FollowYesterday was the birthday of our Yaya of 2 years. As customary during birthdays of our helpers and even the driver, the cook prepares "pansit" (dry noodle) and fried chicken. It is a simple meal to celebrate her birthday and to tell her she is appreciated by our family. It also tells our children that helpers are to be treated with respect and appreciation. My daughter even gamely set the table for our nanny. Yaya, however, politely refused to dine with us in our dining table but was touched by my daughter's gesture.
Early this year, I also started giving them a monetary gift plus I encourage them to attend mass in thanksgiving for their birthday.
Helpers, yes, they form part of our motherhood "chismis" with their quirks but in the end they are our helpers, in every sense of the word.