gelato: There are lots of ways we can bond with our kids... it's just a matter of what feels important to you... no right & wrong la...
For me, if maid can do a good job bathing & tying hair for gal, I dun mind... cos I bond with kids by doing things with them... like I take #1 out solo... we explore places, go on double-decker buses... cos she's one of those lucky kids who are deprived of public transport... & she enjoys being on buses... sometimes it's as simple as having ice cream at Mac... the kids feel important this way...
I haven't had much chance to go solo with #2 cos she's super active & I'm preg... can't really handle her on my own... but when #1 is at enrichment class, HB & I spend time with #2... recently we also started going to Gymboree with #2 (finally)... just the 3 of us... HB does not believe in getting PILs to send #2 for Gymboree cos he thinks it's bonding time for us... in this sense, that's his priority & choice... I support his idea... some parents may feel that more important for kids to interact & go for enrichment, does not matter who is accompanying... cos we've seen grandparents & even maids accompanying child for classes... but since HB feels strongly abt it, I just go with it lor...
It's all a matter of personal beliefs & choice... to me, I want my kids to look clean, pretty & neat when we go out... if maid or MIL can do a good job at that, I leave it to them... my focus is on the interaction bit... while some parents may prefer to show their love by doing things personally for their kids... including tying hair... =D
I love to cross stitch... & I cross stitch stuffs for each of my gals whenever I'm free... recently, I bought a new handphone chain set to cross stitch for #3... cos both #1 & #2 had one each with their names... I've also got 2 sets of jewellery boxes that I plan to cross stitch for them... have not started (no time)... but will go buy a 3rd set when I have the time... to prepare for #3 as well... =D
No right & wrong... as long as you feel strongly about something, no one should make you feel you are 'making trouble'... just go with it lor... if you enjoy tying girl's hair... it's a personal thing what... just like gals get their hair groomed by their parents the night before their wedding... hee hee...
As for maids, after my Indo maid, I find that I do not interact as much with my maids... my 1st few more talkative... maybe I was also more free previously... so I did talk to them... but now, there's always plenty to do... with 2 gals who demand my attention (now that #2 is bigger and know how to demand my attention), with work, with being tired being preg with #3, with getting addicted to being on forums... hahaha... who has time to talk to maids? Hahaha... think my #1 talks to maid most... MIL gives instructions only... HB too (or reprimand when things are done wrongly) other than that, he does not talk to maid either... FIL even less...
I think sometimes if we talk too much to them, they think we are friend... then will start to request for this & that... at the end of the day, just make sure we maintain certain kind of reasonable relationship will do... dun neglect them totally la, they also need social interaction... but dun need to chit chat one la... they are here to work, not make friends with us... hee hee..