Does anyone have 2 or more live-in maids??? | Page 2 | ExpatWoman.com
 

Does anyone have 2 or more live-in maids???

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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 23 January 2011 - 12:04
I would love to stay at home, look after my kids, have no maid and do the cleaning, unfortunately I have to work, which means I have a maid, which also means she gets to spend more time during the week with my kids than I do.... not my ideal!! Everyone does what the can.
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EW GURU
Latest post on 23 January 2011 - 12:04
I suffer from a spinal disease and I have chronic back and shoulder pain most of the time but the guys at the checkout are really helpful and if there is something really heavy in the car (like water etc) then Dh will bring it into the house when he gets home from work
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 23 January 2011 - 12:03
I don't even think it is an issue to make issue of. If you want and can afford then do so. btw, I cannot bend over a grocery cart due to arthritis. If you see my maid helping me, try to refrain from commenting to my face. So far I have only had Brits do this. Seriously??? (the comments, i mean not the arthritis)yes, seriously. and if I am alone and ask for a packer, I get tutts. especially if I ask the packer to move down and empty my cart for me. I had one behind me this morning and she watched in horror when I called the packer down to get the last item from my trolley which I could not (physically) reach.
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 23 January 2011 - 12:01
I don't even think it is an issue to make issue of. If you want and can afford then do so. btw, I cannot bend over a grocery cart due to arthritis. If you see my maid helping me, try to refrain from commenting to my face. So far I have only had Brits do this. Only read the bending over a grocery cart and fell around laughing, then saw the arthritis! LOLyes, that is my a$$ sticking out of the cart ETA, do not look at the direction of my pineapples <em>edited by Servants Quarters on 23/01/2011</em>
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EW EXPERT
Latest post on 23 January 2011 - 11:58
I don't even think it is an issue to make issue of. If you want and can afford then do so. btw, I cannot bend over a grocery cart due to arthritis. If you see my maid helping me, try to refrain from commenting to my face. So far I have only had Brits do this. Seriously??? (the comments, i mean not the arthritis)
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 23 January 2011 - 11:56
I don't even think it is an issue to make issue of. If you want and can afford then do so. btw, I cannot bend over a grocery cart due to arthritis. If you see my maid helping me, try to refrain from commenting to my face. So far I have only had Brits do this. Only read the bending over a grocery cart and fell around laughing, then saw the arthritis! LOL
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 23 January 2011 - 11:55
I don't even think it is an issue to make issue of. If you want and can afford then do so. btw, I cannot bend over a grocery cart due to arthritis. If you see my maid helping me, try to refrain from commenting to my face. So far I have only had Brits do this.
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 23 January 2011 - 11:53
I don't normally chime in on the maid threads as I only have a once a week agency cleaner (as I did in back home) but after reading all of the nightmare maid threads on here I would never even consider having a live in one involved in my home life let alone two! That's just double trouble surely?
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EW GURU
Latest post on 23 January 2011 - 11:51
Personally I have no problem with people have help if they need it. Some stories you hear though just smack of pure laziness and social one-upmanship. Some women (and not quoting anyone on this board - ;) ) think it is their right to be able to swan around with a maid or two so they can basically do very little all day. I manage to do little all day and not have a maid....
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 23 January 2011 - 11:47
Why do so many women have to suffer of "super-woman" syndrome??? Doing it all by yourself (having a job, raising children, cooking, cleaning, being a good wife) makes you a better mother?? While having a maid/nanny that will allow you some quality time with your kids and husband and doing things on ypur own, makes you a bad mother. Don't think so!!! Our kids are grown up, they don't live with us, we run our own business and, shocker, we have a maid. And plan to have a driver as well soon. So me and my husband can spend our free time reading a book, watching a movie, attending events, being with our friends, etc. Why is it all so bad for some people??? Why do the have to judge the ones who have maids/nannies/house help?? Unless they replace the parents in raising the kids (and that happens sometimes sadly), if one can afford it, say go for it. I bet that a maids salary won't affect the savings parents make in order to send their kids to uni!!! Why yet another judgemental post from someone claiming not to make a judgement? Really does no one ever think out the box on this forum and ask interesting questions?
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 23 January 2011 - 11:46
I have to be honest here, most of the people I know have at least 2 maids and some a driver/s. These are a mixture of expats and locals. The expats I know are also a mixture of nationalities, English, Lebanese and Indian, plus 2 Australian families. I also know of some Brits who have 1 maid, but quite honestly cannot afford it.
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EW GURU
Latest post on 23 January 2011 - 11:43
Why do so many women have to suffer of "super-woman" syndrome??? Doing it all by yourself (having a job, raising children, cooking, cleaning, being a good wife) makes you a better mother?? While having a maid/nanny that will allow you some quality time with your kids and husband and doing things on ypur own, makes you a bad mother. Don't think so!!! Our kids are grown up, they don't live with us, we run our own business and, shocker, we have a maid. And plan to have a driver as well soon. So me and my husband can spend our free time reading a book, watching a movie, attending events, being with our friends, etc. Why is it all so bad for some people??? Why do the have to judge the ones who have maids/nannies/house help?? Unless they replace the parents in raising the kids (and that happens sometimes sadly), if one can afford it, say go for it. I bet that a maids salary won't affect the savings parents make in order to send their kids to uni!!!
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 23 January 2011 - 11:42
After the morning school run I go to the gym, get my nails done, food shopping etc. Grab some lunch. Pick younger kids up by 1pm - they have their afternoon naps I chill out for a couple of hrs...facebook, watching t.v, EW etc. 3pm school run pick up then straight into dropping kids to any activities they might have. I don't get back home until 5pm. Day done! As women we tell each other to take time for ourselves, keep healthy and fit and enjoy life with our family. So, babyrat does exactly what we advocate and many of you start criticising her! Her life sounds great! Enjoy it babyrat. edited by LizziGrace on 23/01/2011 This is a mis quote, Getto Barbie posted this not Baby rat!
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EW GURU
Latest post on 23 January 2011 - 11:40
After the morning school run I go to the gym, get my nails done, food shopping etc. Grab some lunch. Pick younger kids up by 1pm - they have their afternoon naps I chill out for a couple of hrs...facebook, watching t.v, EW etc. 3pm school run pick up then straight into dropping kids to any activities they might have. I don't get back home until 5pm. Day done! As women we tell each other to take time for ourselves, keep healthy and fit and enjoy life with our family. So, babyrat does exactly what we advocate and many of you start criticising her! Her life sounds great! Enjoy it babyrat. edited by LizziGrace on 23/01/2011 I think she needs to employ a driver along with the 2 maids and the nanny..then she can really relax
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 23 January 2011 - 11:37
After the morning school run I go to the gym, get my nails done, food shopping etc. Grab some lunch. Pick younger kids up by 1pm - they have their afternoon naps I chill out for a couple of hrs...facebook, watching t.v, EW etc. 3pm school run pick up then straight into dropping kids to any activities they might have. I don't get back home until 5pm. Day done! As women we tell each other to take time for ourselves, keep healthy and fit and enjoy life with our family. So, Ghettobarbie does exactly what we advocate and many of you start criticising her! Her life sounds great! Enjoy it babyrat. edited by LizziGrace on 23/01/2011 <em>edited by LizziGrace on 23/01/2011</em>
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 23 January 2011 - 11:33
There is a difference between curiosity and judgement, seems to me the ones jumping up and down are making the judgements here not those asking questions. I think asking how the family feels about the long term affects of having so much help is a perfectly reasonable question. I know of an expat family here who has three maids, one for each of the teens and one for the mum and dad, mum doesn't work and the kids are the most obnoxious spoilt brats i have ever come accross. It's hard not to judge that, they worry about sending their children to boarding as the kids will not have their maids in tow.
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 23 January 2011 - 11:28
So basically you have about 7 hours a day where you do nothing... ;)
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 23 January 2011 - 11:28
Yes, I agree with you babyrat. This best mother competition is so rife in Dubai. [color=#000000'>Yes but it's hardly a best mother competition when the maids do the parenting now is it? There is help and there is parenting, don't think anyone is questioning help. I am quite fascinated by the multiple maid syndrome and what the long term afffects on the family will be. I can only think that these expats must be on huge salaries to be able to afford multiple help and wonder if they have planned for their families financial future, ie schooling, Uni, a house, retirement. If they have i wonder what the heck they do and what they do or rather what the DH does. Then i wonder why they are here. Surely we are allowed to wonder?[/color'> edited by Jumeriah Jane on 23/01/2011 Hi. yes you are allowed to wonder. It is just that it is always the same thing when someone posts about maids. Always the - do it yourself - I can do it myself, look at how good I am - theme song going on. And really, is it anyone's business. People have different lifestyles and yes very different income levels - are everyone supposed to live their lives like the next person. And if their husband's earn lots of money, well done! As long as you are happy with your own, that is all that counts. Also how do you guys know if the posters' maids will do all the parenting? It is like suggesting she is a bad mother just like that. So to me this is a constant competition between women - and I feel that lots of women in Dubai have serious issues with their own self esteem as they are so critical of each other. There is no sisterhood, but constant upmanship to make another person feel less good about themselves. I happen to know someone who has two maids, a driver as well. And guess what, the parents are very involved and loving, they have busy lives, he is very well off, children have turned out lovely and respectful of others. Just because you outsource some of the household chores to a househelp, does not you a bad parent make.
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EW GURU
Latest post on 23 January 2011 - 11:26
So how do you spend your days? Not judging but would like to know. My mom took us to the local pool 2x a week, played cards/bridge once a week - in the summer, we went to the beach 2 or 3x per week in winter, my dad (and sometimes my mom if my dad wasn't giving her a break) took us fishing, swimming, skating, tobogganing or just for a Sunday drive or a walk in the woods. BTW my dad travelled at least a week out of every month - again, not judging, but what do you do with your free time? After the morning school run I go to the gym, get my nails done, food shopping etc. Grab some lunch. Pick younger kids up by 1pm - they have their afternoon naps I chill out for a couple of hrs...facebook, watching t.v, EW etc. 3pm school run pick up then straight into dropping kids to any activities they might have. I don't get back home until 5pm. Day done! you are having a laugh So basically you have about 7 hours a day where you do nothing...
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 23 January 2011 - 11:20
After the morning school run I go to the gym, get my nails done, food shopping etc. Grab some lunch. Pick younger kids up by 1pm - they have their afternoon naps I chill out for a couple of hrs...facebook, watching t.v, EW etc. 3pm school run pick up then straight into dropping kids to any activities they might have. I don't get back home until 5pm. Day done! you are having a laugh What is there to laugh about - I think that seems a pretty much full on day - do you know the poster and her circumstances no - why are people so jealous here - life is about choices - live it - get a life and stop worrying about what other people choose to do with their life! I agree with you Babyrat. However, it appears to me that some people with maids protest too much about how much they have to do. Ghetto Barbie's days sound nice, busy but nice- time for the gym, manicure, internet etc. A maid (or maids or legions of staff) is a personal choice but I think those with should recognise that it is a luxury, that it does makes their lives easier and not (in some cases) sound so hard done by.
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 23 January 2011 - 11:18
Yes, I agree with you babyrat. This best mother competition is so rife in Dubai. [color=#000000'>Yes but it's hardly a best mother competition when the maids do the parenting now is it? There is help and there is parenting, don't think anyone is questioning help. I am quite fascinated by the multiple maid syndrome and what the long term afffects on the family will be. I can only think that these expats must be on huge salaries to be able to afford multiple help and wonder if they have planned for their families financial future, ie schooling, Uni, a house, retirement. If they have i wonder what the heck they do and what they do or rather what the DH does. Then i wonder why they are here. Surely we are allowed to wonder?[/color'> <em>edited by Jumeriah Jane on 23/01/2011</em>
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 23 January 2011 - 11:11
Yes, I agree with you babyrat. This best mother competition is so rife in Dubai. Can women no longer feel better about themselves unless they have to critizice and make fun of other people's choices. This post has become as usual - poster asks a valid question and then all the mother of the year candidates join in to explain how it can be done without a maid. Sometimes I am wondering what goes on in people's minds. One time I read a post here where people were criticizing women who liked to look good - someone had actually had a pedicure and hair blow dried to go to an event, wow, what a crime! Must be a bad mother as well for taking care of herself.
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EW GURU
Latest post on 23 January 2011 - 10:50
After the morning school run I go to the gym, get my nails done, food shopping etc. Grab some lunch. Pick younger kids up by 1pm - they have their afternoon naps I chill out for a couple of hrs...facebook, watching t.v, EW etc. 3pm school run pick up then straight into dropping kids to any activities they might have. I don't get back home until 5pm. Day done! you are having a laugh What is there to laugh about - I think that seems a pretty much full on day - do you know the poster and her circumstances no - why are people so jealous here - life is about choices - live it - get a life and stop worrying about what other people choose to do with their life!
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 23 January 2011 - 10:03
After the morning school run I go to the gym, get my nails done, food shopping etc. Grab some lunch. Pick younger kids up by 1pm - they have their afternoon naps I chill out for a couple of hrs...facebook, watching t.v, EW etc. 3pm school run pick up then straight into dropping kids to any activities they might have. I don't get back home until 5pm. Day done! You should consider getting a driver so that you have more "me" time. **like**
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 23 January 2011 - 10:02
So how do you spend your days? Not judging but would like to know. My mom took us to the local pool 2x a week, played cards/bridge once a week - in the summer, we went to the beach 2 or 3x per week in winter, my dad (and sometimes my mom if my dad wasn't giving her a break) took us fishing, swimming, skating, tobogganing or just for a Sunday drive or a walk in the woods. BTW my dad travelled at least a week out of every month - again, not judging, but what do you do with your free time? After the morning school run I go to the gym, get my nails done, food shopping etc. Grab some lunch. Pick younger kids up by 1pm - they have their afternoon naps I chill out for a couple of hrs...facebook, watching t.v, EW etc. 3pm school run pick up then straight into dropping kids to any activities they might have. I don't get back home until 5pm. Day done! you are having a laugh
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EW MASTER
Latest post on 23 January 2011 - 09:57
After the morning school run I go to the gym, get my nails done, food shopping etc. Grab some lunch. Pick younger kids up by 1pm - they have their afternoon naps I chill out for a couple of hrs...facebook, watching t.v, EW etc. 3pm school run pick up then straight into dropping kids to any activities they might have. I don't get back home until 5pm. Day done! You should consider getting a driver so that you have more "me" time. I can't for the life of me tell if this is genuine or sarcastic :)
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 23 January 2011 - 09:51
After the morning school run I go to the gym, get my nails done, food shopping etc. Grab some lunch. Pick younger kids up by 1pm - they have their afternoon naps I chill out for a couple of hrs...facebook, watching t.v, EW etc. 3pm school run pick up then straight into dropping kids to any activities they might have. I don't get back home until 5pm. Day done! You should consider getting a driver so that you have more "me" time.
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EW OLDHAND
Latest post on 23 January 2011 - 06:43
Expats seem to breed like rabbits with a bit of Sun. Its probably because of the price of sunblock. No-one can afford it anymore so they stay indoors and what with not even being able to afford Orbit either - what else is there to do? Especially when the kids are away being brought up by the maids. Its job creation really. Get a maid, have another child, have another child, get another maid - its goes on and on and on. No wonder the Philipines government is laughing all the way to the bank. And as a point of interest - just how many pair of shoes does their Presidents wife have? <em>edited by DesertRose1958 on 23/01/2011</em>
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EW OLDHAND
Latest post on 23 January 2011 - 06:35
Maids should be banned for all! I never had a maid or will, I have worked full time and part time, had 2 kids and managed to do all without extra help. I do not understand why people complain all the time, I think they should learn how to manage their time better. Now, I don't work and I could not imagine having someone around the house and myself doing nothing! It feels too colonial...I live in the 21st century! Two kids, a sometimes job, no help - pah thats nothing. Loads of people do it. Now what really is something is the lady we had here last week who has 7 children, a full time job and no help. She really did deserve to be patting herself on the back. To the OP - if you need 2 maids then why not? Only you will be aware of your personal circumstances and what's bringing you to this conclusion. Its your set of circumstance, no one else's, and if it makes you feel any better about things - I have 7 employees on the household payroll. People who know me know why, and those who don't - don't. It really is as simple as that. <em>edited by DesertRose1958 on 23/01/2011</em>
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 23 January 2011 - 00:25
For personal reasons we are considering getting another maid. Does any of you ladies have more than one maid? How do you make it work? Ours maids room is really big so they would be sleeping in the same room (on bunk beds, each one with own wardrobe). They are both from the same country and are good friends. Did you divide the duties or is it best to let them do it? Anything else I should know? Anything I shouldn't do?! I would really appreciate your advice. Thank you. We do and it has been WONDERFUL! We had our first maid for several years and decided on another one to help with new baby (it takes a village to raise a child, and by God, I will have a village even if I have to hire them:). In our situation, our long-time maid knows how we like the house run and she sees to it that the duties are allocated fairly. So far, she has been good, but if there is an issue we will definitely nip that in the bud. Not sure what to tell you in terms of what to do and what not to do. Since they are friends, it might be worth it to talk to have a talk about you would like to handle things in the event of disagreement between them? One thing that is nice, my helps speaks English in front of me most of the time, this is really nice--they don't have to do it, I haven't asked them, but I definitely appreciate it. Good luck with your decision!
 
 

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