Stephanie

After trialling for two weeks, yesterday was Stephanie's last day as our domestic helper. In a significant way, we will miss her on weekends when we have friends over for dinner, when her efforts allow us to spend more time with our guests and less time in the kitchen before and after dinner.

We have no major complaint on Stephanie. She is a hardworking helper. However, our mutual needs do not exactly match. Our heavy loads are between 340-520 each school day with Kristine after school, Kristine's piano, and Kimberley after Kinder plus dinner preparation, which she did dilligently, but she needs full time work (or full time pay) with accomodation included. So our current job scope of 5 hours a day is not really sufficient to meet her need. When her sister, whom we used on casual basis last dec/Jan, called to ask for higher pay for her sister, Grace decided this was the time to settle the mismatch. We told Stephanie we are willing to be her reference should she need one, and we will use her again on weekends if she is available.

In a way I am happy I get my job back.