two maids

[Grace.]

I can see where the OP is coming from, and I think it's good on her for not wanting to overwork her maids.

I am a SAHM, without a live-in maid, and by the end of the evening I am completely exhausted.... cooking for everyone, washing up, tidying up, getting packed lunches ready for the next day, doing shopping lists for the next day.... all in addition to running around after, looking after and giving attention to my kids.  

However I have part time help with cleaning and ironing.  So a full time maid would be doing ALL those things I've been doing, which exhaust me, ON TOP of all the cleaning and ironing.

Sometimes, in the evenings, I wonder about all the maids out there, and think how knackered they must feel.... and it's not even their own families that they're looking after.  

So if the OP can afford to spread the work load, why not?

[Makes sense]

I've a friend with two maids and she's a SAHM. She's got a large bungalow, four school-aged children (imagine the laundry duty alone!), and a husband whose station in life requires a certain amount of entertaining in the home and outside, plus they always seem to have houseguests. By the time she's got the husband all sorted and off to work, run the kids to and from school and activities and whatnot and managed all the marketing and errands, it's dinnertime already. 

[the judge and the jury]

including you SAE are all out in full force! Each to his own I say, as long as you treat your helpers well. If people spent half the time they did commenting nastily about lifestyles of others, on more productive things - the world would be a better place.

[24/7????]

What a friend of mine did in South Africa when she had 3 small children to look after was employ one full time maid who had off every Thursday afternoon, Saturday afternoon and Sunday plus a part timer who came in when the other was off.  She found that it worked out well until the kids were a bit older and able to fend for themselves more. 

In my opinion, I do not see the need for two maids at all.  Surely the fact that your husband is away does not warrant two people to take his place.  In the Western world a lot of women work, have children and do all their own housework - whilst its not easy it is doable.  I just cant think of enough work to keep two people fully occupied 24/7 in a house no matter how many kids you have. 

Even the most inhumane employers would not keep their maids busy 24/7. 

Get over yourselves; the OP wants to do the best she can both at home and at work, and if two maids can make that happen, then more power to her.

[too much]

I've a friend with two maids and she's a SAHM. She's got a large bungalow, four school-aged children (imagine the laundry duty alone!), and a husband whose station in life requires a certain amount of entertaining in the home and outside, plus they always seem to have houseguests. By the time she's got the husband all sorted and off to work, run the kids to and from school and activities and whatnot and managed all the marketing and errands, it's dinnertime already. 

She's going to be in a right pickle when they get repatriated back home again!

[my experience]

I considered this myself when my children were very young and I went back to work.  In the end I had a chat with my maid and she said she would rather do the extra work herself.  I agreed to pay her more.  This was a big mistake because she couldn't cope with the extra work.  She looked after the children well but the house was a tip and she took lots of shortcuts with housework etc.  She was also always getting sick because she was exhausted.  In retrospect I should have either had two maids, or got a part timer in a couple of times  week to help with the laundry and cleaning. 

The thing is, if you work full time, you are exhausted when you get home and really just want to spend the evenings with your family.  It's a nightmare in the west, where you have to do all the household chores in the evenings and weekends when you want to be spending quality time with your family.

Agree with the person who recommended sisters. I have a friend with two maids who are sisters and it seems to work well.  Also have one as your main maid and clearly delegate tasks. 

[Makes sense]

I've a friend with two maids and she's a SAHM. She's got a large bungalow, four school-aged children (imagine the laundry duty alone!), and a husband whose station in life requires a certain amount of entertaining in the home and outside, plus they always seem to have houseguests. By the time she's got the husband all sorted and off to work, run the kids to and from school and activities and whatnot and managed all the marketing and errands, it's dinnertime already. 

She's going to be in a right pickle when they get repatriated back home again!

I'm pretty sure that she can afford to keep two maids back home, too.

[Even if]

she can't, why not utilise the opportunity while the children are young to have that extra back-up?

Maybe she shouldn't take the children to the zoo, out in the sun, to the beach etc. etc. because she may not be able to do that 'back home'

[To the drama queen]

In case you hadn't noticed, this is not the 'western world' as the PPP put it.  I don't often battle Cobras and Hand, Foot & Mouth disease at home in the western world.

And to the PP.  Watch who you are calling pathetic.  If someone has the means to employ all that help and they treat them fairly, who are you to judge?  I find your envious, snarky remark pathetic.

How often have you battled cobras? How often have you battled HF&M disease? And what the heck does that have to do with having a maid.
Battle cobras... You are such a clown!

[Don't be silly]

Of course you need two. Heavens, when one maid is busy doing whatever it is that maids do, I still need an extra one to settle my guests at the pool.

[The Mind Boggles]

In case you hadn't noticed, this is not the 'western world' as the PPP put it.  I don't often battle Cobras and Hand, Foot & Mouth disease at home in the western world.

And to the PP.  Watch who you are calling pathetic.  If someone has the means to employ all that help and they treat them fairly, who are you to judge?  I find your envious, snarky remark pathetic.

How often have you battled cobras? How often have you battled HF&M disease? And what the heck does that have to do with having a maid.
Battle cobras... You are such a clown!

What does that have to do with having a maid?  I've lived here 18 years and raised up four children. We have had 12 or so snakes in the garden over the years, one which ate my neighbor's dog) monkeys, monitor lizards, rats in the kitchen, dangerous swarms of bees, all things I probably wouldn't have had to face back home.  Have you ever been flat on your back with Dengue?  Well I have - twice.  First time in '94 I wasn't hospitalized, second time I was.  I guess I could have let the kids fend for themselves while I was being pampered in the hospital rather than have a maid to help me.  I can tell you from lots of experience that maids do things in Singapore I would never need help with back home. My point is 'this isn't back home' it is an entirely different culture and climate.  Stuff your judgement and your condescension and please keep your name calling on the playground where it belongs.

[Mr DVD]

In case you hadn't noticed, this is not the 'western world' as the PPP put it.  I don't often battle Cobras and Hand, Foot & Mouth disease at home in the western world.

And to the PP.  Watch who you are calling pathetic.  If someone has the means to employ all that help and they treat them fairly, who are you to judge?  I find your envious, snarky remark pathetic.

How often have you battled cobras? How often have you battled HF&M disease? And what the heck does that have to do with having a maid.
Battle cobras... You are such a clown!

What does that have to do with having a maid?  I've lived here 18 years and raised up four children. We have had 12 or so snakes in the garden over the years, one which ate my neighbor's dog) monkeys, monitor lizards, rats in the kitchen, dangerous swarms of bees, all things I probably wouldn't have had to face back home.  Have you ever been flat on your back with Dengue?  Well I have - twice.  First time in '94 I wasn't hospitalized, second time I was.  I guess I could have let the kids fend for themselves while I was being pampered in the hospital rather than have a maid to help me.  I can tell you from lots of experience that maids do things in Singapore I would never need help with back home. My point is 'this isn't back home' it is an entirely different culture and climate.  Stuff your judgement and your condescension and please keep your name calling on the playground where it belongs.

I can hardly wait for your story to come out on video. (hpefully with English sub titles)

[londonwall]

my neighbours and colleagues who experience two maids have the same problems - talk too much or quarrel too much because of work balance. If you are a clever boss, you can win them. There are some families around us have 2 maids.

[All for it]

Having two maids is great if you can afford it. One to look after the children and the other to do the housework. Just make sure you divide the chores fairly and make it clear that the children's welfare comes first.
 

[Lady Luck]

In case you hadn't noticed, this is not the 'western world' as the PPP put it.  I don't often battle Cobras and Hand, Foot & Mouth disease at home in the western world.

And to the PP.  Watch who you are calling pathetic.  If someone has the means to employ all that help and they treat them fairly, who are you to judge?  I find your envious, snarky remark pathetic.

How often have you battled cobras? How often have you battled HF&M disease? And what the heck does that have to do with having a maid.
Battle cobras... You are such a clown!

What does that have to do with having a maid?  I've lived here 18 years and raised up four children. We have had 12 or so snakes in the garden over the years, one which ate my neighbor's dog) monkeys, monitor lizards, rats in the kitchen, dangerous swarms of bees, all things I probably wouldn't have had to face back home.  Have you ever been flat on your back with Dengue?  Well I have - twice.  First time in '94 I wasn't hospitalized, second time I was.  I guess I could have let the kids fend for themselves while I was being pampered in the hospital rather than have a maid to help me.  I can tell you from lots of experience that maids do things in Singapore I would never need help with back home. My point is 'this isn't back home' it is an entirely different culture and climate.  Stuff your judgement and your condescension and please keep your name calling on the playground where it belongs.

Wow, I've lived here 10 years and had none of that. You must be one of the most unlucky people in Singapore!