T
here’s no doubt that
employing a helper affords
a fabulous opportunity for
mums and dads to spend
more time doing what they want, and
less time on household chores. We can
have more productive time with our
kids and each other, take up hobbies
and sports, or focus on careers, all
the while coming home to a spotless
apartment.
But, as with any working
relationship, this is one where it can
take time to smooth out the bumps
and become accustomed to a new
dynamic in the home. It took me
several years – and, to be honest,
several helpers – before we found the
perfect fit for our family. Now, it’s
For most of us living in Hong Kong, being able to employ a full-
time, live-in helper is a luxury we wouldn’t be able to afford
elsewhere. But, how do we incorporate another adult into the
household, and what exactly do they do?
Katrina Shute
asks some
Hongkongers to let us into their private worlds to find out.
Helping
ha ds
difficult to imagine life without her.
Especially if you aren’t used to it,
having another person move in full-
time can be a challenge. A sudden
lack of privacy, the feeling you’re being
watched or judged on your parenting,
deciding what roles to hand over
and what to continue doing yourself:
these are all common dilemmas we
face with this major change in the
household.
Does she eat with us? Should I
ask about her personal life? Should
we take her on holiday with us?
What does everyone else do? Well,
we invited experienced Hong Kong
mums to tell us how it works in their
households, and this is what they
told us.
Me, upon hiring my first
helper soon after moving to
Hong Kong:
“Yippee! I’ve been liberated
from the daily grind of
washing and cleaning up after
my family of five.”
Me, a few days later:
“Oh jeez! There’s another
person living in my house
ALL THE TIME, and I’m
just not sure how to manage
our relationship.”
Summer 2014
47
