All About Full-Time Maids

[skunk]

Yes, only time will tell, but so far, this being the 3rd day, she’s still fantastic lol


I hope it’s the result of me continually stuffing her with food (she says she can’t finish LOL) and giving her 10 hours of sleep daily hehe.

Food and rest is so impt, I believe given these 2, anyone can work like a dog LOL (am i bad or wat lol)

[madinked]

kiasimom:

Haiz, that's why I always say maids to me are like men.
When you have them, you find them irritating, but when you don't have them, you miss them

True, true!!

Update on my maid, she asked for advance of $100 (that's equivalent to her 5 months pay since she's still repaying her loan) for the funeral. Should we? We are still insisting on seeing the death certificate first. But the funeral's on 10th. Even if we pay her, it will be on 10th or later. They can have the funeral first then pay? :?

[Andaiz]

peapot:

Andaiz,


You must be feeling very happy now. I know the feeling.But perhaps you may want to consider putting her name up in Tamarind's blog? To help future filiphino employers? Cause maybe she may want to come back to find work. I thought can help others. For me I would be very keen to know the name if is a myanmar one.

Your new maid coming in soon?

peapot dear, I'm more than happy. Was up this morning checking on flight departure confirmation and saw it! I am considering putting her name up in tamarind's blog coz she's keen to return to SG. She hid the last payment (plus our goodwill money) in her shoes...for her return so go figure.

Am popping out soon to get the new maid. Thanks all. Will update you guys when the new one settles in (that includes updates on Tamarind's blog). Have a good weekend all. For me, \"we've only just begun...\"

[kiasimom]

Hi madinked,


As you mentioned, even if you lend her the money, it will be too late.
Also, you do have your reservations about her. I will advise you not to lend her the $$$.

[icycandies]

hi all,

reading all these stories really made me really scare of maids, but I had to hire one because my 2nd baby is coming. Anyway I am a SAHM so hopefully things are better control. It is my very first time hiring a maid.

I had actually select 2 maids and then my friend with me urge me to interview them. I had read Tamarind’s blog on the list of qns that I can ask (Its very useful, thanks Tamarind!). Actually it is a normal procedure to interview maids over the phone? What other things I should look out for?

One of my shortlist is a single mum with a 1 yo boy. Will i be intruding her privacy if I ask why is she a single mum? She seemed pretty good in the video that the agency showed me, so I am taking chances that either she be very responsible becos she is the only one supporting her kid a/o husband… or it might be another extreme…

[peapot]

Hi Icycandies,


My guess is your maid is filipino? Yes it is normal to interview over the phone. Sometimes, there are people over there helping them out with the interview especially if they put on speaker phone over at the other end. I think its normal to ask her why she is single, afterall she will be staying with you. You don’t want any problem like missing home.

I also ask my potential maid whether they have boyfriend. Like what other mummies in the forum mention, we must learn to be "heartless". If you view your relationship with your maid as strictly business, you won’t have such feelings like "paisei" or worry she’s upset etc. Oh ya, list down house rules like what the other mummies do. Get the maid to sign. That’s what I intend to do too.

But don’t worry too much as you are a SAHM. You can still keep an eye on her. Imagine I m a working mum!! There’s no one at home except the maid and the child. I don’t have any in-laws too. They passed away. So, if I can do it so can you. No worries!

[icycandies]

Thanks Peapot! Yes I am hiring a filipino. My agent will be putting a 3 way conference call tomorrow.


I must learn to adjust the view.. my first time and I had been bad at managing people as I am too soft hearted. My hubby wants me to learn how to manage the maid. Trying to learn now.

peapot:

Hi Icycandies,

My guess is your maid is filipino? Yes it is normal to interview over the phone. Sometimes, there are people over there helping them out with the interview especially if they put on speaker phone over at the other end. I think its normal to ask her why she is single, afterall she will be staying with you. You don't want any problem like missing home.

I also ask my potential maid whether they have boyfriend. Like what other mummies in the forum mention, we must learn to be \"heartless\". If you view your relationship with your maid as strictly business, you won't have such feelings like \"paisei\" or worry she's upset etc. Oh ya, list down house rules like what the other mummies do. Get the maid to sign. That's what I intend to do too.

But don't worry too much as you are a SAHM. You can still keep an eye on her. Imagine I m a working mum!! There's no one at home except the maid and the child. I don't have any in-laws too. They passed away. So, if I can do it so can you. No worries!

[The Little Cheng Mommy]

Hi there, just wondering if anyone has employed maid who has boyfriends? Care to share how to handle such situation?


My current maid (married with kids, 1st time in S’pore and been with us for 1 year) has been going out with her Bangladesh boyfriend (who lives in a NEARBY construction site) for the past 8 months on her monthly off day and sometimes even on weekdays when she walks back from my MIL’s house at night. I learnt about this through my mom’s maid.

Initially i refused to believe. But on several occasions (few months back), I could smell the distinctive body odor of the Bangladesh construction worker (no offense) after she came home. I became suspicious. Since she’s always busy sms-ing away at night, I secretly (& guiltily) checked mobile and saw her sms to bf. Just last week, she lied about going out to buy pads after dinner & again, she had the body odor when she came home and carried a big bag of stuff (hmm…did she buy the pads?).

My mom’s maid even told us that my maid is very serious about this relationship and even wants to marry him (!).

My whole family knows about this, but we act blur cos
1. we’re afraid she’ll hurt my son or family when we confront her
2. she’s okay with housework
3. we know her two children need her money for education
4. so far, her relationship has not affected us (it’s her own social life)

I have to admit, it’s really good to have maids to do the housework for us, but the psychological burdens (about stealing, making too many friends and gossiping their employee’s details to other maids (thanks to my maid, I now know so much more details about my next door neighbor than before) , about lying, about bringing boyfriends home etc etc etc) can sometimes be too overwhelming. After her contract ends next September, I’ll rather not employ one anymore. Let the house be less tidy. Let the grease and dust and heaps of unironed clothes pile up.

I’ll rather live peacefully again without too much thoughts.

[kiasimom]

Hi little cheng mummy,


I used to have a married maid who ran away with her boyfriend.

In the first place, I think the maid you had is morally wrong. She is married with kids and she is involved with another man!!!

If I am you, I will replace another maid and I will not allow her to go on off days.

No handphone too.

Just imagine, she might bring her BF home when no one is around. If she is pregnant, you risk losing your bond and if she really cannot take it anymore ( miss her BF too much ), she will just abandon your kid and run away with him.

My ex-maid leave my poor boy outside the house for hours!

My advice is to replace her ASAP.

[pineapple tarts]

The Little Cheng Mommy:

Hi there, just wondering if anyone has employed maid who has boyfriends? Care to share how to handle such situation?


My current maid (married with kids, 1st time in S'pore and been with us for 1 year) has been going out with her Bangladesh boyfriend (who lives in a NEARBY construction site) for the past 8 months on her monthly off day and sometimes even on weekdays when she walks back from my MIL's house at night. I learnt about this through my mom's maid.

Initially i refused to believe. But on several occasions (few months back), I could smell the distinctive body odor of the Bangladesh construction worker (no offense) after she came home. I became suspicious. Since she's always busy sms-ing away at night, I secretly (& guiltily) checked mobile and saw her sms to bf. Just last week, she lied about going out to buy pads after dinner & again, she had the body odor when she came home and carried a big bag of stuff (hmm..did she buy the pads?).

My mom's maid even told us that my maid is very serious about this relationship and even wants to marry him (!).

My whole family knows about this, but we act blur cos
1. we're afraid she'll hurt my son or family when we confront her
2. she's okay with housework
3. we know her two children need her money for education
4. so far, her relationship has not affected us (it's her own social life)

I have to admit, it's really good to have maids to do the housework for us, but the psychological burdens (about stealing, making too many friends and gossiping their employee's details to other maids (thanks to my maid, I now know so much more details about my next door neighbor than before) , about lying, about bringing boyfriends home etc etc etc) can sometimes be too overwhelming. After her contract ends next September, I'll rather not employ one anymore. Let the house be less tidy. Let the grease and dust and heaps of unironed clothes pile up.

I'll rather live peacefully again without too much thoughts.

You are so steady. If my maid does this, I will fire her immediately.