Maids blues?
I read with anxiety yet another case of maid abducting the child of her employer from the Star today, headlined Cabby foils Indon maid’s attempt to abduct girl. Something must have happened to drive the maid to abduct the girl and based on the mother’s explanation, the maid has suffered emotional trauma following her husband’s recent death and the maid explained that she had no intention to abduct the girl. From what I read, she co-operated with the taxi driver who found them and eventually the girl returned safe and unharmed to the parents.
I have read and heard lots of horror stories from the parenting forum which I am active in and this topic was widely discussed there and at the same time, we have also read and heard horror stories of maids’ abuses by employers
Saropah, my maid, has been with me for more than 4 years. I have nothing but praise and respect for this lady who has been such a fantastic nanny to my 2 wonderful heroes, who takes care of our welfare while we are at work, who calls me to report to me if my children misbehave etc. She is like an elder sister to me and my relationship with her is more than just an employer and a worker.
I motivate her by giving her annual increment, bonus and incentive for her well-done job. A small price to us means a world to her. We brought her along in family trips. From this year onwards, we will also let her go back home for Hari Raya annually instead of bi-annually. Since then, she has been flying for me, working harder than ever. It is definitely a win-win situation for both of us.
As empoyer, we just need to compromise with each other’s setbacks, that is if it is not over board. We need to understand the maid’s needs. Place yourself in her shoes. You are not educated. You leave the comfort of your home and your family in search of greener pasture. You go to an alien country whose culture is totally different from yours. You are exposed to all kinds of machines which you have never seen in your life and expected to know how to operate it from day one. How would you feel, how would you react if you have a fussy employer who would jump at you for every mistake you made? Much as we are worried to get a lousy maid, they are also worried to work for a lousy employer.
Nobody is perfect. Not you nor your maid.
