Lil Shauna vomited in the middle of the night. She threw a tantrum right before she slept and was sobbing so pitiful away, insisting that she wasn't at fault. I am not sure if that was why she vomited or she has gotten Daddy Lim's cough virus. I just hope that it is not a case of stomach flu. She's complaining that her tummy is painful now. Bleeehhhh.
There was a lot of vomit. There was vomit on her hair, the bolster and the bed. If we had a maid, I would have to just usher the kids to our room and continue sleeping, leaving the clean up to the maid. But we don't now and I am both the mother and the maid.
While showering Lil Shauna, Lil Isaac woke up, touched her puke and asked why was the bed wet. Yucks! I had to wake Daddy Lim up to help unwillingly with Lil Isaac. Then the kids were supposed to sleep with Daddy Lim while I cleaned up the mess. But, they didn't sleep.... Only Daddy Lim went back to sleep. -.o"
The mess was horrible in my opinion and I threw away the bloster with its cover and the bedsheet. Wipe way whatever that were splattered and put the other affected bedsheet, pillow cover, etc into the washing machine to wash and changed new bedsheet.Lil Isaac then started following me around the house while I carried on the errands. None of the kids slept. Popo woke up after hearing Lil Isaac talking non-stop and helped with the remaining errands.
We finally settled down back into the room on clean bedsheet after much struggling and the kids are still awake after the one over hour saga. Lil Isaac is talking and singing and monkeying while jiejie complaining that she can't sleep bcos her tummy is not feeling comfy.
She finally took my offer to put ruyi oil on her tummy. Just when I was applying, she vomited again!!! I don't know if it is considered as good fortune but there was only water this time. I supposed her system is cleared out and I asked Popo to help immediately. The damage and mess is much lesser. We shifted whatever that were stained to the living room to be handled tomorrow morning. New bedsheet again and trying again for the nth time to tuck the kids in.
It is almost 5am and Lil Isaac finally falls asleep. Jiejie is still tossing around. Poor girl. Is this a case of food poisoning? She had some Hokkaido cuttlefish that we bought this morning and it actually tasted sour. Now, I am wondering if it is spoilt or the flavoring. We all had some but her body is so much as smaller that ours. She just complained that she wanted to vomit again but didn't when I brought her to the toilet. I have standby plastic bag in the room. This is going to be a long night.
Mummy Lim
Showing posts with label Helper. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Helper. Show all posts
Sunday, March 3, 2013
Thursday, February 28, 2013
Auntie-less
It has been more than 2 weeks that we went without auntie and we are all adapting and surviving well. To begin with, I do not feel much of the impact. The kids choose to stick to us during weekends. On weekdays, the kids are already our responsibility in the night. Auntie is barely in the picture. Popo and Daddy Lim are also helping alot with the kids.
The kids took things well too. Other than the occasional exclamation by Lil Isaac that auntie has gone home in the initial days, nobody looked or asked for her subsequently. The kids are learning to be more independent too. They are asked and are helping to put back toys after play, putting their shoes into the cabinet, taking whatever that they want, etc. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesnt. When Lil Shauna is in her good mood, she even helped to look after Lil Isaac.
Popo probably felt the most impact. She now has to look after the kids before and after their school on her own and also handle the housework. She claimed that she's doing fine. I am supposed to look for a part time helper to come tackle the heavy weight housework like toilet washing. Popo didn't appear quite welcoming the idea and refused to tell me when the helper should come. I am lazy and don't want to do housework. Moreover, Popo's SOP for housework is too thick and I cannot be bothered to study the SOP.
Right after auntie left, I also got an opportunity to handle both kids on my own for an hour before school. Yes, I am a lousy mummy. Lil Isaac is almost 3 and i have never been with them on my own!
The kids were really cooperative and they weren't as tough to handle as I thought it would be. Lil isaac was crying though, not wanting to take the school bus to school but I shoved the crying boy up the bus. Lol.
Two Sundays ago, Lil Shauna also helped Daddy Lim vacuumed the car and earned herself $5. She had asked for $100 originally. Lol.
In conclusion, we are doing well. If for whatever reason and Popo can't handle, the kids are going to the ChildCare. But I guess we will be fine, we still look fine. Lol.
Mummy Lim
The kids took things well too. Other than the occasional exclamation by Lil Isaac that auntie has gone home in the initial days, nobody looked or asked for her subsequently. The kids are learning to be more independent too. They are asked and are helping to put back toys after play, putting their shoes into the cabinet, taking whatever that they want, etc. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesnt. When Lil Shauna is in her good mood, she even helped to look after Lil Isaac.
Popo probably felt the most impact. She now has to look after the kids before and after their school on her own and also handle the housework. She claimed that she's doing fine. I am supposed to look for a part time helper to come tackle the heavy weight housework like toilet washing. Popo didn't appear quite welcoming the idea and refused to tell me when the helper should come. I am lazy and don't want to do housework. Moreover, Popo's SOP for housework is too thick and I cannot be bothered to study the SOP.
Right after auntie left, I also got an opportunity to handle both kids on my own for an hour before school. Yes, I am a lousy mummy. Lil Isaac is almost 3 and i have never been with them on my own!
The kids were really cooperative and they weren't as tough to handle as I thought it would be. Lil isaac was crying though, not wanting to take the school bus to school but I shoved the crying boy up the bus. Lol.
Two Sundays ago, Lil Shauna also helped Daddy Lim vacuumed the car and earned herself $5. She had asked for $100 originally. Lol.
In conclusion, we are doing well. If for whatever reason and Popo can't handle, the kids are going to the ChildCare. But I guess we will be fine, we still look fine. Lol.
Mummy Lim
Sunday, February 17, 2013
Sending Auntie Off
We sent auntie back yday. It was very emotional. Lil Shauna was in her Chinese class. I came home from work to Popo, auntie and Lil Isaac. Auntie had her bags packed. I spoke briefly with her, telling her that it will be good for all of us. It isn't healthy for Popo to keep losing her temper. It is not for her too to keep getting scolded. She seems to want to ask for another chance to stay on but that wasn't an option.
Daddy Lim was still working and we had to take the mrt to the agency at JE. I felt bad towards her and spent most of the journey with my back facing her.
At the door of the agency, auntie said goodbye to Lil Isaac and asked for permission to kiss him. She did and Popo brought him away. Lil Isaac didn't quite know what went on. I settled all the administration work. I thanked auntie for helping to look after the kids and apologized that we had to end the contract. I was holding back my tears. She isn't that bad and she had afterall spent 10 months sleeping, eating and living with us.
My brother sent Lil Shauna to us after her Chinese class. She arrived shortly after I sent auntie back. I felt bad that they didn't get to say goodbye and brought Lil Shauna to the agency to bid farewell to auntie.
Auntie rushed out of the agency when she saw Lil Shauna at the door. She hugged and kissed repeatedly and started tearing. Lil Shauna was a little taken aback at her outflow of emotions. I started tearing too. The scene was too emotional. I had to tell auntie that she's scaring Lil Shauna and she slowly let go. We thanked each other again and went off.
The day went fine. We went to Auntie J's house and then to Auntie D's mummy's place. Popo was with us and helped to look after the kids. Lil Isaac did look for auntie. Lil Shauna knows well that auntie has left but thought that we will be getting a new auntie just like that past 3 years.
I have been reminding the kids that we have no more auntie and they have to help mummy. I am trying to remember to put things back to their places too. Having a maid had indeed made me lazy. Popo has been a great help wrt the housework and looking after the kids. This morning, she looked after Lil Isaac while I do homework with Lil Shauna. We will adapt and survive. No more maids.
Mummy Lim
Daddy Lim was still working and we had to take the mrt to the agency at JE. I felt bad towards her and spent most of the journey with my back facing her.
At the door of the agency, auntie said goodbye to Lil Isaac and asked for permission to kiss him. She did and Popo brought him away. Lil Isaac didn't quite know what went on. I settled all the administration work. I thanked auntie for helping to look after the kids and apologized that we had to end the contract. I was holding back my tears. She isn't that bad and she had afterall spent 10 months sleeping, eating and living with us.
My brother sent Lil Shauna to us after her Chinese class. She arrived shortly after I sent auntie back. I felt bad that they didn't get to say goodbye and brought Lil Shauna to the agency to bid farewell to auntie.
Auntie rushed out of the agency when she saw Lil Shauna at the door. She hugged and kissed repeatedly and started tearing. Lil Shauna was a little taken aback at her outflow of emotions. I started tearing too. The scene was too emotional. I had to tell auntie that she's scaring Lil Shauna and she slowly let go. We thanked each other again and went off.
The day went fine. We went to Auntie J's house and then to Auntie D's mummy's place. Popo was with us and helped to look after the kids. Lil Isaac did look for auntie. Lil Shauna knows well that auntie has left but thought that we will be getting a new auntie just like that past 3 years.
I have been reminding the kids that we have no more auntie and they have to help mummy. I am trying to remember to put things back to their places too. Having a maid had indeed made me lazy. Popo has been a great help wrt the housework and looking after the kids. This morning, she looked after Lil Isaac while I do homework with Lil Shauna. We will adapt and survive. No more maids.
Mummy Lim
Saturday, February 16, 2013
Really Going Maidless
I am going maidless really soon, like today.
We have been toying with the idea for a while. The kids are older and away in school for almost 5 hours a day. Popo said that she can manage them without help. Ever since we explored the idea, Popo seems to lose her patience more and more with auntie. Every little thing that auntie does that is not according to the SOP, Popo flares and goes into her non-stop nagging, scolding mode. I pity auntie. Then again, auntie seems to have slackened as well, putting herself constantly in situations to warrant Popo’s scolding. The whole situation is just not healthy and I hate to be stuck in between them. I hate it when I am made to confront auntie in front of Popo. HATE it, HATE it, HATE it.
Recently, there just seems to be so many incidents that trigger Popo’s wrath. The auntie-threatens-by-packing-bag incidents, the auntie-is-stubborn-and-disobeyed incidents, the auntie-is-trying-to-siam incidents. The most recent ones took place during CNY when Popo claimed that auntie went around shaking all my relatives’ hands when we stepped foot into my maternal grandma’s house, way before we did, even with people whom we do not know (my maternal grandma’s friends and relatives). Popo insisted that it was bcos auntie was after their ang baos. Popo said that auntie is shameless and disgraces our family. I didn’t see any of those as I was busy minding my kids. Popo was so pissed that she couldn’t stop scolding auntie after we left. That night, after she returned from RWS past midnight, she woke auntie up and continued scolding. It was that bad. It was then decided that we will send auntie back to the agency this coming Friday, when she has completed her 10th month with us. I was still waiting to see if Popo would change her mind during this time. Popo is very concerned about how much ang bao $$ auntie received, something that I cannot understand. What is the big deal if people give her ang baos? So what if people want to give her big ang baos?
Unfortunately, I don’t know what happened again yday. It was 10ish in the night and Popo insisted that I confront auntie. I don’t quite understand what happened or what Popo was trying to tell me about what happened but I HATE such CONFRONTATIONS! I do not understand why I still need to do such confrontations when auntie is already going off. So I walked away and told Popo that we will send her back to the agency today. There is NO need for the confrontation.
I am sending auntie back this afternoon. I actually feel bad towards her. She wanted to continue working (for another family) and asked to be sent back to the agency instead of going back to Indonesia. The agency will likely slap her with additional loan as a penalty. She has just finished paying off the 1st one with me. I didn’t have time and don’t want the hassle to find her another family (on my own) to transfer her. I think the kids will miss her too. I tried to hint Lil Shauna about auntie going back and Lil Shauna actually mentioned that she would like auntie to stay so that there is somebody to play with her. T.T But I supposed kids are very adaptable. Lil Shauna will be in her Chinese enrichment class when I send auntie away. She wouldn’t have the chance to say good bye to her. So sad.
I don’t know how I am feeling. It has been more than 3 years since we hired a live-in maid. Auntie is our 6th maid with some staying as short as 1 day. Life will be very different. I can no longer afford to be lazy and have to run after the kids. The thought of it isn’t very comforting. Then again, I have times that I do feel that auntie is infringing into our lives and have been looking forward to the time that I can be maidless. I hope the kids wouldn’t kill me. Lol. We will be engaging a part-time helper to come on a weekly basis to help Popo with the big items cleaning. We will survive somehow. It is unlikely that we will get another maid for a long time to come. If Popo cannot handle the kids, they will be heading to the ChildCare.
Mummy Lim
We have been toying with the idea for a while. The kids are older and away in school for almost 5 hours a day. Popo said that she can manage them without help. Ever since we explored the idea, Popo seems to lose her patience more and more with auntie. Every little thing that auntie does that is not according to the SOP, Popo flares and goes into her non-stop nagging, scolding mode. I pity auntie. Then again, auntie seems to have slackened as well, putting herself constantly in situations to warrant Popo’s scolding. The whole situation is just not healthy and I hate to be stuck in between them. I hate it when I am made to confront auntie in front of Popo. HATE it, HATE it, HATE it.
Recently, there just seems to be so many incidents that trigger Popo’s wrath. The auntie-threatens-by-packing-bag incidents, the auntie-is-stubborn-and-disobeyed incidents, the auntie-is-trying-to-siam incidents. The most recent ones took place during CNY when Popo claimed that auntie went around shaking all my relatives’ hands when we stepped foot into my maternal grandma’s house, way before we did, even with people whom we do not know (my maternal grandma’s friends and relatives). Popo insisted that it was bcos auntie was after their ang baos. Popo said that auntie is shameless and disgraces our family. I didn’t see any of those as I was busy minding my kids. Popo was so pissed that she couldn’t stop scolding auntie after we left. That night, after she returned from RWS past midnight, she woke auntie up and continued scolding. It was that bad. It was then decided that we will send auntie back to the agency this coming Friday, when she has completed her 10th month with us. I was still waiting to see if Popo would change her mind during this time. Popo is very concerned about how much ang bao $$ auntie received, something that I cannot understand. What is the big deal if people give her ang baos? So what if people want to give her big ang baos?
Unfortunately, I don’t know what happened again yday. It was 10ish in the night and Popo insisted that I confront auntie. I don’t quite understand what happened or what Popo was trying to tell me about what happened but I HATE such CONFRONTATIONS! I do not understand why I still need to do such confrontations when auntie is already going off. So I walked away and told Popo that we will send her back to the agency today. There is NO need for the confrontation.
I am sending auntie back this afternoon. I actually feel bad towards her. She wanted to continue working (for another family) and asked to be sent back to the agency instead of going back to Indonesia. The agency will likely slap her with additional loan as a penalty. She has just finished paying off the 1st one with me. I didn’t have time and don’t want the hassle to find her another family (on my own) to transfer her. I think the kids will miss her too. I tried to hint Lil Shauna about auntie going back and Lil Shauna actually mentioned that she would like auntie to stay so that there is somebody to play with her. T.T But I supposed kids are very adaptable. Lil Shauna will be in her Chinese enrichment class when I send auntie away. She wouldn’t have the chance to say good bye to her. So sad.
I don’t know how I am feeling. It has been more than 3 years since we hired a live-in maid. Auntie is our 6th maid with some staying as short as 1 day. Life will be very different. I can no longer afford to be lazy and have to run after the kids. The thought of it isn’t very comforting. Then again, I have times that I do feel that auntie is infringing into our lives and have been looking forward to the time that I can be maidless. I hope the kids wouldn’t kill me. Lol. We will be engaging a part-time helper to come on a weekly basis to help Popo with the big items cleaning. We will survive somehow. It is unlikely that we will get another maid for a long time to come. If Popo cannot handle the kids, they will be heading to the ChildCare.
Mummy Lim
Tuesday, February 5, 2013
Almost Maidless
*Post written last Friday
We almost ended up with no maid on Thursday. It was quite a drama.
When we fetched the kids from Centris on Thursday, Popo complained that auntie threatened to leave for the agency by packing her bags in the morning and this is apparently the 2nd time that it had happened. Popo didn’t tell me on the first occasion. She also didn’t share what happened to lead to auntie wanting to pack her bag. Well, I didn’t bother to ask too. I think I can roughly guess. I have also learnt to understand that whatever comes out from Popo’s mouth must be taken with a huge pinch of salt, so no point finding out. Popo got my SIL to ask auntie if she is genuinely about quitting and auntie said “no”. There was no reason given as to why she threatened by packing her bag too. Popo wanted me to warn auntie, which I did. However, I also did my homework first. I double confirmed with Popo that she can handle the kids without the maid. Just in case, the maid really does want to quit and left.
When we were home, I told auntie sternly that she isn’t doing as much now that the 2 kids are in school for 5 hours a day. I pointed out that Popo helped a lot with the housework and the kids are solely under Daddy Lim and my care after we reached home. Basically, I told her as a matter of fact that we are not as dependent on her now and even without a maid, we will still survive very well. I reminded her that she is without a loan now and if she really wants to quit, I can send her back to the agency anytime. She is not to threaten. If she does it one more time, we will send her back even if she is not genuine about quitting. Period.
Popo was beside me all these time while I was lecturing auntie. I hate it when this happens and she will make me repeat (read: nag) myself to auntie despite the fact that I have already said what I needed to. I cant do it without Popo too, who will then suspect that I did not lecture auntie as instructed by her. Popo just wants to have the upper hand. She wants auntie to realize how important she is. However, with her limited English, she often misinterprets what I told auntie. This was exactly what happened on Thursday and she blew. It was then her turn to threaten auntie that we will be sending her back the next day. I hate to be caught in between the 2 of them. I couldn’t be bothered. I could tell Popo wasn’t genuine about sending the maid back.
So, I played my tricks as well. I brought the kids back to the room for shower and simply told Popo that I will send the maid back, but on Saturday, I am not free on Friday. I played the same game and assumed that the maid will go back to the agent on Saturday whenever I got out of the room and saw Popo. This was until Popo made auntie come later in the night to apologize to me and tell me that she wants to stay on. I reminded auntie to ignore Popo’s scolding – just listen, don’t retaliate and the importance of making Popo happy. Thereafter, Popo came to me and told me that auntie asked her for another chance. I acknowledge with a straight face and went ahead to tuck the kids to bed.
It is very tiring to have to play “games” at home after a hard day at work. I think I better be prepared. It will be a matter of time that auntie is serious about quitting, especially when the stash in her pocket gets thick enough. Popo too. One day, when auntie angers her too much, auntie will really have to go. I think we will survive without a maid. I told Daddy Lim that we will not get another maid if auntie leaves. If Popo cannot handle, the kids are going to the childcare.
Mummy Lim
We almost ended up with no maid on Thursday. It was quite a drama.
When we fetched the kids from Centris on Thursday, Popo complained that auntie threatened to leave for the agency by packing her bags in the morning and this is apparently the 2nd time that it had happened. Popo didn’t tell me on the first occasion. She also didn’t share what happened to lead to auntie wanting to pack her bag. Well, I didn’t bother to ask too. I think I can roughly guess. I have also learnt to understand that whatever comes out from Popo’s mouth must be taken with a huge pinch of salt, so no point finding out. Popo got my SIL to ask auntie if she is genuinely about quitting and auntie said “no”. There was no reason given as to why she threatened by packing her bag too. Popo wanted me to warn auntie, which I did. However, I also did my homework first. I double confirmed with Popo that she can handle the kids without the maid. Just in case, the maid really does want to quit and left.
When we were home, I told auntie sternly that she isn’t doing as much now that the 2 kids are in school for 5 hours a day. I pointed out that Popo helped a lot with the housework and the kids are solely under Daddy Lim and my care after we reached home. Basically, I told her as a matter of fact that we are not as dependent on her now and even without a maid, we will still survive very well. I reminded her that she is without a loan now and if she really wants to quit, I can send her back to the agency anytime. She is not to threaten. If she does it one more time, we will send her back even if she is not genuine about quitting. Period.
Popo was beside me all these time while I was lecturing auntie. I hate it when this happens and she will make me repeat (read: nag) myself to auntie despite the fact that I have already said what I needed to. I cant do it without Popo too, who will then suspect that I did not lecture auntie as instructed by her. Popo just wants to have the upper hand. She wants auntie to realize how important she is. However, with her limited English, she often misinterprets what I told auntie. This was exactly what happened on Thursday and she blew. It was then her turn to threaten auntie that we will be sending her back the next day. I hate to be caught in between the 2 of them. I couldn’t be bothered. I could tell Popo wasn’t genuine about sending the maid back.
So, I played my tricks as well. I brought the kids back to the room for shower and simply told Popo that I will send the maid back, but on Saturday, I am not free on Friday. I played the same game and assumed that the maid will go back to the agent on Saturday whenever I got out of the room and saw Popo. This was until Popo made auntie come later in the night to apologize to me and tell me that she wants to stay on. I reminded auntie to ignore Popo’s scolding – just listen, don’t retaliate and the importance of making Popo happy. Thereafter, Popo came to me and told me that auntie asked her for another chance. I acknowledge with a straight face and went ahead to tuck the kids to bed.
It is very tiring to have to play “games” at home after a hard day at work. I think I better be prepared. It will be a matter of time that auntie is serious about quitting, especially when the stash in her pocket gets thick enough. Popo too. One day, when auntie angers her too much, auntie will really have to go. I think we will survive without a maid. I told Daddy Lim that we will not get another maid if auntie leaves. If Popo cannot handle, the kids are going to the childcare.
Mummy Lim
Sunday, January 27, 2013
Will it be Soon?
Sometimes, I really think that Popo hates our maid - the scolding and the sneer remarks. I have told her on several occasions that I wont be surprised if auntie really sues Popo for verbal abuse. I feel bad for auntie on many occasions when Popo is in one of those difficult moods but I veer clear. I don’t want to be caught in between. I take my hat off auntie. I think I would have thrown the letter long ago or go crazy if my boss treats me the way that Popo treats auntie. Poor auntie.
Interestingly, auntie perseveres on. She has been with us for 10 months, since March 2012. Two days ago, she received her first full salary of $470 after paying off her loan. You can see the joy in her eyes when she took her pay but it sets off the injustice that Popo thinks she is suffering. You see, including levy, lodging, food, transport and miscellaneous, we easily spent more than $1k per month on the month. Out of which, $470 is cash that goes into her pocket. Popo thinks that auntie is useless, or at least of little help, way below her beyond sky expectations that she sets for all the maids that live-in with her. She thinks that my brother’s maid, who has the intention to return home in June, is way superior to auntie. She is probably right. My brother is really lucky to find such a good maid but I also think that it is bcos their maid does not live in with her.
Thus, she thinks that it is not worth paying $470 to our maid. More importantly, she thinks that she’s worse off than the maid, hinting that I gave her too little money for all the housework that she has done for me and also looking after my kids as compared to what I am paying the maid. I rolled eyes and tell her as a matter-of-fact that she can sack the maid anytime if she thinks that she can handle the kids. Yes, I am ungrateful. But I do not print $$ and my pocket is only that deep. The maid is an employee, she works for $$ and I have to pay her according to contract. Popo is family. Not that I am taking her for granted but if she expects market-rate “compensation”, then maybe the kids should go to Childcare centers instead. This is just like how full-time mummies do not get “pay” in comparison to maids and working mummies who take on the other mummy role after working hours, dual role but only 1 salary. So theoretically, mummies are worse off than maids too. I know that she is just ranting and she has the right too. I am just too sensitive and I need to rant too.
We have toyed with the idea of going maidless. In fact, I have been thinking about it since Auntie MaAnn left, our very last PHL maid, who gave us less problem largely bcos Popo just starting living in with us then. Now that the kids are older and are out of the house and in school for almost 5 hours a day, it appears that the thought is feasible. They are also sleeping later, so that we have more time to spend with them at night and thus waking up later. They used to wake up at 7ish but may now even sleep until 9am. In Popo’s Book of Routines, the kids are solely our responsibility from the time they reached home until the time they sleep. So, the really difficult part will really be in the morning when Popo has to prepare bfast, feed them and pack them off to school. It will be tough if someone decides to be difficult.
After they are off to school, Popo will have 4+ hrs to do whatever that she wants, be it housework or R&R. My intention is to get a part-time helper to come in once a week for the major housework like cleaning the toilet, mopping and sweeping. In fact, we used to do that when I was preggy with Lil Shauna, not cleaning the house (except for laundry and dishes) until the cleaning auntie comes in once every 2 weeks. It is definitely less thorough and clean than having a live-in maid. The cleaning auntie would only do the “surface” cleaning. I think we can live with a little bit of dirt. My guess is that Popo would still want to do her routine every day with or without maid/ cleaning auntie. I rest my case. She can take those 5 hours to do whatever that she wants so long as she doesn’t bother me or complain how tiring it is bcos I didn’t ask her to do them.
It will be a little tough during the weekends, especially when Daddy Lim have to work on almost every weekend and PH and even work late sometimes. I have not tried handling both kids on my own before. But as the kids grow older, things will be easier, right? So, it is all possible. We are not as dependent on the maid as we used too. The Korea trip proved it all. In fact, I sometime feel that auntie is infringing into our privacy.
The main reason on why we are still having a maid is the desire to still be lazy and have the maid chases after the kids while we still can. More importantly, it sounded somehow inhumane if we sack her now. I had made it very clear to Popo that we will not get another replacement maid when auntie finishes her contract or if she decides to leave midway. There may be a high chance that she is tempted to do so when my brother’s maid leaves in June, especially when she is starting to get a little more $$ in her pocket. Or maybe just one day when she finally cannot tolerates Popo anymore. I do look forward to the day that we go maidless. It is painful to be struck between them. Hmmm, so long as the kids don’t drive me crazy. Oh, the school holiday when all hell breaks loose. Let’s deal with that when it is here. Lol.
Mummy Lim
Interestingly, auntie perseveres on. She has been with us for 10 months, since March 2012. Two days ago, she received her first full salary of $470 after paying off her loan. You can see the joy in her eyes when she took her pay but it sets off the injustice that Popo thinks she is suffering. You see, including levy, lodging, food, transport and miscellaneous, we easily spent more than $1k per month on the month. Out of which, $470 is cash that goes into her pocket. Popo thinks that auntie is useless, or at least of little help, way below her beyond sky expectations that she sets for all the maids that live-in with her. She thinks that my brother’s maid, who has the intention to return home in June, is way superior to auntie. She is probably right. My brother is really lucky to find such a good maid but I also think that it is bcos their maid does not live in with her.
Thus, she thinks that it is not worth paying $470 to our maid. More importantly, she thinks that she’s worse off than the maid, hinting that I gave her too little money for all the housework that she has done for me and also looking after my kids as compared to what I am paying the maid. I rolled eyes and tell her as a matter-of-fact that she can sack the maid anytime if she thinks that she can handle the kids. Yes, I am ungrateful. But I do not print $$ and my pocket is only that deep. The maid is an employee, she works for $$ and I have to pay her according to contract. Popo is family. Not that I am taking her for granted but if she expects market-rate “compensation”, then maybe the kids should go to Childcare centers instead. This is just like how full-time mummies do not get “pay” in comparison to maids and working mummies who take on the other mummy role after working hours, dual role but only 1 salary. So theoretically, mummies are worse off than maids too. I know that she is just ranting and she has the right too. I am just too sensitive and I need to rant too.
We have toyed with the idea of going maidless. In fact, I have been thinking about it since Auntie MaAnn left, our very last PHL maid, who gave us less problem largely bcos Popo just starting living in with us then. Now that the kids are older and are out of the house and in school for almost 5 hours a day, it appears that the thought is feasible. They are also sleeping later, so that we have more time to spend with them at night and thus waking up later. They used to wake up at 7ish but may now even sleep until 9am. In Popo’s Book of Routines, the kids are solely our responsibility from the time they reached home until the time they sleep. So, the really difficult part will really be in the morning when Popo has to prepare bfast, feed them and pack them off to school. It will be tough if someone decides to be difficult.
After they are off to school, Popo will have 4+ hrs to do whatever that she wants, be it housework or R&R. My intention is to get a part-time helper to come in once a week for the major housework like cleaning the toilet, mopping and sweeping. In fact, we used to do that when I was preggy with Lil Shauna, not cleaning the house (except for laundry and dishes) until the cleaning auntie comes in once every 2 weeks. It is definitely less thorough and clean than having a live-in maid. The cleaning auntie would only do the “surface” cleaning. I think we can live with a little bit of dirt. My guess is that Popo would still want to do her routine every day with or without maid/ cleaning auntie. I rest my case. She can take those 5 hours to do whatever that she wants so long as she doesn’t bother me or complain how tiring it is bcos I didn’t ask her to do them.
It will be a little tough during the weekends, especially when Daddy Lim have to work on almost every weekend and PH and even work late sometimes. I have not tried handling both kids on my own before. But as the kids grow older, things will be easier, right? So, it is all possible. We are not as dependent on the maid as we used too. The Korea trip proved it all. In fact, I sometime feel that auntie is infringing into our privacy.
The main reason on why we are still having a maid is the desire to still be lazy and have the maid chases after the kids while we still can. More importantly, it sounded somehow inhumane if we sack her now. I had made it very clear to Popo that we will not get another replacement maid when auntie finishes her contract or if she decides to leave midway. There may be a high chance that she is tempted to do so when my brother’s maid leaves in June, especially when she is starting to get a little more $$ in her pocket. Or maybe just one day when she finally cannot tolerates Popo anymore. I do look forward to the day that we go maidless. It is painful to be struck between them. Hmmm, so long as the kids don’t drive me crazy. Oh, the school holiday when all hell breaks loose. Let’s deal with that when it is here. Lol.
Mummy Lim
Thursday, August 23, 2012
The Maid
Today is the 5th month that the maid is with us. Since she has survived this long, I supposed she has stablised, or so I hope. Sometimes, I really pity auntie. She has to take conflicting instructions from popo and me. Popo still insists that she didnt scold the maid but she sounded like she's ill-treating the maid even when she is giving simple instructions. So u can imagine how bad it is when she's angry.
I do not condone popo's doing but I tried not to interfere to avoid conflict with popo. Seriously, auntie doesn't deserved to be treated this way for that mere hundreds that she is receiving. Sadly, popo doesnt agree and treats auntie as if she has sold her life to us. I have told popo countless times but the message definitely didn't get across.
I hate it when she has to repeat what I said to auntie again but in her very sarcastic way. Does the maid understand popo's English better than mine? Why can't she just talk properly to the maid? I am not even asking her to talk nicely, just properly. Didn't she realise that the maids left largely bcos of her?
Popo is at cold war with me now. She insisted that I belittled her in front of auntie. Thus, auntie is not respecting her. Errr.. at the way that she "talks" to the maid, the maid dares to disrespect her? I couldn't be bother and if popo doesnt want to talk to me, so be it.
I already promised myself. If the maid quits, the kids are going to the childcare. Period. I look forward to the day that I will be maidless, then I can avoid handling popo and the maid issues after a long day at work.
Arggghhhhh.. Why do I have so many issues with my own mum? I am always telling Daddy Lim to remind me to meddle less in the kids' business when I grow old. And we must definitely keep our own place.
Mummy Lim
I do not condone popo's doing but I tried not to interfere to avoid conflict with popo. Seriously, auntie doesn't deserved to be treated this way for that mere hundreds that she is receiving. Sadly, popo doesnt agree and treats auntie as if she has sold her life to us. I have told popo countless times but the message definitely didn't get across.
I hate it when she has to repeat what I said to auntie again but in her very sarcastic way. Does the maid understand popo's English better than mine? Why can't she just talk properly to the maid? I am not even asking her to talk nicely, just properly. Didn't she realise that the maids left largely bcos of her?
Popo is at cold war with me now. She insisted that I belittled her in front of auntie. Thus, auntie is not respecting her. Errr.. at the way that she "talks" to the maid, the maid dares to disrespect her? I couldn't be bother and if popo doesnt want to talk to me, so be it.
I already promised myself. If the maid quits, the kids are going to the childcare. Period. I look forward to the day that I will be maidless, then I can avoid handling popo and the maid issues after a long day at work.
Arggghhhhh.. Why do I have so many issues with my own mum? I am always telling Daddy Lim to remind me to meddle less in the kids' business when I grow old. And we must definitely keep our own place.
Mummy Lim
Monday, June 18, 2012
Auntie
It is coming to the 3rd month and Auntie is still with us... at least for now. I don't really have much of a problem with her, largely bcos I do not spend a lot of time with her. I chose not to interfere in how Popo disciplines her. It is painful getting caught in the middle and I don't want Popo to think that I am taking Auntie's side when Popo is clearly acting funny.
Auntie is definitely not fantastic. I think Auntie MA is much better. However, after so many maids, I have learnt how to close both eyes. I realized that my expectations ate already much lower and I chose to do many things myself. In fact, I don't trust Auntie many times. Well, better be safe than sorry.
If I were to find fault, I can find plenty. Lil Isaac fell plenty in her care. I know it is not her fault at times. He is fine and so I let go. She takes forever in the toilet. I can never fathom why she needs to be in there for so long, even when she isn't taking a bath. She takes forever to eat too. The rule goes: "take turn". Many times, Popo helped with Lil Isaac and I helped Lil Shauna while I eat at the same time. Auntie gets to slowly enjoy her meal and takes forever. I may even finished earlier than her despite feeding Lil Shauna and myself. She seem not to realise that we have not eaten. She just takes forever.
She is stubborn too, insisting to do things her way sometimes. She is like a kid herself and gets distracted easily, often forgetting that she is supposed to look after the kids. She always ended up working on the art and craft when she was actually supposed to help the kids. She tried to help on things that we do not need help and doesnt when we need, like how she would use her hand to check on Lil Isaac after we confirmed with a thermometer, yet not helping to prepare the medicine. Haiz. These are just the tip of the iceberg.
Auntie has threatened to leave once. On another occasion, Popo and my sil went out on their own with the kids and 2 maids. Apparently, she got reprimanded or something. She threw a tantrum! She hid in one corner and refused to come out. My bro's maid had to coax her to come out. I did warn her that time. I would have flared if she has done that in my presence.
A lot of times, I think it is really miscommunication breakdown between Popo and her. Popo is definitely not patient with her and her tone towards her is scarily fierce when she insists that she is not scolding Auntie. I somehow think that it is a time bomb.
This will be our last maid for awhile. If she quits, the kids will both go to the childcare. I already promised myself that. She better don't step on my toe or irk me. Don't accelerate your own departure pls. Lol.
Mummy Lim
Auntie is definitely not fantastic. I think Auntie MA is much better. However, after so many maids, I have learnt how to close both eyes. I realized that my expectations ate already much lower and I chose to do many things myself. In fact, I don't trust Auntie many times. Well, better be safe than sorry.
If I were to find fault, I can find plenty. Lil Isaac fell plenty in her care. I know it is not her fault at times. He is fine and so I let go. She takes forever in the toilet. I can never fathom why she needs to be in there for so long, even when she isn't taking a bath. She takes forever to eat too. The rule goes: "take turn". Many times, Popo helped with Lil Isaac and I helped Lil Shauna while I eat at the same time. Auntie gets to slowly enjoy her meal and takes forever. I may even finished earlier than her despite feeding Lil Shauna and myself. She seem not to realise that we have not eaten. She just takes forever.
She is stubborn too, insisting to do things her way sometimes. She is like a kid herself and gets distracted easily, often forgetting that she is supposed to look after the kids. She always ended up working on the art and craft when she was actually supposed to help the kids. She tried to help on things that we do not need help and doesnt when we need, like how she would use her hand to check on Lil Isaac after we confirmed with a thermometer, yet not helping to prepare the medicine. Haiz. These are just the tip of the iceberg.
Auntie has threatened to leave once. On another occasion, Popo and my sil went out on their own with the kids and 2 maids. Apparently, she got reprimanded or something. She threw a tantrum! She hid in one corner and refused to come out. My bro's maid had to coax her to come out. I did warn her that time. I would have flared if she has done that in my presence.
A lot of times, I think it is really miscommunication breakdown between Popo and her. Popo is definitely not patient with her and her tone towards her is scarily fierce when she insists that she is not scolding Auntie. I somehow think that it is a time bomb.
This will be our last maid for awhile. If she quits, the kids will both go to the childcare. I already promised myself that. She better don't step on my toe or irk me. Don't accelerate your own departure pls. Lol.
Mummy Lim
Tuesday, May 8, 2012
Again?
Ka-bomb! My SIL wats’app me last night that Auntie LK mentioned to their maid about wanting to go back (where?). It may be a mere complaint but she thought that I should know. My heart dropped. I was just doing cartwheels and celebrating LK’s one month stay with us. I had thought that things are starting to stabilize. I must be dreaming.
I had intended to talk to LK about it and heard my mum nagging at her at 10pm while LK was going about with the housework. I told my mum about the wats’app, intending for her to stop. Popo still cannot let go, observing her 101 rules like some sacred rituals. Seriously, I don’t see how a little dirt can kill and why we have to wipe with dry and wet and then again dry paper just to get rid of some crumbs. This is just one of the many quirks. How not environmental friendly, which Popo of course does not care.
Of course all fingers were pointed towards how naughty the kids are, how they bullied LK and that must be why she wants to leave. She goes on to insist that it cannot be her, how she doesn’t scold LK or already cut down on the routines. I must be quite blind bcos I do not see any difference. She even went to the extent of relating to me how Lil Shauna yelled at Auntie this morning bcos Auntie didn’t tie her hair the way she wanted and asking Lil Shauna to acknowledge that such an incident took place. She went on to call my SIL to confront and the usual – try to sell her side of the story.
Well, we all know that there is more to it. It can’t be an one-off incident. I asked my SIL if she knows the reason and apparently, the complaint usually comes after Popo’s incessant nagging/ scolding. Bingo! Do I get a prize for guessing correctly? Blehhhhh….
Popo still doesn’t get it. She insists that she didn’t scold LK but many times, the way she speaks to LK is as good as scolding. And her body language! The black face. I think that is more potent than the actual scolding. Then, we have to add on the nagging! I cannot comprehend why she has to say the same thing 3 times or more. Imagine that with a “not scolding but equally harsh” tone. I know too that the maid gets blame for things that are not within her control, like how very long it takes to feed Lil Shauna bcos she was trying to be a hamster and insisting to keep the food in her mouth and not swallowing.
Poor maid, poor me. I hate getting stuck in between. I hate it when she accuses me of standing on the maid’s side. I have figured that it doesn’t make sense to give conflicting instructions to the maid and learnt to let Popo handles the maid. I have learnt that there is no point hurting family ties bcos maid can change but not family. BUT.. I have made it clear that LK is the last maid for the time being. If LK quits, the 2 kids will go to full-time CC and we will get a part time helper to do major weekly cleaning. We will get a iRobot too to do daily sweeping. Popo can figure out what she wants to do during the day when the kids are in the CC.
Haiz, conflicts do not just happened with MIL. It happens so long as there is more than one lady in the house. Popo has forgotten that I am 33 years old and a mother of 2 myself. She forgot that I am the lady in the house. Luckily I do not cook and need not fight with her over the kitchen. To her, I will always be her daughter. I better start my research on the childcare.
I did speak with LK last night before she turned in. She said that everything is fine. She understands that Lil Shauna is in a tantrum constant phase. She knows that Lil Isaac will grow out of his activeness. Haiz.. my fingers and toes are crossed.
Mummy Lim
I had intended to talk to LK about it and heard my mum nagging at her at 10pm while LK was going about with the housework. I told my mum about the wats’app, intending for her to stop. Popo still cannot let go, observing her 101 rules like some sacred rituals. Seriously, I don’t see how a little dirt can kill and why we have to wipe with dry and wet and then again dry paper just to get rid of some crumbs. This is just one of the many quirks. How not environmental friendly, which Popo of course does not care.
Of course all fingers were pointed towards how naughty the kids are, how they bullied LK and that must be why she wants to leave. She goes on to insist that it cannot be her, how she doesn’t scold LK or already cut down on the routines. I must be quite blind bcos I do not see any difference. She even went to the extent of relating to me how Lil Shauna yelled at Auntie this morning bcos Auntie didn’t tie her hair the way she wanted and asking Lil Shauna to acknowledge that such an incident took place. She went on to call my SIL to confront and the usual – try to sell her side of the story.
Well, we all know that there is more to it. It can’t be an one-off incident. I asked my SIL if she knows the reason and apparently, the complaint usually comes after Popo’s incessant nagging/ scolding. Bingo! Do I get a prize for guessing correctly? Blehhhhh….
Popo still doesn’t get it. She insists that she didn’t scold LK but many times, the way she speaks to LK is as good as scolding. And her body language! The black face. I think that is more potent than the actual scolding. Then, we have to add on the nagging! I cannot comprehend why she has to say the same thing 3 times or more. Imagine that with a “not scolding but equally harsh” tone. I know too that the maid gets blame for things that are not within her control, like how very long it takes to feed Lil Shauna bcos she was trying to be a hamster and insisting to keep the food in her mouth and not swallowing.
Poor maid, poor me. I hate getting stuck in between. I hate it when she accuses me of standing on the maid’s side. I have figured that it doesn’t make sense to give conflicting instructions to the maid and learnt to let Popo handles the maid. I have learnt that there is no point hurting family ties bcos maid can change but not family. BUT.. I have made it clear that LK is the last maid for the time being. If LK quits, the 2 kids will go to full-time CC and we will get a part time helper to do major weekly cleaning. We will get a iRobot too to do daily sweeping. Popo can figure out what she wants to do during the day when the kids are in the CC.
Haiz, conflicts do not just happened with MIL. It happens so long as there is more than one lady in the house. Popo has forgotten that I am 33 years old and a mother of 2 myself. She forgot that I am the lady in the house. Luckily I do not cook and need not fight with her over the kitchen. To her, I will always be her daughter. I better start my research on the childcare.
I did speak with LK last night before she turned in. She said that everything is fine. She understands that Lil Shauna is in a tantrum constant phase. She knows that Lil Isaac will grow out of his activeness. Haiz.. my fingers and toes are crossed.
Mummy Lim
Saturday, April 28, 2012
Auntie Lekah
Let out the fireworks! It has been ONE month and Auntie is Lekah still with us! Woohoo! Yeah!
Of course we are worried. LK is our 3rd maid for this year. Not only are we inching towards the MOM’s quota of 5 maids a year, maid changing is both frustrating and expensive. I have also promised myself that we will do without a maid if this one still couldn’t make it and the kids will go to Childcare. This, I made very clearly to Popo. Popo’s standards are way too high lah. Truthfully, I think some of the maids left bcos of Popo. They are maids lah, they get a miserable salary. They will not work their ass off for us lah. If they are really that good, they wouldn’t be maids.
I guessed it helps that my brother’s maid is also an Indonesian and they can chat while they are at my brother’s place. After so many maids (LK is our 6th maid), we have also learnt to close one eye. When the need arises, we close both eyes. It doesn’t matter that she may not be very efficient in housework or choose to look after the stroller more than the kids while we are in the shopping mall. So long as the kids don’t hate her, she does the minimum housework and she provides an able pair of hands when we are drowning, we are fine. So relax. Life goes on, a little bit of dust in the house won’t kill; the kids will still grow up anyhow. Not that LK is that bad, just that we have learnt how to let go and not to be anal about certain unimportant things. I can’t say the same for Popo. I just have to constantly remind her that LK is the last maid for now.
I hope LK will stay for at least her 2-year contract. Things will be easier on the caregivers when Lil Isaac starts going for his 2-hour playgroup in the later part of the year and join jiejie next year. Yes, I still look forward to the time that we will be maidless. However, unless the kids go to CC, otherwise it will be when Lil Shauna enters Primary One.
Mummy Lim
Of course we are worried. LK is our 3rd maid for this year. Not only are we inching towards the MOM’s quota of 5 maids a year, maid changing is both frustrating and expensive. I have also promised myself that we will do without a maid if this one still couldn’t make it and the kids will go to Childcare. This, I made very clearly to Popo. Popo’s standards are way too high lah. Truthfully, I think some of the maids left bcos of Popo. They are maids lah, they get a miserable salary. They will not work their ass off for us lah. If they are really that good, they wouldn’t be maids.
I guessed it helps that my brother’s maid is also an Indonesian and they can chat while they are at my brother’s place. After so many maids (LK is our 6th maid), we have also learnt to close one eye. When the need arises, we close both eyes. It doesn’t matter that she may not be very efficient in housework or choose to look after the stroller more than the kids while we are in the shopping mall. So long as the kids don’t hate her, she does the minimum housework and she provides an able pair of hands when we are drowning, we are fine. So relax. Life goes on, a little bit of dust in the house won’t kill; the kids will still grow up anyhow. Not that LK is that bad, just that we have learnt how to let go and not to be anal about certain unimportant things. I can’t say the same for Popo. I just have to constantly remind her that LK is the last maid for now.
I hope LK will stay for at least her 2-year contract. Things will be easier on the caregivers when Lil Isaac starts going for his 2-hour playgroup in the later part of the year and join jiejie next year. Yes, I still look forward to the time that we will be maidless. However, unless the kids go to CC, otherwise it will be when Lil Shauna enters Primary One.
Mummy Lim
Saturday, March 24, 2012
New Auntie
She's here! We collected her last night. She is Lekah, 26 years old and married in September last year. No kids now. Smiley and chatty and very very skinny. She said that she's 42kg but definitely looks less than that.
The kids took her well. Lil Shauna was busy showing off to her last night. Lil Isaac at least didn't reject her.
LK appears a little slow on the housework aspect but I guessed she can pick up speed. Anyway, that is not my concern. She does take initiative to play with the kids and Lil Isaac is definitely testing her limit and trying to tired her out.
I hope you will hear good news from me. This is my last try. I promise myself that I will send both kids to the childcare if this maid still doesn't work out. Cross finger.
Mummy Lim
The kids took her well. Lil Shauna was busy showing off to her last night. Lil Isaac at least didn't reject her.
LK appears a little slow on the housework aspect but I guessed she can pick up speed. Anyway, that is not my concern. She does take initiative to play with the kids and Lil Isaac is definitely testing her limit and trying to tired her out.
I hope you will hear good news from me. This is my last try. I promise myself that I will send both kids to the childcare if this maid still doesn't work out. Cross finger.
Mummy Lim
Wednesday, March 21, 2012
Auntie No More
We sent auntie back. The agent told us that the new auntie had touched down in Singapore and will go for her medical tomorrow morning. If everything goes right, we should be able to collect the new auntie on Friday or Saturday. So, we will be maidless for the next 2 days.
We had been toying with the idea of sending auntie back earlier. Auntie hasnt been much help and Popo scolded her too much. My only worry is that Popo cannot handle 2 kids on her own. Popo wants us to send her back after seeing auntie staring at the wall for an hour this morning while waiting for the kids to wake up. Popo feared that some of auntie's "wire" might have gotten disconnected.
Popo packed auntie's bag and we picked auntie up without telling her much. We only told auntie that we were sending her back when we reached JE. Auntie appeared happy and relieve to go back to the agency. Well, I guessed this is the best way out for all of us.
Popo worries about the weirdest thing, such as auntie sharing bad things Nd habits with the new auntie, thus scaring off the new auntie. She ended up asking and nagging about unimportant things. I told Popo to save her energy and think harder on how we can make the new auntie stays longer. I surrender liao. If this new auntie still cannot make it, the kids are probably going to the childcare.
I asked jiejie to help by behaving for the next few days since there is no auntie. Jiejie agreed only to throw a tantrum on the way back from the agency and without an auntie. -.o"
Mummy Lim
We had been toying with the idea of sending auntie back earlier. Auntie hasnt been much help and Popo scolded her too much. My only worry is that Popo cannot handle 2 kids on her own. Popo wants us to send her back after seeing auntie staring at the wall for an hour this morning while waiting for the kids to wake up. Popo feared that some of auntie's "wire" might have gotten disconnected.
Popo packed auntie's bag and we picked auntie up without telling her much. We only told auntie that we were sending her back when we reached JE. Auntie appeared happy and relieve to go back to the agency. Well, I guessed this is the best way out for all of us.
Popo worries about the weirdest thing, such as auntie sharing bad things Nd habits with the new auntie, thus scaring off the new auntie. She ended up asking and nagging about unimportant things. I told Popo to save her energy and think harder on how we can make the new auntie stays longer. I surrender liao. If this new auntie still cannot make it, the kids are probably going to the childcare.
I asked jiejie to help by behaving for the next few days since there is no auntie. Jiejie agreed only to throw a tantrum on the way back from the agency and without an auntie. -.o"
Mummy Lim
Monday, March 19, 2012
I Want to Go
This is freaking coincidental. Maybe Auntie can understand us all the whole and had been eavesdropping but act blur.
Yday morning, I was expressing and Popo was taking care of both kids bcos they both rejected auntie. She asked to talk to me, telling me that both kids dislike her. Long story short, I asked her if she wanted to go back to the agent and she wanted after short consideration. This was also what happened the last time. She popped the question just when we were about to send her back. It makes sending her back easier. I mean, sacking people is never easy mah.
I have the intention to let auntie go earlier. She's not helping much and I dont think the way she is being treated now is healthy. Popo is vert harsh on her despite my numerous reminders. I guessed that is also bcos she is very tired and frustrated chasing the 2 kids while the maid "sees only". I lose my cool easily on her too.
My only problem now is that I am not sure if the new maid is coming. Popo is quite confident that she can do without a maid for a little while. But if the new auntie cannot come in, we have to choose another maid and that will take another 2 to 3 weeks!!! I don't think Popo can tahan that long.
I am with the mentality that this will be the last maid for a while. If things still don't work out, I am thinking of going maidless for awhile and send both kids to the childcare. Well, at least they can both go to the same childcare and have companionship.
Mummy Lim
Yday morning, I was expressing and Popo was taking care of both kids bcos they both rejected auntie. She asked to talk to me, telling me that both kids dislike her. Long story short, I asked her if she wanted to go back to the agent and she wanted after short consideration. This was also what happened the last time. She popped the question just when we were about to send her back. It makes sending her back easier. I mean, sacking people is never easy mah.
I have the intention to let auntie go earlier. She's not helping much and I dont think the way she is being treated now is healthy. Popo is vert harsh on her despite my numerous reminders. I guessed that is also bcos she is very tired and frustrated chasing the 2 kids while the maid "sees only". I lose my cool easily on her too.
My only problem now is that I am not sure if the new maid is coming. Popo is quite confident that she can do without a maid for a little while. But if the new auntie cannot come in, we have to choose another maid and that will take another 2 to 3 weeks!!! I don't think Popo can tahan that long.
I am with the mentality that this will be the last maid for a while. If things still don't work out, I am thinking of going maidless for awhile and send both kids to the childcare. Well, at least they can both go to the same childcare and have companionship.
Mummy Lim
Friday, March 16, 2012
Still No New Auntie
The new maid is supposed to fly in today. However, the agent called to say that she is unable to get her immigration clearance paper. She will probably come in next Wednesday instead. My heart almost stopped when the agent called and said that she has bad news. Well, at least the new maid is still coming... I hope.
So how is NRT? The kids still dislike her very much, especially Lil Isaac. He whines the moment auntie tries to lure him away. Lil Isaac prefers my bro's maid than auntie. I was told that he will ask my bro's maid to play with him.
Interestingly, jiejie became more independent. Popo says that jiejie chose to do things on her own than asking auntie to help.
I seldom crossed paths with auntie recently bcos I was so busy at work and had been a little late. I very much enjoy the kids in the night. Now, auntie totally doesn't help out with the kids after they bathed. Nobody wants her.
Haiz, the new maid must come.
Mummy Lim
So how is NRT? The kids still dislike her very much, especially Lil Isaac. He whines the moment auntie tries to lure him away. Lil Isaac prefers my bro's maid than auntie. I was told that he will ask my bro's maid to play with him.
Interestingly, jiejie became more independent. Popo says that jiejie chose to do things on her own than asking auntie to help.
I seldom crossed paths with auntie recently bcos I was so busy at work and had been a little late. I very much enjoy the kids in the night. Now, auntie totally doesn't help out with the kids after they bathed. Nobody wants her.
Haiz, the new maid must come.
Mummy Lim
Sunday, March 11, 2012
L
Just this week, Lil Isaac fell while under Auntie's charge. He sustained a horizontal blue black bruise across his cheek. Poor boy. He is always knocking into here and there and getting bruises. Haiz.
I made Auntie called the agency and asked the agent to knock some sense into her. Sadly, nothing changes after that phone call. I was too tired that day to scold her after work. We are all just enduring and yearning for that day to come, the day when we can finally send her back.
Yday, we brought Lil Isaac for his gym class and were in Marina Square. Jiejie was fussing for a pair of new shoes bcos I forgot Lil Isaac's shoes and bought him a pair. We were in Crocs and Popo was helping to look after the tiger, who was walking and exploring, walking in and out of the store. Auntie has this crazy habit to "fight" for Lil Isaac, despite the fact that the boy hates her. He often ends up crying or struggling to pry away from her hold after a while.
It was only a little while later and we heard Lil Isaac crying. We went out of the store and saw Auntie carrying a Lil Isaac who was crying badly. He had an angry red bruise across his face. Apparently, he started running (from auntie??), fell and crashed into the railing. Arrrggghhhh.
We had to stop the shoes buying, which upset jiejie and she started crying too. Duh!!! Daddy Lim had just arrived at MS and we had to carry 2 crying kids to go find him.
I was so pissed with Auntie, who didn't at all look apologetic or guilty. After I scolded her, she was still trying to explain! The beat part? She still looked exactly expressionless, as if the incident was just a bad dream and didn't happen at all. I really wanted to leave her in the mall and not bring her home or send her back to the agency immediately.
I had thought about going maidless until the new one is here. Popo was very against the idea bcos school holidays starts tomorrow and even though Auntie is close to useless, she can still help to do simple housework and keep an eye on the kids in desperate situations.
I am going to the agency today to rush them for the new maid. The idea of sending her back is still playing in my head. I really hope that the new maid will be better and really envy my brother's luck. His maid is really good with both housework and kids. Boohoo.
The 2nd fall left another long bruise on the same side of Lil Isaac's face. It is almost perpendicular to the first bruise, forming a big L. Heartache.
How? How? How?
Mummy Lim
I made Auntie called the agency and asked the agent to knock some sense into her. Sadly, nothing changes after that phone call. I was too tired that day to scold her after work. We are all just enduring and yearning for that day to come, the day when we can finally send her back.
Yday, we brought Lil Isaac for his gym class and were in Marina Square. Jiejie was fussing for a pair of new shoes bcos I forgot Lil Isaac's shoes and bought him a pair. We were in Crocs and Popo was helping to look after the tiger, who was walking and exploring, walking in and out of the store. Auntie has this crazy habit to "fight" for Lil Isaac, despite the fact that the boy hates her. He often ends up crying or struggling to pry away from her hold after a while.
It was only a little while later and we heard Lil Isaac crying. We went out of the store and saw Auntie carrying a Lil Isaac who was crying badly. He had an angry red bruise across his face. Apparently, he started running (from auntie??), fell and crashed into the railing. Arrrggghhhh.
We had to stop the shoes buying, which upset jiejie and she started crying too. Duh!!! Daddy Lim had just arrived at MS and we had to carry 2 crying kids to go find him.
I was so pissed with Auntie, who didn't at all look apologetic or guilty. After I scolded her, she was still trying to explain! The beat part? She still looked exactly expressionless, as if the incident was just a bad dream and didn't happen at all. I really wanted to leave her in the mall and not bring her home or send her back to the agency immediately.
I had thought about going maidless until the new one is here. Popo was very against the idea bcos school holidays starts tomorrow and even though Auntie is close to useless, she can still help to do simple housework and keep an eye on the kids in desperate situations.
I am going to the agency today to rush them for the new maid. The idea of sending her back is still playing in my head. I really hope that the new maid will be better and really envy my brother's luck. His maid is really good with both housework and kids. Boohoo.
The 2nd fall left another long bruise on the same side of Lil Isaac's face. It is almost perpendicular to the first bruise, forming a big L. Heartache.
How? How? How?
Mummy Lim
Friday, March 9, 2012
Maid Woes Again
I have chosen my new maid and MOM has given me the In-Principle Approval. The agency informed me on Wednesday and told me that the new maid should be here in 2 weeks’ time but they will try to expedite.
Auntie is getting from bad to worse and more and more block headed. Both kids are rejecting her more and more. Just a few days ago, on top of the usual “Auntie-doesn’t-play-with-me” complaint, jiejie told me that Auntie doesn’t understand her even after she repeats herself to Auntie and speaks slowly. Yes, that came from a 3.5 years old. Now, both of them refused to let Auntie helps them and stick to us when we are home or stick to Popo otherwise. Poor Popo. It is frustrating enuff to be bugged by 2 fussing kids. Auntie adds on by constantly asking Popo why the kids dont like her and how to make them like her. Duh!
Popo is tired. When jiejie is in school, Popo hawks over Lil Isaac and brings him along when she needs to run errands. She doesn’t trust Auntie. Lil Isaac continues to fuss most of the time when under auntie’s charge. According to Popo, Auntie spent all her time “trying” to watch over Lil Isaac while in Centris. Bcos she did so badly with housework, they stopped asking her to help. So when Lil Isaac naps in the afternoon, she stands or sits beside the cot up to 3 hours. -________-“
Auntie seems to lose all initiatives. Ask and she does them, otherwise, she just gong gong and stands around. Haiz.. I try not to scold her, telling myself that we are counting down and it soon will be over. I told Popo the same thing too.
Yday was another ultimatum. Popo went to the toilet and left Lil Isaac in Auntie’s charge. Popo heard Lil Isaac crying and when she asked Auntie if Lil Isaac fell, Aunite said “NO”. But Lil Isaac got a blue black streak on his cheek and only when Popo asked how did the blue black come about that Auntie admitted that Lil Isaac fell. See, she is starting to lie too.
I made her call the agent and asked the agent to scold her. Popo said that she was on the phone for awhile but the phone call didn’t seem to help cos there was no improvement after that. Auntie got scolded again after that incident when she allowed Lil Isaac, who isn’t very steady in his steps, to walk around with a sharp pointed toy in his hands. Auntie tried to apologise and explain to Daddy Lim and me in the night. Popo wanted us to scold her. I had a bad day at work and couldn’t be bothered to talk or put on an act for Auntie.
We are really counting down. We are not sure if the new maid will be better but I really pray so. Regardless, we just need to be away from Auntie. Our patience is running thin and whatever that she does now is starting to irk us. Oh, did you read about the new ruling that requires all employers to give their maid one day off a week starting on 1 Jan 13? The maid may be compensated with pay to work on her off days, subject to mutual agreement but the amount will definitely be higher than the $20 per month now. Maid’s salary has increased about $150 since a year ago. With inflation, it is now more expensive to feed and clothe the maid and we have to pay more to compensate the offday in the future. The maid might not even be good and I am not even hoping for a fantastic maid. I think I can laugh if I get an OK maid.
Somehow, I wonder if it is time to look at Childcare Centers (CC) again. I will save more if I send both kids to an average range CC and save myself a lot more headache over maid issues. I am just waiting for Lil Isaac to grow up a little bit more. It seems so sad for him to enter full day CC when he is so young now. Of course, I am also hoping that it will be easier to handle them on my own when they are a little older. I have never tried bringing them out on my own before. With Daddy Lim having to work on most weekends, it would then mean that we will be cooped at home unless Popo helps. That is my only hurdle and why I am still with a maid now. Can cry.
Mummy Lim
Auntie is getting from bad to worse and more and more block headed. Both kids are rejecting her more and more. Just a few days ago, on top of the usual “Auntie-doesn’t-play-with-me” complaint, jiejie told me that Auntie doesn’t understand her even after she repeats herself to Auntie and speaks slowly. Yes, that came from a 3.5 years old. Now, both of them refused to let Auntie helps them and stick to us when we are home or stick to Popo otherwise. Poor Popo. It is frustrating enuff to be bugged by 2 fussing kids. Auntie adds on by constantly asking Popo why the kids dont like her and how to make them like her. Duh!
Popo is tired. When jiejie is in school, Popo hawks over Lil Isaac and brings him along when she needs to run errands. She doesn’t trust Auntie. Lil Isaac continues to fuss most of the time when under auntie’s charge. According to Popo, Auntie spent all her time “trying” to watch over Lil Isaac while in Centris. Bcos she did so badly with housework, they stopped asking her to help. So when Lil Isaac naps in the afternoon, she stands or sits beside the cot up to 3 hours. -________-“
Auntie seems to lose all initiatives. Ask and she does them, otherwise, she just gong gong and stands around. Haiz.. I try not to scold her, telling myself that we are counting down and it soon will be over. I told Popo the same thing too.
Yday was another ultimatum. Popo went to the toilet and left Lil Isaac in Auntie’s charge. Popo heard Lil Isaac crying and when she asked Auntie if Lil Isaac fell, Aunite said “NO”. But Lil Isaac got a blue black streak on his cheek and only when Popo asked how did the blue black come about that Auntie admitted that Lil Isaac fell. See, she is starting to lie too.
I made her call the agent and asked the agent to scold her. Popo said that she was on the phone for awhile but the phone call didn’t seem to help cos there was no improvement after that. Auntie got scolded again after that incident when she allowed Lil Isaac, who isn’t very steady in his steps, to walk around with a sharp pointed toy in his hands. Auntie tried to apologise and explain to Daddy Lim and me in the night. Popo wanted us to scold her. I had a bad day at work and couldn’t be bothered to talk or put on an act for Auntie.
We are really counting down. We are not sure if the new maid will be better but I really pray so. Regardless, we just need to be away from Auntie. Our patience is running thin and whatever that she does now is starting to irk us. Oh, did you read about the new ruling that requires all employers to give their maid one day off a week starting on 1 Jan 13? The maid may be compensated with pay to work on her off days, subject to mutual agreement but the amount will definitely be higher than the $20 per month now. Maid’s salary has increased about $150 since a year ago. With inflation, it is now more expensive to feed and clothe the maid and we have to pay more to compensate the offday in the future. The maid might not even be good and I am not even hoping for a fantastic maid. I think I can laugh if I get an OK maid.
Somehow, I wonder if it is time to look at Childcare Centers (CC) again. I will save more if I send both kids to an average range CC and save myself a lot more headache over maid issues. I am just waiting for Lil Isaac to grow up a little bit more. It seems so sad for him to enter full day CC when he is so young now. Of course, I am also hoping that it will be easier to handle them on my own when they are a little older. I have never tried bringing them out on my own before. With Daddy Lim having to work on most weekends, it would then mean that we will be cooped at home unless Popo helps. That is my only hurdle and why I am still with a maid now. Can cry.
Mummy Lim
Saturday, March 3, 2012
Take your Pick
Auntie is either:
(a) stupid;
(b) trying to drive us crazy; and/or
(c) thinks that we are too free and wants to create more work for us.
This morning, Lil Isaac woke up at sixish, while we were preparing for work. He was fussing while Popo tried to make him sleep somemore and I took over. Popo didn't want auntie to distract Lil Isaac and asked her to stop what she was doing. So what did she do while I was trying to rock Lil Isaac back to dreamland? She stood about 1m away and stared at us the entire time. Great... Didn't it come to her mind that she can continue to do some quiet work in the kitchen, out of Lil Isaac's sight? Apparently not.
Lil Isaac refused to sleep and refused to let auntie to even touch him. He too refused to play toys with auntie. Popo was washing up and I brought him to the room and Daddy Lim kept an eye on him when I washed up too.
Thinking that Popo was done, I brought Lil Isaac out and had to leave Lil Isaac in auntie's charge bcos Popo was still occupied. Lil Isaac started crying until I buey tahan and took him back into the room again. He quieten down almost immediately.
Popo was finally ready and took over a fussing Lil Isaac while we prepared to leave the house. Popo managed to coax him.
Then this auntie was probably trying to show me that she's making an effort. So she kept trying to take Lil Isaac from Popo. Lil Isaac started fussing the moment auntie walked near and Popo kept moving away to appease Lil Isaac and auntie kept chasing them. Arggghhhhh. Then auntie changed tactic and tried to entice Lil Isaac with toys. Lil Isaac just didn't want her in his sight and fussed the moment auntie came near. She just simply didn't get it even when Popo kept moving away and kept chasing them.
Finally, Lil Isaac started crying and she was still there, cornering Popo and Lil Isaac with that silly toy! I cannot take it anymore and asked her what she was trying to do. Can't she see that she was not helping? Where else does she want to force Popo to escape to? That was when she finally stopped. Popo escaped to the room and I left the house.
I really dont know what is in her head. It is not as if she has a way with the kids. She just keeps wanting to try yet unable to win the kids' heart and making them cry and fuss in the process. We end up salvaging the even more difficult situation.
Breathe, breathe.. Count down, count down. S**t, I have to be stuck with her and 2 kids in the afternoon at Marina Square. Daddy Lim will be working late today and Popo is occupied with my brother's family. -.o"
Mummy Lim
(a) stupid;
(b) trying to drive us crazy; and/or
(c) thinks that we are too free and wants to create more work for us.
This morning, Lil Isaac woke up at sixish, while we were preparing for work. He was fussing while Popo tried to make him sleep somemore and I took over. Popo didn't want auntie to distract Lil Isaac and asked her to stop what she was doing. So what did she do while I was trying to rock Lil Isaac back to dreamland? She stood about 1m away and stared at us the entire time. Great... Didn't it come to her mind that she can continue to do some quiet work in the kitchen, out of Lil Isaac's sight? Apparently not.
Lil Isaac refused to sleep and refused to let auntie to even touch him. He too refused to play toys with auntie. Popo was washing up and I brought him to the room and Daddy Lim kept an eye on him when I washed up too.
Thinking that Popo was done, I brought Lil Isaac out and had to leave Lil Isaac in auntie's charge bcos Popo was still occupied. Lil Isaac started crying until I buey tahan and took him back into the room again. He quieten down almost immediately.
Popo was finally ready and took over a fussing Lil Isaac while we prepared to leave the house. Popo managed to coax him.
Then this auntie was probably trying to show me that she's making an effort. So she kept trying to take Lil Isaac from Popo. Lil Isaac started fussing the moment auntie walked near and Popo kept moving away to appease Lil Isaac and auntie kept chasing them. Arggghhhhh. Then auntie changed tactic and tried to entice Lil Isaac with toys. Lil Isaac just didn't want her in his sight and fussed the moment auntie came near. She just simply didn't get it even when Popo kept moving away and kept chasing them.
Finally, Lil Isaac started crying and she was still there, cornering Popo and Lil Isaac with that silly toy! I cannot take it anymore and asked her what she was trying to do. Can't she see that she was not helping? Where else does she want to force Popo to escape to? That was when she finally stopped. Popo escaped to the room and I left the house.
I really dont know what is in her head. It is not as if she has a way with the kids. She just keeps wanting to try yet unable to win the kids' heart and making them cry and fuss in the process. We end up salvaging the even more difficult situation.
Breathe, breathe.. Count down, count down. S**t, I have to be stuck with her and 2 kids in the afternoon at Marina Square. Daddy Lim will be working late today and Popo is occupied with my brother's family. -.o"
Mummy Lim
Friday, March 2, 2012
New Maid
We signed the Agreement for the new maid yday. We were deciding if we should take a transferred INDO maid from another agency. She was sent back after 2 months and her agency (which my SIL used) recommended her. However, it would mean that we have to spend $388 in agency fees on top of the usual insurance, maid loan and stuff. It is OK to spend extras to get a good maid but who can guarantee? All the more we will pull hair if we paid extra but ended up with another block head.
Coincidentally, our current agent managed to secure new CVs and we found one that looked decent. She is 29 YO, married but no kids and small built. We seemed to be jinxed by normal size maids. The agent helped to interview the maid and we were told that she went back to INDO after her 2 years’ contract last year. During her stint in Sgp, she was looking after 4 YO girl under the charge of the grandfather. She told the agent that she likes children and can endure ah gong’s scolding.
I managed to speak to her when I was at the agency. Actually, I don’t have intention to conduct a phone interview. That pathetic 3 mins phone call does no real help. Moreover, most of the maids tend to go on “yes mdm”, “I can mdm” mode. Interestingly, I found out that there was a miscoummication. She was here for 2years 9 months. She was looking after a 4 YO girl in the 1st 9 months but was returned bcos her employer wanted somebody who could speak better English and swopped to a FIL maid. She was transferred to a new family and looked after ah gong for 2 years.
I hesitated cos NRT also spent her 4 years in Sgp looking after elderly and she turns out to be hopeless with the kids despite her insistent that she likes kids, can handle kids and have 2 kids of her own. Then again, this maid choosing game is really about luck and we really hope we have better luck this time. More importantly, we are desperate to replace NRT. At this rate that ah mah is scolding her, I fear for NRT’s sanity. So, I still ended up signing on the dotted line.
The MOM ruiling says that an employer can only engage 5 maids in 12 months. On the 5th maid, I will have to go to MOM to re-sit for that employer test. It is not a tough test, very common sensical but it is troublesome. If we need to go into the 6th maid, we have to go for an interview with MOM to explain the high rate of change and approval is not guaranteed. This will be my 3rd maid. NRT is my 1st and that one-day maid also sits on my account even when she was the one who insisted that we sent her back to the agency. I also have to pay for her lodging and levy while she was waiting to be transferred. The law protects the maid. Boohoo. I already pre-empted Popo and asked her to go easy on the new maid. Haiz, but a leopard never changes its spots. Despite the fact that I asked her to go easy on her 101 procedure after we scared away that one-day maid, Popo is still insistent on the way that she runs things. I don’t think Popo will now change bcos we have a new maid. *worry*
The new maid appears to be able to understand and converse in simple English when I spoke to her over the phone. I kept asking the agent to emphasis to the maid in Malay that her job is to look after the 2 kids and to play with them. I also made it clear that we stayed with Popo and Popo scolds people. The one-day maid claimed then that she was able to handle the kids but cannot take the way Popo spoke to her and that we didn’t tell her that we live with Popo. Win liao. So I wanted to set expectation right this time.
The new maid will be here in about 3 weeks’ time. I am really counting down and hope nothing goes wrong (pass medical, etc). I also asked Popo to stop scolding NRT. For some reasons, she seem to hate every maid that I had yet seldom find fault with my bro’s maid even when some of their maids were no better. I supposed this is part of the Popo package too. Arrggggghhhhhhhhhhh. She even thinks that MA is not good. In comparison, I think MA is the best maid that I had so far. She only changes her mind after NRT and that one-day maid and even asked me to check if MA wants to come back to work for us. -.o” Haiz, why like that?
If Lil Shauna and Isaac do get married and have kids of their own and needed my help to babysit, pls remind me not to interfere too much into the kids’ life in the future. Remind me not to be so silly to sell my own flat and have to stay with the kids. Even if I do, remind me that it is their home, that they are the parents and I am only the grandparent.
Mummy Lim
Coincidentally, our current agent managed to secure new CVs and we found one that looked decent. She is 29 YO, married but no kids and small built. We seemed to be jinxed by normal size maids. The agent helped to interview the maid and we were told that she went back to INDO after her 2 years’ contract last year. During her stint in Sgp, she was looking after 4 YO girl under the charge of the grandfather. She told the agent that she likes children and can endure ah gong’s scolding.
I managed to speak to her when I was at the agency. Actually, I don’t have intention to conduct a phone interview. That pathetic 3 mins phone call does no real help. Moreover, most of the maids tend to go on “yes mdm”, “I can mdm” mode. Interestingly, I found out that there was a miscoummication. She was here for 2years 9 months. She was looking after a 4 YO girl in the 1st 9 months but was returned bcos her employer wanted somebody who could speak better English and swopped to a FIL maid. She was transferred to a new family and looked after ah gong for 2 years.
I hesitated cos NRT also spent her 4 years in Sgp looking after elderly and she turns out to be hopeless with the kids despite her insistent that she likes kids, can handle kids and have 2 kids of her own. Then again, this maid choosing game is really about luck and we really hope we have better luck this time. More importantly, we are desperate to replace NRT. At this rate that ah mah is scolding her, I fear for NRT’s sanity. So, I still ended up signing on the dotted line.
The MOM ruiling says that an employer can only engage 5 maids in 12 months. On the 5th maid, I will have to go to MOM to re-sit for that employer test. It is not a tough test, very common sensical but it is troublesome. If we need to go into the 6th maid, we have to go for an interview with MOM to explain the high rate of change and approval is not guaranteed. This will be my 3rd maid. NRT is my 1st and that one-day maid also sits on my account even when she was the one who insisted that we sent her back to the agency. I also have to pay for her lodging and levy while she was waiting to be transferred. The law protects the maid. Boohoo. I already pre-empted Popo and asked her to go easy on the new maid. Haiz, but a leopard never changes its spots. Despite the fact that I asked her to go easy on her 101 procedure after we scared away that one-day maid, Popo is still insistent on the way that she runs things. I don’t think Popo will now change bcos we have a new maid. *worry*
The new maid appears to be able to understand and converse in simple English when I spoke to her over the phone. I kept asking the agent to emphasis to the maid in Malay that her job is to look after the 2 kids and to play with them. I also made it clear that we stayed with Popo and Popo scolds people. The one-day maid claimed then that she was able to handle the kids but cannot take the way Popo spoke to her and that we didn’t tell her that we live with Popo. Win liao. So I wanted to set expectation right this time.
The new maid will be here in about 3 weeks’ time. I am really counting down and hope nothing goes wrong (pass medical, etc). I also asked Popo to stop scolding NRT. For some reasons, she seem to hate every maid that I had yet seldom find fault with my bro’s maid even when some of their maids were no better. I supposed this is part of the Popo package too. Arrggggghhhhhhhhhhh. She even thinks that MA is not good. In comparison, I think MA is the best maid that I had so far. She only changes her mind after NRT and that one-day maid and even asked me to check if MA wants to come back to work for us. -.o” Haiz, why like that?
If Lil Shauna and Isaac do get married and have kids of their own and needed my help to babysit, pls remind me not to interfere too much into the kids’ life in the future. Remind me not to be so silly to sell my own flat and have to stay with the kids. Even if I do, remind me that it is their home, that they are the parents and I am only the grandparent.
Mummy Lim
Monday, February 27, 2012
Maid Search
How bad are things? On Saturday, whilst in the car ride home from Suntec, I had to cuddle both kids in my arms while they had their milk. Nobody wanted auntie. They started crying bloody murder when auntie made any attempt to pry them away from mummy. So I was left juggling 2 kids while auntie sat right beside us, watching us. After milk, we played and sang all the way home, 2 kids bouncing on mummy's lap while auntie watched. I felt like a circus clown or a zoo monkey.
I hate it when auntie pretend to "handle" Lil Isaac. We will have a fussing Lil Isaac attempting to get to mummy and auntie will try weakly to hold him back, making him fuss even more. Since we came back from HKG, I had on at least 3 occasions asked auntie to either go away or bring Lil Isaac away. I don't appreciate having her look at me taking care of Lil Isaac bcos she's not capable to. And it is no surprise that she chose to go away bcos she cannot handle and probably also did not want to handle. Looking after kids is hard work. Non fussing and non demanding housework is definitely an easier choice.
Popo also told me on Saturday that auntie sobbed loudly when Popo told her to hurry up. Popo was rushing her to finish the chores as she was in a hurry to go to Centris to pay respect to my dad. It was his death anniversary. Popo said that this wasn't the first time. In the first few times, auntie's eyes turned red when Popo reprimanded her. Popo let off at those times. Then, subsequent times, tears were involved and Saturday morning, she sobbed loudly.
Popo also complained that several times, auntie says that she cannot understand Popo when she was given instructions. However, she can chip in when Popo was having conversations with my brother's maid. So can she or can't she not understand?
I wanted to give auntie the benefit of doubt but it seems that she's slacking in her job. Cannot handle Lil Isaac, so we will take over, cry so that we won't push her, tell us that she doesn't understand then don't have to do. Haiz. Why like that? And we are unable to find a replacement.
I went down to the agency yday. The stack of Indonesian bio data of ex-sin maids are made up of either fat or old maids. Think 35 years old and above or 150cm but 60kg. Yes, it is that bad. Most of the Filipino maids are without passports and it will take at least 2 months before we can get them. Can we survive until then? If we can, we probably dont need a new maid and there is no guarantee that the new maid will be good after months of waiting, just like the last one who demanded to go back to the agency after ONE bloody day! I am not keen with experienced Filipinos, who would demand for off days and hps. Fresh Indonesian maids are gong gong and cannot speak English.
I manage to find 2 more decent looking CVs of new Indonesian maids. This would mean that they will not have experience looking after kids, on housework and have poor English. Haiz... We are so screwed.
The agency just called me back after helping to interview the maids. One of them is not coming bcos of family problem. The other one has totally no experience working as a maid. It is too risky even when she claims that she likes children and will try to please Popo. Boohoo.
Mummy Lim
I hate it when auntie pretend to "handle" Lil Isaac. We will have a fussing Lil Isaac attempting to get to mummy and auntie will try weakly to hold him back, making him fuss even more. Since we came back from HKG, I had on at least 3 occasions asked auntie to either go away or bring Lil Isaac away. I don't appreciate having her look at me taking care of Lil Isaac bcos she's not capable to. And it is no surprise that she chose to go away bcos she cannot handle and probably also did not want to handle. Looking after kids is hard work. Non fussing and non demanding housework is definitely an easier choice.
Popo also told me on Saturday that auntie sobbed loudly when Popo told her to hurry up. Popo was rushing her to finish the chores as she was in a hurry to go to Centris to pay respect to my dad. It was his death anniversary. Popo said that this wasn't the first time. In the first few times, auntie's eyes turned red when Popo reprimanded her. Popo let off at those times. Then, subsequent times, tears were involved and Saturday morning, she sobbed loudly.
Popo also complained that several times, auntie says that she cannot understand Popo when she was given instructions. However, she can chip in when Popo was having conversations with my brother's maid. So can she or can't she not understand?
I wanted to give auntie the benefit of doubt but it seems that she's slacking in her job. Cannot handle Lil Isaac, so we will take over, cry so that we won't push her, tell us that she doesn't understand then don't have to do. Haiz. Why like that? And we are unable to find a replacement.
I went down to the agency yday. The stack of Indonesian bio data of ex-sin maids are made up of either fat or old maids. Think 35 years old and above or 150cm but 60kg. Yes, it is that bad. Most of the Filipino maids are without passports and it will take at least 2 months before we can get them. Can we survive until then? If we can, we probably dont need a new maid and there is no guarantee that the new maid will be good after months of waiting, just like the last one who demanded to go back to the agency after ONE bloody day! I am not keen with experienced Filipinos, who would demand for off days and hps. Fresh Indonesian maids are gong gong and cannot speak English.
I manage to find 2 more decent looking CVs of new Indonesian maids. This would mean that they will not have experience looking after kids, on housework and have poor English. Haiz... We are so screwed.
The agency just called me back after helping to interview the maids. One of them is not coming bcos of family problem. The other one has totally no experience working as a maid. It is too risky even when she claims that she likes children and will try to please Popo. Boohoo.
Mummy Lim
Friday, February 24, 2012
Change Maid
It is time to change maid again. NRT has been with us for coming to 4 months and it is almost 1 month since we took her back. Her performance peaked for awhile but slacked shortly.
Popo still scolds her and complains to me. It is freaking irritating to have a tiring day at work and come home to her nagging about the maid. But at least Popo has stopped calling me in the office to complain after I yelled at her to stop.
Things are deteriorating and it is time to look for a new maid. NRT is not the best with housework. She takes a long time and I can never tell when the toilet has been washed bcos there is no drastic difference. Even my brother commented that the dishes are still oily after she washed them in Centris. So after that complaint, she took ages to wash the dishes. On another occasion, she used up 1/3 of a bottle of detergent for a set of dishes. :(
She is not good with the kids too and they both avoided her like plague after the Hkg trip. Popo was totally tired out by the sticky kids today. They wanted auntie to go away and Popo to help them with everything. I know how fuss can be short when one is tired and I can understand why Popo is so frustrated with NRT. Haiz, but what can I do?!!?
So how bad is it with the kids? Take today for example. I was helping Lil Shauna with her homework and Lil Isaac was fussing for me. I saw her take the whinny toddler to the room but was out in less than 5 mins bcos she failed to distract him. She followed him to me and attempted weakly to hold him while he tried to climb on my lap. What use is that? This happens all the time. It is as if she hopes that we will take over when the kid irritates us too much.
After Lil Shauna was done with her homework, we were playing with the cooking toys. I pretended to eat the food that jiejie cooked and fed Lil Isaac. So what did she do? She sat with us and smile at us while watching us play, like a spectator. Faint.
Lil Isaac started fussing and I brought them to the room. Usually, she goes about with the chores when that happen bcos Daddy Lim and I will spend time with the kids. Today, Daddy Lim went for a wedding dinner and she still left me to man the 2 kids. I think she has straw in her head. Haiz.
Both kids started fussing and she took Lil Isaac out while I tucked jiejie to bed. Lil Isaac started crying pitifully, asking for mummy. Popo couldn't help bcos she hasn't showered and was dirty. Yes, Popo's illogical logic but she did try to rush through shower to help. While jiejie took her milk, I could hear the poor boy crying. Double haiz...
Jiejie was really cooperative and agreed to pretend to sleep and be really quiet while I bring Lil Isaac in and gave him his milk. She did try and did a good job. Thank God Lil Isaac felt asleep after his milk. Phew.
The worse? We can't find a replacement now. I have asked the agency for suitable CVs but couldn't find any. Haiz. I even tried other agencies but no luck. I am worried too that the next maid is no better but I guess we just have to keep trying. We are paying $$ to drive ourselves crazy with fustrations.
Mummy Lim
Popo still scolds her and complains to me. It is freaking irritating to have a tiring day at work and come home to her nagging about the maid. But at least Popo has stopped calling me in the office to complain after I yelled at her to stop.
Things are deteriorating and it is time to look for a new maid. NRT is not the best with housework. She takes a long time and I can never tell when the toilet has been washed bcos there is no drastic difference. Even my brother commented that the dishes are still oily after she washed them in Centris. So after that complaint, she took ages to wash the dishes. On another occasion, she used up 1/3 of a bottle of detergent for a set of dishes. :(
She is not good with the kids too and they both avoided her like plague after the Hkg trip. Popo was totally tired out by the sticky kids today. They wanted auntie to go away and Popo to help them with everything. I know how fuss can be short when one is tired and I can understand why Popo is so frustrated with NRT. Haiz, but what can I do?!!?
So how bad is it with the kids? Take today for example. I was helping Lil Shauna with her homework and Lil Isaac was fussing for me. I saw her take the whinny toddler to the room but was out in less than 5 mins bcos she failed to distract him. She followed him to me and attempted weakly to hold him while he tried to climb on my lap. What use is that? This happens all the time. It is as if she hopes that we will take over when the kid irritates us too much.
After Lil Shauna was done with her homework, we were playing with the cooking toys. I pretended to eat the food that jiejie cooked and fed Lil Isaac. So what did she do? She sat with us and smile at us while watching us play, like a spectator. Faint.
Lil Isaac started fussing and I brought them to the room. Usually, she goes about with the chores when that happen bcos Daddy Lim and I will spend time with the kids. Today, Daddy Lim went for a wedding dinner and she still left me to man the 2 kids. I think she has straw in her head. Haiz.
Both kids started fussing and she took Lil Isaac out while I tucked jiejie to bed. Lil Isaac started crying pitifully, asking for mummy. Popo couldn't help bcos she hasn't showered and was dirty. Yes, Popo's illogical logic but she did try to rush through shower to help. While jiejie took her milk, I could hear the poor boy crying. Double haiz...
Jiejie was really cooperative and agreed to pretend to sleep and be really quiet while I bring Lil Isaac in and gave him his milk. She did try and did a good job. Thank God Lil Isaac felt asleep after his milk. Phew.
The worse? We can't find a replacement now. I have asked the agency for suitable CVs but couldn't find any. Haiz. I even tried other agencies but no luck. I am worried too that the next maid is no better but I guess we just have to keep trying. We are paying $$ to drive ourselves crazy with fustrations.
Mummy Lim
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