Yaya’s meal is the same as ours

I’ve been meaning to write a post about the things Ate Rose enjoys as Gwen’s yaya. I’m not being boastful, I just want to show other families with helpers/yayas how to treat nicely the persons who are also taking care of your family. I’m an ill-tempered person, if one thing is not right for me, I easily get pissed. But when it comes with the yaya, kelangan ko muna mag-inhale, exhale before I will tell them nicely what they are supposed to do. Lagi kong iniisip, eh paano kung saktan nila si Gwen pagkatapos ko silang paggalitan? O kaya lasunin ako nyan???

Anyway, Ate Rose has been with us for 2 years, magkasundong-magkasundo sila ni Gwen, parang magkalaro. Sabi nga ni Jeff parang panganay na anak namin si Rose. Since magaan talaga loob namin kay Rose, lagi naman sya sinasama whenever we go out and sometimes, if we scored promo tickets, kasama rin sya sa bakasyon. She was with us in Boracay when I celebrated my birthday, in Baguio, and in Sagada just last year.

When she’s with us, she eats what she likes. In restaurants, we also hand her the menu and let her order what she wants to eat. Favorite ni Ate Rose ang curry sa Yabu  or sa Hokkaido Ramen Santouka :p. Sabay din sya kumakain sa amin because Jeff is the one who feeds Gwen whenever we’re dining out.

You might be wondering, anong #hugot ng post ko, read this. Apparently, Maggie-Wilson Consunji’s yaya was not allowed to order the regular meals for their members. I admire Maggie for voicing out and to show what equality means. Update: I learned from the mommy group I’m in that there is no “yaya meal” in Balesin’s menu.

Read more: Yaya Reflections (why they stay and why they leave, etc.)

May kwento pa si Ate Rose, dati raw sa dati nyang amo, pag nasa restaurant, hindi siya pinapa-order. She looks after her alaga while the mom and dad eats. Sabi namin, “Eh kelan ka kakain pag tapos na sila? Hindi raw, pag-uwi na lang sa bahay siya kumakain. 🙁

Pag nasa bakasyon, we don’t let Ate Rose feel that she’s still working. Bakasyon din sya. We even give her free time to roam around.

3 years ago, we joined the trick or treat in Boracay. Si Ate Gladys pa nag-aalaga kay Gwen. We were walking towards D’Mall when we saw the sign na trick or treat will commence in a few minutes. Di pa namin dala yung costume ni Gwen. Sabi ba naman ni Gladys sa akin, “Naku Ate, kunin mo sa hotel.” Ako naman, lumakad agad ng mabilis para kunin yung costume. Nung pabalik na ako, napaisip ako, “Teka, bakit ako yung tumakbo at kumuha eh dapat si Gladys???” hahaha… bilang ganti, pagdating na pagdating ko, I gave her Gwen’s costume and told her to get her ready. Naisahan ako dun ha, I walked from D’mall going back to Station 1, grrr. :p

I just want to say that we treat the yayas/helpers nicely so that they will treat, love, and respect us back. Also remember that in their situation, ang layo layo nila sa pamilya nila and they are living with us. They experience loneliness, plus the hardships of their chores. Kaya pakonswelo na lang din natin sa kanila that they enjoy a slice of the good life.