Finding the right maid is like finding the right mate. Sometimes you go on the wrong foot and everything ends in a disaster, sometimes it’s ho-hum but you have the feeling that something is missing. Sometimes you thought this is it- the one you have been looking for- but for a few months you’ll end up looking for another.
I have set my sights to one of our former employees in our store, she’s efficient, a good friend, she’s loyal to my parents-her former employers -problem is, she has a family and with three small kids and a Can’t- Manage- Simple- Stuff- guy for a husband- talk about tough luck. She would’ve been perfect- if her kids are all grown up and can manage their own home -even while their parents are both working.
I could go on for all the things I hate about all my former household helps. The first one was quite old, she’s a genius when it comes to laundry specially hand- washing, and ironing; but she’s not too keen when it comes to cleaning, (she uses downy to mop our floors) and rarely wipes the surfaces as instructed to her; one day she just sorta “handed-over” her sister –in-law to me because she has something to do for the weekend, and she never came back- she even brought with her my son’s sandals that I let her unemployed (or so she said) husband repair just to help her out; turned out that this husband of hers is gainfully employed at a shoe factory in Marikina.
Now, her sister in law first appeared to be alert, very courteous and very receptive- which, at first we appreciate but gradually turned out to be such a slob! She’s terrible with household chores (again- another avid fan of downy and, barely deaf at instructions) and, laundry (she once soaked our plain white shirts for three days, and my son’s cloth diapers in this very potent powdered bleach, it ended up having holes in them, not to mention having a steady culture of fungus-eeiw) - Then, there’s this incident where I actually saw one of our soiled trapos in-between neatly folded, newly ironed handkerchiefs! I guess the only thing that she excels at is asking for an advance (she asked for an advance after her first three working days) and eating.
Now, my most recent addition to this roster of horrible maids is a classic-again, this person appears to be the epitome of a perfect maid- my age range (30-35 yrs. Old), alert, receptive, efficient, very disciplined, and has no irritating habit of asking for an advance- or so I thought, after almost two months of working, she gradually evolved from cautious employee to a very bossy employee. She never helped my mom with the trash, she never cleaned her mug or used plate for Merienda whenever she irons our clothes and she sold our used bottles and old stuff to the junkshop without our permission. She even borrowed the slippers that my son is using and telling him to use the one that I put in the trash- prompting my child to take his slippers from the trash and wear it. I was so angry that I want to fire her immediately- but then again, to whom shall I hand over the laundry? Since I can’t barely manage especially right now that I’m about to give birth in September, I just have to grin and bear it –for now.
I envy one of my friends- after my hapless text message asking everyone I knew if they could refer somebody to me she texted back, asking why. So, I told her my horrid story. After reassuring me that she would help out, she told me how happy and contented she is now with her maid of two months. She told me that this person takes very good care of them.
Upon waking up every morning-she would find that breakfast is ready, and mind you- fried rice, she always feeds them with rice and breakfast stuff every morning. All of her girls stuff is ready so that all her daughters have to do is eat, get dressed and go to school. My dear friend didn’t even need to lift a finger since everything is being done by her trusty maid-even cooking lunch, Merienda and dinner, washing up the kids, cleaning and laundry, going to the market (she can juggle the food budget well) and watching over the girls while my friend is attending her nursing class-not to mention sewing and replacing all her old pillowcases! All of these for just P2000 a month as her maid’s starting salary (to think that I have to pay mine P2500, no cooking, no marketing, just laundry and cleaning, she wouldn’t even bother looking after my kid). She told me that she immediately gave her a raise so her maid’s pay now is already P2500. How I wish I could also have that kind of blessing.
I learned a thing or two about my friend’s experience, 1st- not to be too generous immediately with the helpers, and 2nd, always make it a point to communicate well especially with regards to the rules of the house and what you expect them to do. In my friend’s case, she’s lucky because she hired a helper that is efficient, can manage well without constant supervision and can work with heart-qualities that I find rare nowadays.
I hope I’ll get lucky and find this ideal maid- tomorrow’s a new day.
By the way… our latest maid runneth with no particular valid reason- just a short text message that her aunt came back from Laguna and asked for her company “ sinasama po ako ng tiya ko, di ko na po mapa-hindian..” According to her text;
I have no idea where this aunt of hers took her- to hell perhaps?
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