Trust Issues

In the three years since we started hiring, we've had thirteen (13) maids work for us. Some, who stayed for less than a week, I didn't include in the count anymore.

When well meaning friends and relatives (and parents) noticed how often our maids would come and go, I would always receive the same advise - lower your standards. If the work they do is below my expectations, just turn a blind eye. If they pretend to not hear me when I talk to them, don't say anything, lest the maids get mad and decide to up and go. If they get food from our refrigerator without my permission, make a mental note of it but pretend not to notice. Just so the maids will stay.

By the time we were with our 7th hire, I decided to listen to the advise. Never mind that the pots and pans aren't clean, or that they go out of the house in the middle of the night for some lusty rendezvouz with their boyfriends. I was playing blind and dumb - something I do not like doing.

For several months after my decision, the length of time they spent here working SHORTENED, from months, to weeks, to days. Harharhar.

Our 11th maid refused to work because she said it was not part of the agreement with the agency. Because, you know, as a maid, she's not obliged to clean, wash the dishes and do the laundry. I never asked what she thought she was supposed to do as a maid. She left.

Our 12th maid, after 4 days of working for us, wanted to go on a day off and wanted to borrow money from me, even with her unpaid dues from the agency. But thanks to a good friend who told me to be firm with money issues, I didn't give her the amount she wanted. She left. (Thanks Joe!!)

Our 13th maid, currently working for us, did this:





My hubby and I operate an online store, and for pick ups, we ask buyers to pick up the items from our house and leave the payment in a sealed envelope.

As I was opening this envelope last night, I noticed how there were holes near the parts where the staple wires are (check out the three encircled parts in red). The size of the previous holes and current staple wires don't even match. Who would make it a point to carefully staple on the part where it was previously stapled? And why do dut?!?!

So my hunch is - our current maid did it. The money is untouched, but I'm pissed that she feels it's her right to open things that aren't hers.

I decided last night, to stop playing this dumb and blind game. It's not working anyway - they just seem to get worse and worse. I pay the agreed amount for their salary, so I should get what I expect from them.

So this Sunday, I am asking her to leave. Even with no replacement. And I have to say, I'm so looking forward to this Sunday. :)

Happy 4th!

It was our 4th anniversary last Friday. Four years. F O U R years. Has it really been four years since we officially made public our decision to spend the rest of our lives together? :)

We celebrated by going out to dinner at Sofitel's Spiral. Other people would balk at the thought of spending a romantic evening stuffing themselves full (yes, I mean you Liza :)). But since we looooove to eat, and we looooove buffets, and it would only be the two of us (no Chloe), it was an evening we both looked forward to.

During dinner, I cannot remember how many times I told Mike how differently I felt, not having to look after Chloe, or run around the place going after her. For the first time in weeks, I felt like a dignified adult. :) Well, it is hard to look dignified when you're running around in heels catching a toddler, or when you're feeding your baby with a spoon, and she pushes your hand away, causing the food to fall on your brand new shirt. It was a relief to be spending our anniversary with just the two of us. Don't get us wrong. We love our daughter very much. Just that sometimes, we need time for ourselves too.

So for that one evening, we talked about ourselves, reminisced about the past, talked about our plans, what we wanted, how we felt. In short, it was really a night spent just talking... something we haven't done for quite a long time now. And something I'd like to do again sometime soon. (HINT HONEY... HINT!!!)

No pictures taken of the food. We were too busy ooohing and aaahing the food selections. Sadly, the food was disappointing. Quality wasn't good. But, since it was our anniversary dinner, we will overlook those things and remember what it is that stood out -- the chocolate gelato. Ummmm... YUMMY!!! We did try to ask the brand of gelato they carried, but we were politely rebuffed. :)

Happy 4th honey!



P.S.
In our excitement, we forgot to bring a camera. So it was a camphone shot for our anniv date :(

It's MY day!

When I picked up Chloe from school, she proudly gave me this heart card she made herself. Of course, with a little help from her teachers. :) She said, "Mommy, this is for you!"

I could almost hear the other moms around me awwwwwwing in silence. It took all of my willpower to not cry right then and there.

I never knew how much love I could feel and give.. until I became a mother.

Happy mother's day to all the moms out there!

Alive..and kicking

It's been almost one and a half months since our maid left, barely a month since our yaya left. We haven't had any suitable replacement since.

It has been an exhausting ninety days of non stop housework.

Clean the toilet, clean the room, prepare breakfast, cook Chloe's baon, wash dishes, dry dishes, sweep floor, mop floor, take out trash, clean toilet, clean shower.....

By the time I finish with housework, I'm dead tired. Which is why this blog post (and some previous posts) are posted at an ungodly hour.

But, I have never been happier than I am now.

Happy, but tired, but happy nonetheless. Happy in knowing that my dishes and pans are washed the way I like them, and that my floors are completely free of grime and dirt. Happy with not having to deal with the maid's personal issues, which, most of the time, end up with them wanting to borrow money from us. (And me giving in, because I don't want them to pack up and leave. Stupid, I know.)

And most of all, happy to be getting to spend all this time with Chloe. :)

In fact, I'm seriously considering not getting a maid and yaya na. But Mike, the realistic person that he is, thinks that we should. I know he's right. But I just wish there was some way we could work around this maidless and yayaless situation and not be tired all the time.

A Sunday surprise

Woke up one Sunday morning with this sweet surprise from Val....

After a looooooooooong week of cleaning the house, washing dishes and bottles non stop, and cleaning the shower and toilet, it felt good to be able to indulge with my favorite drink.

Thanks Val!!

One busy Monday morning....

".... he is a malambing uncle to Chloe. He always finds time to play with her, despite his very busy schedule. You know Rich, you once told me that you are worried that when you become a father, you might not know what to do. I see you with Chloe, and I see how good you are to her, and I tell you, you have nothing to worry about."

~taken from my speech for their wedding

Scrambled Eggs

One hot Saturday morning, Chloe gamely agreed to cook breakfast with mommy.

(1) Check out the I-just-got-out-of-bed get up. Animal print headband - check. Gold chains - check.

(2) While the eggs were cooking, she wanted to eat them already. :) I had to remind her so many times to let the eggs set. How many babies know what it means to wait for the eggs to set? :)

(3) The proud chef :) Pardon the hair. As I said, it was really hot. And my daughter is not one to let the weather dictate her outfit for the day.

(4) And because she cooked it, of course she ate it, with no begging from mama.

And one day, when she becomes a great chef, she can say during interviews that she cooked her first meal at the age of two. :)

One day at a time....

Brunch with Val at Bannapple, Il Terrazzo

Some backpack lovin with Giant Dora at Megamall's toy section

The cracks on our brand new and FREE toilet tank cover made me cry.

But this one cracked me up!!