This is my IL's domestic helper, Waty. She went back home to Indonesia last Monday and all of us in the family took her out for one last dinner at T3 before she caught her 70-mins night flight back to Semarang at T1. She had been working for my IL for 4 years before she decided to throw in the towel and not renew her contract even though my MIL offered her a pay raise. She is 24 this year so we guessed maybe she has plans to settle down back home. Despite only being with us for 4 years, she stayed long enough to be a witness to our wedding and the birth of our two children.
Anyway, she is one of the best helper we ever had. Experienced, rational and efficient. Over the last couple of years, husband and I outsourced our laundry to her. She helped mostly with the ironing, which I dread cos I would never ever have the time to complete them unless I sacrifice my weekends with the kids. For a period of time when I was pregnant with mei-mei, we even paid her a nominal fee to travel to my house twice a week to help clean up and prepare lunch so I could have more rest. She got along well with everybody in the family and occasionally helped feed Ying Ying when we were busy or not around. We have gotten so used to her cooking that it feels a little strange now to eat food cooked by the new helper (whom btw is called Ana). But I think the person who missed her the most is none other than pepe, my IL's pet dog.
I took upon myself to take a number of photos for her around the house shortly before she left. I thought the photos would make nice sentimental souvenirs to remember by her working days in SG. (I suspect my MIL thought I was crazy though she never said it out loud. I took and developed so many photos of her with my kids - about 15 in all - that I realised I don't even have that many photos of myself with the kids cos I am always the one behind the lens! Oops! So ironic, right?)
Maid departure is one of the reasons I dislike engaging one for myself. They go in and out of our lives and I don't want my kids to be attached to someone who is so temporary and subject them to emotional adjustments, if you know what I mean. Right now, we are trying our best to cope w/o a maid. But with the house getting messier; windows and shelves getting dustier; toilets dirtier by the day, I may have to reconsider my options! *sigh*
3 comments:
haha,i think employing a maid is like buying lottery,you hardly win!Or,somebody else is always lucky but somehow not me!I grew up with maids,and while they do make life easier,in terms of housework,i find that they present a lot of social problems which i dont wish to cope with.sigh.But everywhere i go ,i see them,they have become so indispensable in SG!
how abt getting a part time aunty to clean up house?can help with ironing and stuff..
Thanks for the suggestion. As for ironing we hv already outsourced to my IL's new maid. *thank goodness* I am still thinking v hard whether it is really necessary to hire part-time help or nt. It would prob cost a few hundred dollars if it is on a twice a wk basis. I am reluctant to spend this amt cos money is a little tight with 2 kids and a single income. Must think twice abt big expenditure like this!
Yes, maids hv become an indispensable part of our society. Household chores are so unglamourous. Most ppl won't want to do it when they have the means to hire help.
I once read in a magazine abt actress Pan Lingling - she said she doesnt have a maid and she does all the household chores herself with occasional help of her parents to watch her boys, if I dun recall wrongly. Can you believe it? She is such a superwoman. I hv total respect for her after reading the article!
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