The Maid and the Child

I was standing in a crowded MRT train. Someone had just stood up from a seat. A child ran past me at lightning speed, knocking my hands, and brushing past a couple who sat with their legs crossed. With a “plonk”, he sat down heavily on the empty seat.

“Say sorry.”

A lady’s voice sounded out from behind me.

The child looked around and muttered under his breath, “…...”

“Say sorry!” The voice was raised.

The couple looked embarrassed, waved their hands as if they wanted to dismiss the matter. The little boy stared on the ground.

“Quick!” The voice was not going to give up.

“Sorry…” The little boy finally said, loud and clear.

It may seem a little harsh on a poor little child.

But at that point in time, I was thinking, “From the way this little boy was disciplined, he will grow up to be a fine young man. He was brought up from young to be a courteous boy."

“His mother…” I turned to look at the lady, “would be very proud of hi---…” and stopped.

“…hi---s maid.”

The lady, who had insisted that the little boy apologize for rudely knocking into others, was not his mother, but none other than, his Filipino maid.

Nowadays, many people leave their child to the care of their maids. Some children, even at a young age, treat this “auntie” who tags along with them everyday as their “slave”. Some see how their parents order them around at home to perform household chores, and imitate their parents by throwing their school bags and files to them and make them run errands. In other cases, some parents even teach their children to use the authoritative attitude on the maids.

As a result, most of these children grow up to become spoilt brats. After all, they are used to being a little prince at home and outside.

In such cases, while the parents find a good maid who treats their child like a king, the psychological development of the child is questionable.

It has become so common for families these days to have a maid who stays with children at home while their parents work.

While it is important to find a maid who can cook, clean the house and take care of children, what is more essential is for the maid to teach them the right values. After all, for most of the day, they are the ones who are with the child, and little values build up overtime during these moments.

For the little boy I met on the MRT, I must congratulate his mother, for she found a good helper, and most importantly, she can be sure that her child will grow up in good hands.