Tips on hiring a Yaya and keeping her

I was a working mom when my son was born.  The thought of leaving my job to take care of my son never crossed my mind, since my mother was also a working mom with 3 kids, I thought that I too can do it.  This is possible IF ONLY I have found a reliable and good yaya that will stay for long.

I never realized that getting a good Yaya will be so hard to do.  My husband and I were blessed that when I gave birth, my aunt who is an expert in taking care of babies was with us at that time, she stayed with us for 4 months and then went to Cyprus to work.

But before she left, I asked her to look for a replacement, she have found one (also a relative), but then again due to some unavoidable circumstances she decided to resign and go back to the barrio.

When she left us, our world was turned upside down.  It was devastating, I thought that she will be with us for a long period of time.  I even imagined that she will be with Ren until he has his own family (yes just like the yaya of Sharon Cuneta).

I know I am a good employer but the reason of her leaving us made me realize that I can’t control anyone.  I needed to file a leave at the office every now and then because there was no one to leave my son with.

The only time I could go to work was if my mom will visit us, but unfortunately she can’t take care of my son for a long period of time because she is not getting any younger.

I tried to look for a new yaya, I even made a few guidelines to follow so that I can get the best one. You may want to consider these tips in hiring one also, here they are:

• Recommended by friends and relatives
• If the yaya was recommended to me by someone who I am not that close to, I make sure that I check on the background of the Yaya.  I encourage them to submit a Bio-Data and NBI Clearance.  I also get thorough with interview.  With all the horror stories I have read about Yayas, I think it is okay to do this before hiring one.  It is even better if you will get to know their family first.
• I also prefer a Yaya who have kids of their own.  It is ironic because yes, I know they are likely to quit the job and go back to their place and take care of their child/children but since they have kids, they are also likely to know how to take care of a baby.  They also are more responsible and hopefully take their job seriously because they have a family to support to.
•  I want a yaya that is neat and knows proper hygiene.  You don’t want your baby to get sick because the yaya don’t even know how to wash her hands properly.

I have encountered different kinds of yaya, but no one is better or just the same level with the one that got away.

I know that I’ve been a good employer by following these things, which I suggest you should consider too if you found the Good one.

1. Give Fair Wages – I’ve asked around to know the fair wage for yayas.  I also told them before hand their salary before they start on the job.
2. Treat her with respect –  When I arrived home,  I let her go to her room to rest if she wants. I make sure that we all eat at the same time if the kid is asleep.
3. Treat her as part of the family –  Since Ren’s first yaya was really a relative, this was not hard to do.  But those who came next I made sure to listen to her stories, laugh with her, watch TV together and even ask suggestions on what to do because she is more experienced compared to me in handling young kids.
4. Give her a day-off – Everyone needs a break and they need to have a “me” time to be more productive in their work.
5. Give Benefits –  Yayas and other household helpers are now required by law to have an SSS benefits.  It is highly recommended to give them this benefits.

I know it is hard to be a working mom most especially if you don’t have anyone to leave your kids with, I’ve been there. I wish every parent who needs help will be able to find a reliable and trusted yaya soon.

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