hi appletree,
i had intially wanted to replace my CL bcos we didn't like her attitude and the way she handled our baby. she was sometimes rude in her replies and likes to talk back/comment on little things that me or my husband does or did not do.
more importantly, we felt that she wasn't good at handling the baby. she doesn't seem to have much patience whenever my boy cries and she tends to 'scold' him then try to soothe him like wat i heard other CLs do. in fact, i have friends and sisters-in-law who came to 'observe' her and said she is 'no good'.
i guess we had sufficient reasons to get a replacement, but in the end we decided to give everyone a chance and let her stay till the end of my confinement bcos getting a replacement will mean making adjustments on my part (getting used to another CL and her way of doing things) and like u said, there is no guarantee that the next one tt comes along will be better?
as for... how did i manage to bear with her?
1) we tried to remind ourselves of the things that she does well (housework, cooking etc.) and not just focus on the 'bad'.
2) i also tried to take over caring for the baby myself during day time; changing diapers, feeding, attending to him when he cries. except for bathing him which my CL still does.
3) i simply IGNORE her when she's rude or talks back. also learn to 'close an eye' when she doesn't follow my instructions.
i'm not sure exactly what kind of issues u face with yr CL, but you might want to ask yrself if you can live with or work around these for the next 2 weeks, and esp the period when yr husband is not around? it may be quite stressful on yr part if you decide to keep her and yet find that you cannot accept her way of doing things. i believe all the mummies here will tell you to put yrself first; it is really important that you can rest well and keep yourself happy during this period.
at least for yr case, it wouldn't be so awkward to ask CL to leave since she was engaged thru' an agency. i understand that some of these agencies do not necessarily provide 'qualified' or experienced CLs. if you seriously want to consider a replacement, why dun you get thru' someone's recommendation.. higher chances of hiring a good one at least?
