Thursday, January 31, 2013

Elderly Having to Queue at Polyclinic

As I visited the polyclinic today, I saw the harsh realities of our Singapore healthcare system. Despite the newly refurbished looks and extra consultation rooms plus more staff I believe, many patients were waiting for their turns, and a group of them in their late 50s, were complaining to the patient service people at the counter, about why their queue numbers were still not being called. This was not even during busy hours. In fact, it was already 3pm. What actually is happening...even the toilets are dirty now. Is it because the polyclinic management can no longer keep up with the larger influx of immigrants and the growing number of patients? I have no idea how the polyclinic has changed so quickly in just a year. It was also painful to see the very frail elderly patients with eyes glued to the screens watching out for their number. Even more painful was the sight of an elderly man who was working as a cleaner there. I wish the elderly do not have to work as cleaners. Is this the kind of lifestyle that we want in exchange of economic interest?

Sunday, January 13, 2013

Bad Maid Experience - The Diva Attitude

10 Annoying Things About My ex-Saudi Diva Maid

1. Gave my daughters (1.5 and 4 year olds) meals with fishbones ( 2cm long), and when I pointed them out, she laughed it off. She will laugh when she gets one stuck in her throat.

2. Forcefully handles my 1.5 year old, even when she is wailing hard. Would just talk to my young kids in firm voice. Shows no love for the small kids. My daughters still dislike her up till now. Always looked at my children as if they are a burden to her.

3. Did not clean my baby properly, sweeps the baby wipes from faeces soiled parts to the front. I advised her, that this can cause urine infection. My baby's shirts and pants will also smell of faeces after the diaper change (due to her slip shod cleaning method, I suppose her hands are not properly washed with soap, and still have faeces remaining which transferred to my baby, when she carried her.) but she won't bother to change them.

4. Eats chilli padi with almost all her meals but ironically, she washes off all the spices of the McDonald's prosperity burger I had bought for her and threw away a big portion. And made a big fuss about the sauce burning her throat to her lungs.

5. Would read my magazines ( I offered to lend her as she claimed that she loves to read) and returned them in very bad condition.

6. Would just sit and observe other people when she was supposed to observe my curious young kids who often wander about and she did not realise their disappearance until I raise the alarm.

7. Always leaves the light on when no one is using, even when I told her to try save electricity. She even slept with the lights on.

8. Spins the laundry and carelessly also dumped my daughter's shoe in it.

9. Almost burnt my kitchen by always using strong flame although I have taught her to use small flame....

And lastly, but most strongly!

10. Tried to suck up to my husband, scolded me for asking my husband to help me run some errands. Even asked my husband to back her up when I was pointing out one of her mistakes. She said I complained too much and she didn't see anything wrong with her work. My husband asked me to apologise to her and reprimanded me for causing my maid to be upset.

See how the innocent looks of this "religious and well-mannered" FDW eventually brings nothing but trouble to my family. A family who is trying to keep up with the nation's fast pace, trying to make ends meet while trying to be good parents to our young children...who then had to encounter people who are not honest to fulfill their duties and to honour their 2-year contract. And this family had to lose money, time, and gain lots of unnecessary mental and emotional exhaustion from dealing with such unexpected FDW / helper behaviour.

Thursday, January 10, 2013

Full Time Working Mom Story - Cold Hearted Career Minded?

As a mom sets out to work, the heavy feeling of leaving her crying infant plagues her. She will no longer be able to be by her little child's side as she had been doing for the past 3 months, since giving birth.

She also knows that her baby will not take expressed milk and wonders what will happen 2 hours later after she has gone, and the baby starts to cry for milk. The worry is so apparent on her face, and she looks down and frown, feeling the guilt of being perhaps a selfish mom.

She quickly turns cold hearted and reminds herself that she needs to return to the office to ensure operations are running smoothly, and produce top-notch results. And she needs to have a stable income, to make sure there is enough to feed, clothe, educate and yes, a little to pamper the apple of her eye. Modern living gets too expensive for her to just accept a single breadwinner income.

So...she heads for work, with determination and hope for a bright future for her kids, a life so  much better than what she is having now.

Life at work is not easy, with standards set high, standards that the single men and ladies, or couples with no children yet can achieve with fewer qualms, than the mom who has her motherhood responsibilities 24-7 on her shoulders.

This mom however aspires to also rise up to the challenge and proves that being a mother does not affect the quality of her job. Yes, she pushed herself, close to the point of insanity. Her mind's set for success...

Oops, sometimes she falters and forgets that her kids will be waiting for her return. She forgets that the little child sitting on her lap needs her attention, while her mind wanders off to business matters unfulfilled at work.

The feeling of guilt resurfaces and she knows she needs to make it up to her kids. Mom's so sorry, darlings. We'll play together tomorrow...

Are your kids happy with you? Are your kids still looking up to you as their mom, and want to be close to you? Even when you have a caretaker, your kids will prefer sitting close to you than the caretaker?

Appreciate the feelings of guilt. It shows that God has blessed you and your kids with a very strong emotional bond.

Appreciate that your little children cry or throw tantrums whenever you leave for work. It shows that they are perfectly normal kids, and they enjoy being with you so much that they hate even your short disappearance.

Appreciate the dual working mom roles that you are playing, because your contribution now takes a wider scope, and if you are sincere in your daily tasks, you will be duly rewarded within the tangible and the intangible realms.

Moms, accept the hard realities of being a working mom and just enjoy the fuss. Droopy eyelids, crows feet, laugh lines and greying hair... Let's just...
Breathe...

Oh, wait a minute... Look! You are the people who will be changing the world!