Dilemma

My neighbor called me last week to ask for a favor- She has no lucks with her maids and now awaiting for a new one-

She called me and asked if I could take her children temporarily and let Ana took care of them during the day. I asked her, ‘ when your new maid will come?’- she said she is looking for the quick one and already has a few temporary candidates (maids). She maybe able to get hers in 1 or 2 weeks. Contemplating what she said, I said OK- It was hard to say NO- I was not good at saying No for my own selfishness or own advantage. I told myself silently that the worst is for 2 weeks. This considered as an emergency and if I were at her place- I would require such help also at least for a few days before I can find a baby sitter or nursery.

Then one of the days this week (after one week) , I asked Ana, ‘ kakak depan said anything or not about her getting any maid?’ And Ana said, kakak tu tak tau lagi maybe dalam sebulan kot- (that my neighbor is not sure about when the maid is coming- it could probably be in a month). So is she going to leave her children here for more than 2 weeks?

Bad as I feel, I asked her when her maid will come and if its going to take longer, it is good if she could find a nursery. And I try my best to put it in a so much polite way (I hope) and said she can still leave her eldest at my house as she goes to the same morning and afternoon school with Erdina. I also suggested that she leaves her 3 older children (those who go to school) only and find another baby-sitter for the younger children

You see, I have 4 children, hers are 6 and total is 10. Two (my eldest and her eldest) go to school- then left another 8. Two of her children go to kindie in the morning and are back at 11am. Each is at 5 and 4 years old. Then she has other children at 3, 1.5 and 6 months baby.

My worries are for these children who stay at home. Most of them are babies/toddlers. Including my sons- 5 of them.(after 12pm total children at home is 8)- against Ana of 1. My boy is dependent on her. And my neighbor’s 3 and 1 year old sons are also not that independent yet- they cry for attention or throw a tantrum now and then.

There was one day, when I reached  my house earlier (from work), it was very crowded. I smiled at my self - is this how it feel to have 10 children? - Being there for 2 hours or so, it overwhelmed me. Looking at the sweet baby girl who waited for somebody to pick her up saddened me - I pity her. And with 1 or 2 who cried for whatever reasons gave me headache already.

How does Ana manage? I bet she has not enough hand- and maybe she does not have time to do any house work (I did ask her initially and she said she is ok - she can handle it she said)

I think there are too many toddlers (Including baby) to attend to. :(. My neighbor sends her children at 10 am, all with the day's food (rice and dishes). She is a nice neighbor and I do want to help especially during emergency (darurat) time like this but I don’t think that darurat is more than a few days.

I was really in a dilemma but I do hope that she did not take heart when I suggested that, 'she looks for a nursery if it will take longer time'. And I did explain that I am just worried that things got out of hand – so many children cry at one time and Ana turns crazy or clumsy.

She took her things and did not drop her children the day after that. I sms her that I did not mean for her to do that straight away and I am sorry if she takes heart. But she said she understands my concern and she said she does not take heart- and we are still OK . SO I hope we are.

What will you do if it happens to you dear dear semua?