We Almost Sent Jaclyn Away

We almost sent Jaclyn back to the agency yday. Recently, I had been snapping at her frequently. That is bcos she kept disobeying my instructions on even simple things like "bring a pack of tissue with her when we are gg out", "inform us before gg for her shower", etc. And I get super pissed that she does not do these things and my blood boiled when she said that she forgot. -.-" Whenever I told her to do something, she will go "yes, mdm" and when I asked her if she understands me, she will reply "yes". So I seriously couldnt figure out wat went wrong.

Yday, J brought Lil Shauna to school as usual. My SIL had some errands to run and my mum sent Fione to school instead. As a result, she had the chance to go to the Playgroup earlier to look at Lil Shauna. To her horror, she found the school closed upon arrival. Apparently, 3 kids were down with HFMD and school was stopped for cleaning. The teacher said that J turned up with the baby and were told to go home. Mum went home but found the house empty. -____-" J went missing with the baby.

Mum called me and I panicked. I almost wanted to run home to help serach for the baby. J eventually turned up with the baby at home at almost 11am. She said that Lil Shauna wanted to play at the playground and they were playing for the past hour. I couldnt tell if she was telling the truth. I blew and blasted at her. She knew that she cannot bring Lil Shauna downstairs without permission and company and I have seriously warned her the last time she did so.

I told my mum that I was gg to transfer her. I called up the agency and got new CVs. The intention was to return her immediately and get a new maid. We tot of Indo maid who are more tame, easier to control but there will be language barrier. However, the new maid will take 2 to 3 weeks to come and we finally decided to keep J and choose the new maid 1st and returned J when the new maid comes.

My Sis and I went down to the agency last evening and we plow thru the CVs, phone interviewed the Indo maids and found that they really cannot speak English. We will have problem communicating and instructing her. How then to leave the baby in her care? We tot of fresh PHL maid and interviewed one. The scene brings back memory of our 1st time selection. There is no way we can find out if the person whom we talked to will be better than J. I have no peace and we decided to take the CV back and think about it. I wonder if God was telling me to give J another chance. The agency will reserve the maid until 12noon today. Apparently, good maids (subjective) are seeling like hot cakes.

When I was home, my mum pleaded for J for a last chance. She found J good in housework, which we all dun deny. Most importantly, Lil Shauna likes her. If we get a new maid, other than the fact that we cannot gaurantee that the new maid will be good, there will need to be re-training and adjustment. Daddy Lim thinks that we should give a final chance too.

So, we had a long talk with J last night after tucking Lil Shauna to bed. We tried to understand why she was not obeying our instructions and she still maintain that she forgot. We told her our expectations and explain the reason before our instructions. We know that she's bored at home, facing the baby 24/7, but she has to gain my trust before she has more freedom with the baby and she has already broke that trust many times.

We reminded her that I have reached the limit of my patience and this is really the last chance. I am gg to monitor her for a little while more. If she is still not improving, then I guessed I will have to continue to source for CVs and pray for a suitable maid to appear.

Mummy Lim