my maid is bored

[anjing]

Our baby is due in 9 weeks, so we started to look for a maid who will predominantly take care of the baby when I return to work in the New Year, but will also have domestic responsibilities.

We didn't expect to find someone we are so happy with so early!  So she started with us 2 weeks ago and we are pleased with the way it is going.

But, she has very little to do at present.  Just cleaning, washing and ironing, and tidying up.  Cooking too which I do with her as I still enjoy cooking.  All the chores must take up about 20 hours a week, even doing them very well and at a slow pace.  I have enrolled her in babycare classes and have bought her notepaper and stamps to write home, but I am worried she is bored, especially as she came from a family of 3 kids where she also did all the cleaning.

I don't want her to ask to leave cos she is bored!

I am spreading her work out over the week, and asking her to do little jobs each day, but I still worry!

We have expressly forbidden her to work for other people part time, no matter how much free time she has, and we intend to stick with this.

Her niece who is also a domestic helper here only gets one day off a month, so she can't even meet up with friends.  I give her one day off a week but the rest of the time I don't want to tell her in advance that she has time off as I don't want to create a rod for my own back for later when I want her to go back to the one day off per week.  I've made it clear she can go for walks when she has no work (but tells us first so we know where she is and when she will be back), and I also told her to watch TV too - I wanted it to be clear she is not restricted like that.

Any ideas or suggestions??

[Karena]

Hi

Here's some suggestions:

Tell her to treat it like a holiday as life will change soon and you will expect more of her then.

Has she cleaned all your shoes, handbags, re-washed all the things in the linen cupboard (they do get musty here), cleaned the silver, polished all the furniture with a nice furniture polish?  These are all things on my spring cleaning list - maybe she could come and do mine?  New recipies is also a good one.

[JD]

Is it time the curtains were cleaned?, sheers can be handwashed or she can take down the drapes and take them to the drycleaners for you. The she can clean the windows and the frames.
Have you any teak furniture that needs to be waxed? She could do that. Clean out all wardrobes and cup***.
Is she doing all your grocery shopping for you plus other errands like going to the post office?
If you have some baby clothes and cot linen in already she could get all those handwashed.
If the baby care course does not have a first aid section to it, enroll her on a proper first aid course.
You could always get her to come out with you when you are shopping for baby things and she can carry the bags for you. Has she looked at the steriliser and pushchair and familiarised herself with how they work/fold down etc?
She and you should make the most of this time,when junior arrives you will be so busy.
Someone told me before our baby was born to "be prepared for how unprepared you will be even if you think you are really well prepared" Its so true.

[Mof2]

Here's my advice: Let her do EVERYTHING because once the baby comes, believe me, she will be doing EVERYTHING. If you are too lax with her now, you are both going to learn the hard way. Someone once told me: Give and inch and they take a mile. It is true of the sweetest maid over time.

I had the same experience as you and once the babies came, our wonderful maid became a completely different person overnight. I guess she suddenly felt as "trapped" as I did as a new mom. No more freedom.

Take the previous poster's advice and find as much for her to do as you can. Especially teach her new recipes and drill her on on first aid.

[bb]

Get her a book or some magazines from where she came from.

[Mum]

9 weeks is not a very long time to wait. Don't worry that she'll ask to leave .. she has an agreement (presumably) to work for you for two years, and having worked for a family with children before knows what's coming. Plus she can't help but notice you are very pregnant and will feel less and less like doing the cooking you still love as you get into the final weeks.

Don't fret about her, fret about yourself .. relax, get your nails done, nap, nest, whatever makes you happy and enjoy these last weeks.

[New Maid Employer]

If your maid enjoys handwork I can highly recommend the quilting courses at Tanglin Mall (not shopping center). You can go, choose fabric, set up lessons, etc. and technically what she quilts is yours (how you handle that in the end is up to you). They begin with small projects, pillows, etc. and work up to more advanced things, all done by hand. Great hobby/skill for those interested!