 months thinking I would crumble. My sis asked my mum if it was even possible. But hey... three years later, nobody can doubt that it is! And, my house is sparkling clean and my kids are well-fed, and my kids still do well in school without tuition, and I still keep my full-time job.
My husband helps! Of course. He mops the floor whenever I cannot. He will make sure the garden is taken care of. When I saw that he had to water the plants till late, I ordered the DIY irrigation system and installed it myself. Heh heh... I turned into a handy woman! Even my mom was suitably impressed. Now, even when I am overseas, the garden gets irrigated everyday on a timer, so it is green. My husband trims once a month or so.
There is so much joy in being self-reliant. The maids did help when the kids were very small, and I had 5 all very close in age. But, it is time I teach my children rather than maids. It is time to take back the household and put things in order. Time to bring up the kids up with my own values. Taking back the household is the best thing I think I have done.
It is difficult, perhaps. But I have forgotten how difficult it was. I can only now appreciate how fun it is to cook, bake, clean, polish, decorate and still be able to hold down a job. And then tell those younger or those starting out that they can. If only I had known it is not so hard, I would not have been held ransom by maids and their agents for so many years, and over about 15 maids? Enough was certainly enough.
So :rahrah: go for it, it is not easy, but certainly worth the while! If it cannot work out, look for a maid or look for part-time help. Heh heh.... you won't be worse off.
I remember sending off my last maid 5+ months ago after having enough of each and every one of them. I have the phobia of not being to handle it. I started reading how mums here cope with work, kids, housework in this thread. And I got inspired by many of you here, esp 2ppaamm.
It is tough in the beginning. After 5+ months, I am coping fine with my mum's help. I too, cannot imagine having maid again. It is tough physically occassionally but I really feel happier emotionally and pyschologically. No stress, no complaint from mum, no scolding, shouting at the maid, no black face to see. I have my space and I do what I like and the way I want it to be done in my own house.
My mum is moving out in 3-4 yrs' time to her own house. It will be another learning curve to cope on my own w/o her help. In the meantime, I am training my kids to do things on their own. I believe we can all do it when the whole family helps and gets involved! -
when i told my family member including DH that we should go maidless after my maid decided to go home to her son after a good 3 years here..everyone including DH objected.. they doubt this will work.. as we have 2 young kids.. yougest being 2. but after following this forum.. im rather (actually 70%) think i can do it.. DH is hopeless in housework.. after 4 months now.. he chip in as much as he can..kids happily help light chores like hang clothes. but they still continue to mess up the living room with toys..headache part.. now.. seem like my mum, in laws still think i have a tough life without maid.. they will say things like \"not easy with 2 young kids\" in laws will like feel heartache that their son aka DH need to do housework etc.. but i feel with technology in place .. i dun really have \"tough\" life.. just that i insisted to cook daily for kids's health.. so the washing up etc is a bit of a chores.. but i do it willingly so no complaint.. and yes no need to raise voice at maid anymore.. no need to handle another personal feelings anymore.. just my closest family .. feel so at ease..those who is still deciding.. invest on machines to help u.. dun try to do everything by urself.. as the machines can REALLY help.. and if really no choice.. get part time cleaner..i haven got one.. as i feel i haven reach there..
.. am looking fwd to my anniversary of being maidless.. lalalala
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