We terminated Helga's contract and sent her back to Jakarta over the weekend. Four weeks before that, I was already meeting up with domestic helper agencies, trying to interview and decide on which helper we should hire to replace Helga. It's a painful exercise which to me, is also futile. What can you deduce from looking at biodata with pictures or speaking to them over Skype? Nothing much. They tell you the same thing. They want to come work in Singapore because they have a family to support and their family can be better off with the money they earn here. Right. Because I could have sworn, Helga told me the exact same things.
OK, so why did we terminate Helga's employment? Because, as a mother and wife, I am appalled that she, also a mother and a wife, has chosen to have affairs with a string of men. Don't ask me how I found out, it's too gory to put in words but suffice to say, I am disgusted. When I discovered this, I asked her point blank about it and she vehemently denied, even swearing on God's name to prove her innocence. She might be better off swearing on a donkey's ass. At least she won't be incurring God's wrath for lying under His name.
And all those men? What were they thinking? A quick and nasty relationship fueled by lust, of course. All I can guess is that these men have such sorry lives that they need to resort to this. If I sound moralistic, it's because I am truly disgusted. By Helga and the men she was/been with.
And I am more determined than ever to shake off this need to have a full time domestic helper. The two elder kids are already going to my SIL's after school to do their homework and studying. As soon as Sara goes to primary one, she's heading there, too. I'll figure out the logistics of house-cleaning and cooking and laundry (urgh! I hate laundry!) when I get there.
But for now, a helper is a necessary evil. We've got a new helper to replace Helga and I sure hope 12 months from now, she still remembers why she's here.
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