Yes, so many considerations; it's tough, I know.
I am a businesswoman, and contrary to what most think: we entrepreneurs can't turn our backs, tune-off for the 2-month maternity leave provided by law. Once, in just 10 days after a C/S - I was back in the office (after a week's stay in the hospital).
How have I coped through 3 kids?
I am sure you have done these too, but let's share.
1st, plan ahead. Like, I hire the midwife yaya 2 months ahead. Gives me time to assess her, get her familiarized with our home systems, get her trained & assessed by my mom & our old yaya (the 1 who brought us siblings up & still stays with our mom). Any small doubt about her, fire and re-hire.
So, by the time I deliver, planchado na, and someone familiar & trained to our ways already attends to my needs in the hospital.
2nd. Have home management systems in place. Predictability of routines iron out a lot of stress. I have a ton of lists that guide and control my house staff of 7. The confusion is eliminated , and the lists keep them efficient and not getting stressed. Of course, it takes time to make them understand their respective task lists -- but it works out eventually for everyone's benefit.
I run my home like a corporate office.
3rd. Train your kids to attend to their needs, to be mindful, to be independent. Even toddlers can be trained. Starting them off early, while they are eager to mimic what we do (putting away our stuff, being neat at the table, dressing ourselves, etc) -- requires patience, sure -- but pays off later with kids who need no alalays, or are organized.
As my kids grow, and gain more independence -- I am able to cut down on my home staff. I used to have 9. I am now down to 6. My dream is to be down to 4.
4th. What attitudes, aspirations, etc the domestic workforce now possess -- I don't want to delve into, I am not a sociologist. But 1 thing I know: money is the common dialect. Whatever I want, I gotta pay up. True: I get what I pay for. No judgment, it is what it is: the forces of Supply & Demand at work. I do not run out of applicants with above average skills because I offer above average pay, not benefits. not that I have no budget -- but I forego certain unnecessary expenditures to put in high pays that benefit my family more.
Where do I source my efficient staff? I never run out of qualified applicants. Kaya mabilis ako mag fire pag tumigas na ulo.
For child care: it started with a midwife hired from St.Luke's. Tapos, referrals na. St.Luke's din. Nowadays, it is easier to get underboard nurses or midwives. Ordinary maids do not like toddlers - malikot kasi.
For house staff: referrals from our old staff of my mom's. They refer, then refer, etc. I am not the easiest of employers, I have a rep among our families' domestics for being strict and suplada. But in a heartbeat, they will work for me. Because of the high pay and my systems. Basta daw they follow "mga listahan" - I leave them alone to work in peace (mahirap naka tutok na amo nga naman) and let them do their manis and pedis etc AFTER work is done.
(Lol, madalas I come in tired from work. Ma'am Eto dvd maganda! Panoorin nyo, tapos na namin. Lol - they give a list of DVDs they give my driver to buy at Metrowalk when I am tied up at meetings. Charge to me. Ka loka. Now, I say: hindi na, blu Ray na Ko. Sagot: kami din ma'am, please. Tse)
It's a tough world of balancing for us working moms, but we just gotta adapt
I discourage people from hiring from agencies.
The maids themselves scorn their colleagues who resort to agencies to get employed -- it means nobody wants to refer her or take her on - hindi maganda ugali or work ethics.
Give your maid load to ask around sa mga friends and relatives nya -- that's the better recruitment agency
Good luck with your search.
