Why having a maid is such a big deal to me.
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| {via http://filipspagnoli.wordpress.com/tag/slavery/} |
I have been thinking a lot about getting a full time domestic
help or a maid lately.
It’s not that I am going to have anyone in the near future,
but as I think ahead I see some possible situations that require me to have
another pair of extra hands especially if I am still employed.
I am not sure whether I have said this before, but I am
quite a private person when it comes to my family affairs. So certainly, having
a stranger who lives together under the same roof does not tickle my fancy.
What’s more, I am a strong believer in nurturing my own
family myself – I always prefer that my family eats from my own cooking, and my
children learn from my own teaching and such.
Sometimes it sounds too ideal even to me. It’s like I am
trying to live the perfect mom character that exists only in fiction.
But reality says that such character does not exist, that at
one point even the most resilient mom needs extra help, and the relieve that it
brings is just liberating.
Having a maid in the family has its own perks, I admit that.
How lovely would it be to have someone cleaning up after the
mess in the kitchen, and doing the laundry?
How liberating would it be to have someone who can make sure
the floors are spotless and the toilets shine each and every day?
And how convenient would it be to have someone whom you can
leave your child to while you hit the gym for a workout or when you just want
to enjoy a cup of coffee on your own?
To be honest, I can’t say no to that.
But as I think and weigh my options, I could not help but
think of these…
Am I going to let my family be too reliant on these extra
pair of hands? What happens when the maid needs to leave eventually? Can we
survive that?
Am I able to teach my children the meaning of hardship and
efforts when I know even I myself could not resist leaving the “hard and
inconvenient” things to the maid’s hands?
Am I going to let the maid take my children to the
playground every time? Is she going the one who is always there for my children
instead of me?
Am I going to complaint if my child is more attached to the
maid than me?
Am I going to dislike it if the maid brags to her peers that
my child loves her so much?
Am I going to let my family be the “diva” that always has
someone to “order” to get things done? With that how do I make sure that humility and respect still get to survive (after all maids are human beings too)?
Am I going to let my family and I get comfortable with such
a life?
These things bother me. Maybe I think too much, but then am
I wrong to come and think of it?
I have come across many instances that brought me to those
thoughts.
Every afternoon when I take Bella for a stroll I try to look
for my neighbours so that I can get to know them. Alas, most of the time the
kids are out with the maids watching over and playing with them at the
playground.
Some of my colleagues who are used to having maids at home don’t
even have the decency to clean up after their own mess in the pantry, even when
it is just as little as a sugar spill or one dirty cup. I understand that there
is a cleaning lady to do the cleaning, but you know…. (well, I hope you know
what I mean).
Sometimes when we go out during the weekend, I can’t help
but notice children who were so bossy and ordering their maids to do this and
that. I do not want those traits in my children.
A friend’s family went so out of control when their maid ran
away, he ended up jeopardizing his health and focus at work.
I am in a dilemma.
In one hand, I want those extra pair of hands. But on the
other, I am not sure if I am able to be in control.
Like I said, I don’t deny the convenience. But I cannot
ignore the downsides either.
Perhaps it’s a matter of principles. Which is why some
families are all OK with having a maid, and some are not.
Whatever it is for me in the future, I must be ready to draw
the line.
Or while I still can, I’ll just put it as a very last
option.
How about you? Are you comfortable having a fulltime maid living with
your family? If yes how do you stay in control? What are your principles?
Comments
We feel that we can always make do without. Just have to work together and if things get a little overwhelming you can always rely on laundrettes and takes outs. If that fails then you can hire cleaning services that come by your house once or twice a week to do the major cleaning or any chore that still lies await.
Getting a maid these days is like a lottery draw, most of the time you lose. It's very difficult to find someone that's right for your family.
Just my two cents.
for me..im thinking to hired daily maid, just to watch the kid (s) during office hour..
reason:
1) when they come back from school, at least they can duduk kat rumah rather duduk kat taska.
2) only during office hour..mcm taska but at my home..so in a way still can control the diva in them (i hope!)
3) kemas rumah still 50-50.. maid kemas after the kids during weekdays, weekends, still aku buat..
tu idea aku for my future kalo aku nak amik maid.
yanty
Hazel, thanks! Yup I can see how unique our requirements and concerns are. Which is something very normal, and it always comes down to finding the best way for our family kan..
Yanty, yes I also have the same plans someday, cuma harap2nye senang nak cari maid part time. Insya Allah :)
Mama Haraz, totally lottery! Kalau apape jadi, duit habis macam tu je kan :(
Agreed with laydiefa and husna too! Above all, taking care of the household should always be a teamwork with the husband and children. I personally think that everyone has responsibility to keep the home livable for everyone :)
To have or not to have a maid? This is like a universal dilemma of us the modern moms. I have never hired one but Alhamdulillah managed to survive without a maid (with three little attention seekers on tow hehe)