That's how I best describe my recent yaya experience.
Our helpers of two years bid us farewell L
One left right after New Year and the other just two days ago. It was such a
pain to see them go but they have their own lives to lead and we couldn’t keep
them from that. I always tell to go after their dreams especially if the
opportunity knocks. Well, they followed their destiny, one has to continue
studies and the other is, well, pregnant and has to stop working. I’m happy for
them both but at the same time sad to see them go.
Hubby kept telling them that if they intend to work for us
again, they just holler and he’ll kick out the current helpers. Hehe. That’s
sort of saying, ‘you’re welcome anytime you wish to come back.’
These two especially the older one who left just a couple of
days ago after Sophie’s birthday were my most efficient helpers by far. She
treats my kids like her own and that doesn’t go unnoticed even with my
relatives and in school. My kids’ teachers thought she’s a relative because of
how much she cares and protects my kids. Makikipag-away ‘yan kapag inapi ang
alaga niya (she would fight for my kids). She every now and then she’d peek
into the kids’ classrooms to see how they’re doing and report to me happenings
in school. She was such a stage yaya J
To think that when I first met her, I had doubts that we wil l get along together. She comes on too strong and
I was afraid she may have little patience for kids. Well, in this case, first
impressions were wrong. On top of all that, she makes mean ginataang langka,
dinuguan and so many other dishes I don’t even know how to make.
I’m so thankful to have met them and so sad that they had to
leave. We - my helper, kids and I - were crying ala drama anthology when the
older helper left. She never wanted to go but she had no choice.
We now have a new set of helpers who came two weeks ago for
the turnover and training, it’s but of course another wave of getting to know
each other and I worry more for the kids. They love their Ate Michelle and Mama
Cris (that’s how they call my just-left helpers) and having new Ate Mila and
Mama Arlene wil l mean adjustment for
them but I’m glad they’re getting along pretty well.
As for me, I’ve long ago learned to set my standard in
housekeeping to a certain level that I know the helpers can achieve. I’ve long
ago realized my OC self wil l have to
be in check, anything they could not do, I do them myself na lang. What’s
important and what we always tell the helpers during orientation is that the
kids are looked after very well and are safe. No missed meals, accompanied during outside
play and behavior in check. They are extension of us and we rely on them when
we are not around especially since we have no extended family that lives with
us.
So there, another yaya story. Come to think of it, it’s been
a while since I last wrote about my yayas and I think that’s a good sign.
