Totally frustrated

Day started badly.
Last nite, specifically told Doisa to prepare breakfast for 3 people. (Ham & Cheese sandwich for Bro, Be and myself).
0530hrs, heard that she was cooking in the kitchen - everything seems going according to plans. Work up @0600, first thing she told me, Bro took all 3 portions of breakfast... how can someone be so muddle head? take 3 portions of breakfast without checking and asking? No more bread left, so ask her to steam some buns for us to take to office.
Next, Charlene.... she was so slow in taking her breakfast today. Have to grumble, nag, scold before she took a small bite and swallow... what is wrong with this young lady? have to nearly "force" her to take her food regardless of whether it is breakfast, lunch or dinner.

She is making me like a old lady nagging over the simplest thing everyday..
Just when we were about to leave the house, saw that Doisa has changed Charlene into her uniforms - asked if she has taken her cod liver oil... no... don't have a good feeling when she gave Charlene her cod liver oil. 1 small mouthful and she vomited everything that she took in the morning.

ARRHHHH, this girl really knows how to do things at the right time. Changed her quickly and went down stairs as Ben is waiting for us... We are already late.
In the car, talked to Charlene about her behaviour - told her that it is unacceptable. Then suddenly remember, SHIT, I forgot my own breakfast... so, not a good start at work, no breakfast to eat!!


When I came back last nite from shopping, I was being told by mum that Doisa was napping at the couch. Then she started comparing Rowena and Doisa again... these days, everyone wants to compare the 2... everyone thinks that Rowena is good.. I have to explain that Rowena was here for nearly 2 years, got a lot of feedback before she gotten to the state she was in before she left.. after 2 years, she was still not good @ personal hygiene and cooking, only good @ housekeeping. Doisa has only been here for 3 weeks - give her some time lah.. these people only want to tell the maid good things, I ask Doisa to mop the floor using cloth, Mum says too tedious, ask her to use mop instead... then start to complain to me that she nap in the afternoon. Asking her to mop the floor using cloth is one way of keeping her occupied. If we choose to let her take the easy way out, then how can we blame her for not having anything to do by mid-day?
Then its about food, tell me that Doisa knows how to choose what she wants to eat, ate the entire mango while Rowena would have taken the centre portion and leave some mango for the kids. Hello, who is the one that told Doisa that she can take everything she wants from the fridge? I never told her that she can take anything she wants from the fridge. It was mum, now she is complaining to me that she took what was meant for the children...

Maids are like that, don't expect them to take the initiative to save the good food for the children. They need to be told what they can or cannot do. Everyone wants to be nice, no one wants to tell the maid what is the proper way to act. Then start telling me that she didn't do this, didn't do that...

AARH... why am I feeling so stress and frustrated? I have thinking about the baby, hope he is growing fine, think about sleeping arrangement when baby arrives, think about Brandon's Primary One registration, think about how to train new maid, think about work, think about how to tell the maid what to do when at MIL place, think think think... have also been throwing things away to make way for baby, i kinda of feel stressed cramping up in that small room... its like a small warehouse with things everywhere....I felt that I am a grumpy old lady... and I don't want to be so...so from now on, I will just do my things - don't expect anything from anyone... they can leave in their own way...

Day off

Day off today, with no MEETINGS planned...
Made arrangement to go for facial with Ben.. he had the chance to go for a 90min massage + steam bath. Me not so lucky, beautician and massasue both on leave, so have to get someone totally new for facial. (not that she did a bad job... it was ok)
Ate Swensen's for lunch (1-for-1)... would say it was a good deal... S$29 for 2 pax (with drinks + soup)

Went to Kaki Bukit - learnt from forum that they have baby stuff selling cheap... was disappointed to see the lack of range. Kiddy Palace would have been better. Ben wanted to head home after the shopping, but I wanted to continue.. so dropped off at Lot 1 and bought more baby stuff there... applied for the VIP card so I get to enjoy 10% off. Its definetly better than going to Kakit Bukit.
Been there... done that!

Came home, cooked for the children (Fried Rice)... Brandon requested for it this morning...
After dinner, finally got the 2 men in the house to help clean up the store room... managed to at least identify what are the things we need to give or throw.
Dont think Mum is happy we are trying to get her to throw things out... but she has not been using the agar agar tray nor cake tins for a few years now... and I dont suppose she has the time in the future... so, off goes the utensils.

Week 30 - the final leg

Haven been blogging - was kept busy at work and at home
Meanwhile, got a new maid (has been with us for 3 weeks now).. she is definitely smarter than Rownena... def provides a new set of issues. She is 24 years old, Doisa, collage student, we have no problems in communicating our instructions to her. Has 2 girls age 4 & 2 and has 2 sisters working in SG a couple of years now.

She was able to finish her household tasks at about 1500 hrs everyday... so she asked if she can on the TV... I didn't kind of reply, will give her a formal reply if she asked again... do you think we can watch TV @ work even though we have nothing to do? She does not like to go HV for additional household chores... We used to pay Rowena about S$5/week to help out on household chores whenever we are at Holland. For Diosa, the S$5 is not motivating enough. She prefers not to go there and even asked if she can stayed at home while we go... she was not given the choice...we don't have choice as daughter/son-in-law, less say a maid!

While we will have to wait to see if she is able to cope when the baby comes.. if she gives me problems in terms of wanting off days - then I will have no qualms abut asking her to go.
I have specifically told her in the interview process that she is not allowed to take off days during her first 2 years... and again emphasize this point when she arrived. BTW, having finished her tasks at about 1500hrs, she has got more free time than me... if I am not complaining, she should not as well.
If she don't like the agreement, she can always find another employer.. maybe an expatriate family will be better for her.