Maid Issues

Maid or no maid? I was a firm believer of not having a maid until the arrival of the twins. Both of myself and my husband used to share house works when that was just the 2 of us. The maid? We don't trust them, too many scary or horror story about them!!

When my eldest son arrived, I was exploring the option of babysitter or hiring a live-in Chinese maid. I am not the type of person who can stay at home and engage into this 24 hours, 7 days a week and 365 days job without any financial freedom and break. I have the experience of doing this for a month after the confinement lady left. I realised that I do not have the patient and became more emotional. My husband and I used to have a chat of our work, life and occasionally met up for a drink. Since I was babysitting at home the whole day, all I wanted to do when he get home is for him to take care of the baby, so I could prepare dinner (not even bother to be creative), shower and prepare the baby's milk bottle or do any balance of the house works. I realised this was not healthy for our relationship, I need to get back to work. I felt good after going back to work and look forward everyday to come home to see my husband and the baby and to cook for them.

OK. Here is my journey of trying to get a nanny or maid for my precious children while we are at work.  At first, I got my neighbour to babysit. My babysitter decided to become alcoholic less than 2 months taking care of my baby. Thank God, my son was in good health and not harmed. Appreciated my neighbours who have given the information about the behavior of the babysitter. I took my baby back and  decided to get a Chinese live-in nanny. At the beginning, I went through an agency to hire my very 1st Chinese nanny.

Some of you may not know such an agency exist, right? Here are the 2 agencies that hire out local Malaysian maid, mainly Chinese and some Indian.

1. Susan Domestic Agency 

• Location : Cheras and Jalan Pasar off Jalan Pudu
• Contact : 016-331 8040
• Charges: Agency fee - 1 month of the maid's salary. Maid's salary = RM1300-1600/month (depends on live in or not)

I got my first nanny through this agency. However, for whoever wish to engage their service, my advice is you need to be patient. The lady boss, she is a very loud, bad manner person. If you do not have the patient, you will not be able to even listen and talk to her any further. I was pre-warned about her attitude. So at the end I got my nanny.

2. Yee Ku 

• Location : Jalan Pasar Off Jalan Pudu (next door to Susan's)
• Contact : 012-609 1273
• Charges: Agency Fee - RM800. Maid's salary = RM 1300-1600/month

The agency will usually provide a 2 months warranty. If you are not happy, you could change. The live-in nanny will basically take care of the baby, cook for us and including doing the house works. They have to go on a break a day per week.

My 1st nanny has done an excellent job in taking care of my son but unfortunately she gone crazy after 8 months after I banned her from taking my baby out everyday to hawker/restaurant outside to have her meal. I was worried that my son or they could be a target of kidnapping or robbery.

With the short notice, I was desperate to get a replacement. I have called all confinement ladies listed in my previous blog and was hoping that 1 of them will be interested to work for me for long term, I wasn't ready to go back to the agency to face the very rude Susan and pay her a month of agency fee again. I did not come to know Yee Ku only till later.

Running out of luck, I resorted to China Press to see whether there is any more maid agency who provide Chinese maid. Then I noticed there are few ads looking for Chinese maid. I was desperate that I call to the persons who advertised and apologised to them that I did not want to apply for the job but would like to enquire them about the responds and their luck in getting the maid. The feed backs were good. All of them who advertised have managed to get a maid within couple of days.

So I called up China Press. The cost to advertise for 3 days was only about RM110. So I placed the ad. and within few days, I have received 7 calls and has arranged for the meet up/interview. So, I got my 2nd nanny finally and minus the agent fees. Yeah!

Then the 2nd nanny worked for us for about 13 months. When I knew I was pregnant with twins, I know I need to get a maid. No way my nanny is able to handle 3 children. Lucky enough, my brother suggested her formal Filipino maid and I managed to get in touch with her and she was willing to come over and work for me. I was not willing to get a stranger through agency to come and stay with us.

Then come another problem. My nanny was not able to cope with 3 children. She decided to quit but promise to do so till I get a replacement. Here we go again, maid problem!!! I think God has been very kind to me from the time I got pregnant. My maid sister is willing to come over and work for me.

So, now I have 2 Filipino assistants who have done an excellent job taking care my children and also the house is spotless clean but the cooking is not so good-la. 2 out of 3 is good enough for me. Priority is the children.