Suited for You

Months ago I was very troubled about hiring a house help. It's just that our first experience was sort of unpredictable. At first, everything went well. We oriented her about the daily work in the house and explained to her that her only priority was Dwayne's stuff. Get his clothes washed everyday. Get his feeding bottles cleaned and sterilized every night. And do other necessary things at home like wash dishes, clean tables, furniture, etc. Other than that, we would take care of it.

During that time, my mom was in Vietnam. She just started her way of applying for jobs, meeting people and knowing the place. So, it was expected that money was not yet in the works. We had to save and cut off budget. We had to be very careful and planned very specifically only our needs. It was a trying time for us. We sacrificed big time. From time to time we would argue about money. There were moments where we'd almost try to eat each other just because we were at adjusting our way through. It was the first time, there was no mother in the house who takes care of everything. It was only us. And all of us had something to say. There was too much friction.

Perhaps our helper would hear money issues. It's quite normal for a household. It's always about the money. Otherwise, how would we survive. Even if you have millions, if you don't know how to spend it well, it will be gone in a matter days. We wouldn't want that. For some reason, I don't know what she was thinking, maybe she thought she was some kind of  a burden for us. Because after three months I think, she just took off. She said she would go home for the weekend and she will come back. We just found out and she texted us that she wouldn't come back anymore because one of her aunts will send her to school in the barrio. So, I didn't give her a reply. I was disappointed and worried.

I didn't know what to do. I couldn't work and do household chore at the same time. It wasn't possible. Who will wash Dwayne's clothes? sterilize his bottles everyday? But yes, I had to do it. I'm just really thankful that my sisters and my father were very helpful in that aspect. Mel's mom was also helpful in offering to wash Dwayne's clothes at times too. It really helped a lot. The things is, it still was difficult. I wanted someone full time on this so we could focus on our jobs to provide for Dwayne. I was hopeless.

After two months I was already getting used to the idea. What startled me was that this person who quit her job was constantly calling my sister. She said she was already working for another relative. And that she would want to visit Dwayne because she missed him. And I really didn't see her point of doing so. I mean, if you leave, you leave. Don't give us mixed signals. We want straight intentions not anything else. True indeed, she expressed her motives of wanting to come back.And because we really needed someone to clean the house and do the laundry, we hired her again.

This time, there were no questions. We accepted her fully and we hoped that she would stay for good. Once again, just within a span of a month, she quit . Is this some sort of a joke? Are we some sort of  clowns that you play with? I was furious. I didn't ask her why I just said ok, if you don't want to work anymore, it's fine with me. You are free to leave. So, she did. And well, we anticipated, she called a couple of times after a few days asking how everything was going.She said she applied at the Coca-Cola plant. But I didn't care anymore. I don't want her. That's the end of her. She's not welcome to the house anymore. What for anyway?

And now, after I think three months, we found another house help. At this point, I already learned one thing. Not to expect. At the back of my head I was just trying to see her attitude towards what she was doing. I had no comment. I asked if she already had an experience with house duties and she said yes. She worked in Iligan for 6 months before her mother took her. As to the reason, I did not investigate. True enough, she is still  with us now. I haven't heard any single complain. She does the laundry pretty good. It's pressed and folded after being hung in the heat of the sunlight. From what I am sensing, she balances her job. She doesn't sleep in the afternoon. And she is just light hearted. She laughs at jokes and goes with the flow. No unwanted drama.

The whole thing is quite tricky. I mean in here you have two girls applying for the same job. How do you know who to pick? Someone who loves what she does. I mean surely we have dreams but we also enjoy our present. For quite a while I have been like our previous house help, not happy, not content and always tired. Because clearly I was not where I was supposed to be. I had endured so much stress and now that I have unattached myself, I am feeling good and very hopeful. I am not in anyway hurrying myself. I am taking my time because I know I am meant for something good.

My only hope now is that our current house help will last at least longer. I don't know what her plans are, but I am crossing my fingers she is still happy with us and would continue for a longer period. I am trying to be on time with her salary so she would not be dismayed. I think as employees our only compensation is when we finally receive our hard earned money. And I'm taking care of that. As to the other one, I hope she is suited to where she is now. I still hope her happiness.