It’s been almost a year already since we had a household help. My family had always been self-sufficient—we got by on our own without a help—but when my mom first had her stroke, it was incredibly difficult not to hire one. My sister had just checked out of psych rehab during that time, and my mom pretty much had the run of the household. My dad and I used to be useless when it came to household chores, and spent most of our time working instead of cooking or doing the laundry. My contribution was limited to washing the dishes, while my dad did the “guy stuff†like electrical repairs or cleaning up the dogs’ mess.
My mom’s stroke was a huge blow to our lifestyle. Dad had to learn cooking, while I had to take over the laundry. Apart from that, we had to work. I couldn’t leave the house when Dad was out, and that really put a strain on my schedule, since I had to make sure that I timed client meetings when Dad didn’t have an assignment. The social life Marc and I had was limited to hanging out in front of the TV while watching over my sister and my mom. The tiring and stressful routine went on for a couple of months, until Dad and I finally decided we needed help.
The first help we hired was actually more concerned about her text-mates than taking care of my sister and my mom. She was more of a “household strain†than a “household help.†Not only that, but I found some of my cash disappearing if I accidentally leave them on my desk. Luckily, we didn’t have the opportunity to fire her, since she approached my dad one day and said that she wanted to go back to the province. The work probably bored her or something.
I can say now how we really lucked out on the second help we hired. Her name’s Marilyn, and she was probably the most industrious person I’ve ever met. She loved our dogs like her own, and had genuine concern for our family. She also had a willingness to learn, so I taught her how to type, use the internet, and some arts and crafts skills she could make use of when there wasn’t anything to do in the household.
My “little” sister and Marilyn at a family reunion in Ayala Alabang
The thing I admired (and appreciated) the most about Marilyn was her honesty. One of my clients at that time sent cold cash through express delivery, and I was able to entrust her the task of receiving the delivery when I wasn’t around. I not only entrusted her to receive Php20,000 bucks in cold cash, but also my valid ID, my letter of authorization, and my signature. She could easily have run off with the money and my identification, but she didn’t. She never did.
My Dad and I have considered enrolling Marilyn at a nearby college for night courses, but she had a better opportunity. She had a dream of going abroad (specifically in the Middle East), and her dream came true after a year and a half of staying with us. We were really sad when she left, and even she was crying on the day of her departure—my mom would never admit it, but she herself was also teary-eyed—we had already grown to love her and considered her a part of the family. But we didn’t want to stand in the way of her dream.
People like Marilyn are people who get good karma. I’ve always believed that. You do unto others what you want others to do unto you. Life just has a way of giving back what you’ve done—good or bad.
Sometimes, I really wish we had more Marilyns in this world.
kuts,
am one of those people who also believe in good karma chorva chorva. but connect ever ang lola mo with your entry about katulong. why? hay naku. I blogged about my experience with our katulongs (from A,B,C,D and E). This was when I lived in Pasig nung ako’y tinupak at ayaw nang mag work sa USA. Alsa balutan, lived in Pasig aketch. We hired katulongs of course. Tamad kamo kami. To summarize their talents:
Katulong A is fond of boys at the condo
Katulong B can’t speak/understand english
Katulong C who, well… may she rest in peace
Katulong D who i call Miss Wowowee and finally,
Katulong E had a grand time clothes shopping nang pangkin ko. umaalis every weekend, karton karton ang bitbit until the guard stopped her.
Hay naku. Ever ever, whenever. My niece is back in the US after 3 years at Reedley and my sis is still there finishing nursing and should be back here soon. We never hired katulong no more.
Here’s the story:
http://reynaelena.com/2007/05/20/ang-aming-katulong/
I am happy for Marilyn for being able to go abroad and follow her dreams. At the same time sad that you lost a trust worthy person.
One time my father found an huge envelop containing checks and cash dollars at the attic of the school where he worked and he gave it back to the director. It contained Php80,000+. When there was a break-in the school, my father was the first person that the police asked(looking at the inside job angle). The director said he doesn’t want my father suspected of stealing Php10K+ because he wouldn’t take Php80K+.
My father was once a house boy before in Quezon city and because he is a person with “malasakit” for any person he worked for, he was rewarded. His attitude carried him to be able to send us(4 kids) all to Catholic schools from Kindergarten, college to Medical School(for my sister) and take care of my mentally retarded brother(went to SPED for 8 years)on a janitor’s income.
i’m sorry to hear about your mom, hope she gets well soon. it’s hard to get good help these days. my mom’s sick too so we need to find a househelp to help around the house and take care of her too. i’m praying that God will lead us to the right people.
yeah, good karma is real. Your family is lucky to have found a good house help. We were never blessed with a good, trustworthy one… our household helps usually leave after a few months after they get to experience getting paid. I think good karma knocks to the doors of people who do good and have their ambition as well.
I really don’t believe in Karma. But I do believe that people who do their best in all aspect of their lives are being rewarded. ^^ This post reminded me of our housekeeper for 50 years ^^