'I must work extra hard as the maid is away'<\/p>\n
Many housemaids and nannies took part in the annual exodus from
\nJakarta to their hometowns to celebrate Idul Fitri. As a result,
\nmany families have had to make do without the pembantu (domestic
\nhelpers) who normally do their everyday housework. Some families,
\ntemporarily without pembantu, told The Jakarta Post about how
\nthey have coped at home.<\/p>\n
Sarah, is a housewife who resides in Ciledug, Tangerang, with
\nher husband, daughter and parents:<\/p>\n
Every year, at Idul Fitri, I have to work extra hard as the
\npembantu return home. That's nothing new for us.<\/p>\n
This is the second year that I've realized just how important
\nthe pembantu are to my family. They are so helpful in dealing
\nwith domestic chores.<\/p>\n
On the other hand, though, we really appreciate that they
\ndeserve days off, particularly on this special occasion. We treat
\nthem with respect and without discrimination on a daily basis,
\nregardless of their status as nannies or maids.<\/p>\n
So, we are accustomed to this within our extended family. Of
\ncourse, in a way, we sometimes forget that they are around most
\nof the time. But now is a good time for us to get as close to our
\nchildren as they with their nannies.<\/p>\n
Now they're away, I feel that everyone in the household should
\ndo their bit to share the chores, including cooking, washing,
\nironing clothes, sweeping the floor and so on.<\/p>\n
Wibi, 34, has a wife and two children and lives with them in
\nPalmerah, West Jakarta. He has four pembantu at his house:<\/p>\n
The return of my pembantu to their hometowns for Idul Fitri
\nhas made me realize just how much I miss them all. My house seems
\nquiet without them as we are a young couple with small children
\nwho need looking after.<\/p>\n
I don't treat them any differently to anyone else, despite the
\nfact that they're maids in our family. We've always mixed with
\nthem and shared things together.<\/p>\n
I really miss them all. They're not only pembantu but our
\nsisters and friends as well. We need them and therefore we've
\ngiven them equal rights.<\/p>\n
My wife and I can handle the routine housework like washing,
\nironing or keeping the house clean. We really need their help
\nwith tasks like cooking as I run a small canteen in Ramayana
\ndepartment store.<\/p>\n
Fortunately, I decided to shut the business for the holiday.
\nHowever, I have a problem with my children, who miss their nanny.
\nI have to take them out to take their mind off how much they miss
\nher.<\/p>\n
Antonius, 40, is a private company employee who lives in Pasar
\nKemis, Tangerang, with his wife and only son:<\/p>\n
My wife and son returned home and will spend a week or so at
\ntheir hometown, as did my housemaid.<\/p>\n
As a matter of fact, I haven't felt annoyed at being home
\nalone because I spend most of my days at work as I don't have any
\ndays off. I just go home at night to relax.<\/p>\n
I have thus far been able to deal with all the housework,
\nincluding cooking, washing and keeping the house clean. I prefer
\nbeing alone like this as I can cope OK, even without the
\npembantu.<\/p>\n
It would have been much harder if only the pembantu had
\nreturned home and I'd had to cook and to wash all the family's
\nclothes, as my washing machine is broken.<\/p>\n
Atik, 33, is a housewife who lives in Jl. Dewi Sartika, East
\nJakarta, with her husband and three children:<\/p>\n
I have no problem coping without a pembantu during Idul Fitri,
\nas now. I am used to dealing with domestic chores myself, despite
\nbeing a civil servant. It all depends on how well you can manage
\nyour time. Besides, my pembantu has been away for four months and
\ntherefore I've had to handle everything myself.<\/p>\n
This is rather different to other families, which are barely
\nable to deal with all the housework.<\/p>\n
Luckily, my husband and children are understanding so we have
\nall chipped in doing the domestic chores while the maid has been
\naway.<\/p>\n
Leo Wahyudi S<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/i-must-work-extra-hard-as-the-maid-is-away-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }