10 years ago, I employed my 1st maid (indo). I was thinking, be nice to her first, have a good start, she will be more motivated. BIG MISTAKE!
She was younger than her bio-data, 17 years old; I only found out 2 weeks later. she kept calling me while I was out, saying that she's lonely. I bought her notebooks to write, color pencils and paper to draw. Bought chicken drumsticks especially for her own cooking, etc, etc.
I let her watch malay cooking tv shows as she turns out, not able to cook, except for cooking rice and frying eggs. When my husband and I come home from supermarket, open the door, she just stay seated on the sofa, watching her show, not even coming to help us with the bags of groceries.
Few days before this maid arrived, my mum was hospitalized, she ended up staying in the hospital for 6 months. So this maid never got to take care of my mother. She can't even keep the house clean.
Last straw came when I woke one morning early and she was in the living room, taking photos. After lunch, I told her to pack her things and sent her back to the agent. I tolerated for 3 months, dirty house, broken stuff, answer back etc.
At the agency, we went through her things, found that she stole our photos, including my brother, his wife and son's. The agency boss (which on previous visits I did not meet) told me to always keep boundaries and never let them be confused with who's boss right from her first step in to my house.
Thank God, the indo maid that replaced her was a good maid that worked for me for 6 years. She learn fast, by 4-5 weeks she did everything to my expectation without supervision. I probably only scolded her like 5-10 time the whole 6 years she worked for me. She had to go back home as her dad was quite sick and her mum needed her to take care of the family there, asked her to get married. I was generous with her and she save up a lot of money, bought land and built extension for her house.
My present maid, Myanmar. I think Myanmar, worse!!!! Today, I saw her using the small brush, mean to use in bathroom, for corners and toilet....she use it to clean/brush my mini bundt pan after the cakes were removed. She kept insisting that I teach her to do so. How is it possible?
I separate everything, all the supplies for bathroom/toilet are in 1 special bucket container with a lid that she ports around to do her chores. All the supplies for food/eating utensils are by the sink. I have 3 sets of brushes by the sink, for scrubbing potatoes etc, for bottles (5 various sizes and shapes), for sink.