What Would You Do?

New maid arrived at my house on 08 Apr evening. She appeared timid and not sociable at first sight but I am quite ok with such qualities. I briefed her on her duties and allowed her to sleep at about 930pm that night. She woke up at 630am the following morning.On the first evening, she attempted to open door to someone standing at the door. I stopped her, indicating to her the dangers of letting strangers into the house. However, on 09 Apr afternoon, I heard someone press the doorbell. I was changing Gareth's soiled diaper after he poo-ed, and when I stepped out of my bedroom, I was horrified to see two strangers smiling at me and standing in my dining room. Maid didn't inform me that she had opened door and when I confronted her, she argued that these two persons claimed themselves to be people checking on the aircon. I got very upset with her because she didn't seem apologetic at first and she didn't think that she was in the wrong.

On her second night, she went to bed on her own accord at 9pm. I was out with Greg for a while, whereas Gareth was asleep and KengYong on the phone. KengYong said maid didn't ask him if she could sleep early and he didn't even know the maid has gone to bed already.Anyway, I woke maid up. She could spell out those duties (e.g., ensuring there's enough hot water in flask, throw rubbish etc) that she needs to fulfill before she sleeps and when I questioned her if she did all that, she could simply reply not yet. Arrrghhhh! I never expect her to be so daring on the second day..

I got quite upset with her "no big no small" attitude too. For instance, she would choose to wear my slippers even though her shoes were beside mine! Or after drinking her water, she prefers to put her cup (unwashed) beside mine! Last but not least, after washing her utensils, she would place them above ours (though I gave her a proper place to put hers) and letting the water drip down. I am so so angry.

Neither did she seem to have experiences with babies and young kids (as stated in her biodata). She freaked out when Gareth regurgitated his milk and she seemed to find it a chore playing with Greg.Greg told me he didn't like her.

Well, apart from all these, she has her strengths. She could understand English generally better than most Indo maids and she learns things fast. She did change somewhat after the first few days and she seemed more tamed now. However, I have this feeling that her change may be a temporary one. Her true colours may reappear after her loan is cleared. I am not sure. Sigh.. I am now in a dilemma if I should simply change for another one. She's now trying hard to do things right, and being more involved in playing with my two boys.

If you were I, what would you do? Would you change for a new helper immediately? Or would you observe her for another couple of weeks? On what basis would you change her? I do feel pretty insecure with her at my house because I don't know what she would do when there's no one at home. I do not even feel safe to leave my two boys in her care alone for 5 minutes with me out of the house. Sigh!

Well, she may be on her toes now. Just now I got her to keep an eye on Greg while I put Gareth to sleep. Greg, as usual, would play quite crazily. He was throwing pillows on the floor, jumping here and there etc. I went out to peep.. maid went "zerk zerk" and giving Greg some angry look (as if he's giving her extra work to do) but when she saw me, she quickly said "GorGor, don't be so naughty ok?" in a very caring tone. Ei year..I think she can be quite angelic when I am around... I really dare not imagine what would happen if KengYong and I were not present. Hmmm... or am I worrying too much over nothing??..