When I entered college, I lived with my grandparents since the house is just 5 minutes away walk from the university I attended to. That was 2011. Although back in my younger years, I used to go on vacation here in this house.
The year 2009 when we had Xyril. Xyril is the first great-grandchild of the family. He is the son of my cousin in mother's side. They also live with our grandparents since the house is accessible to the city premises. Xyril's mom is a teacher and his dad (my cousin) works in an office in the government. So they had to hire a babysitter.
Rachel became Xyril's first babysitter. Basically she feeds, bathes, puts him to sleep, and plays with him. She stays in the house so she can take care of him hands-on. Months after, my grandma noticed that the baby always cries with her. Maybe she was being too harsh to him. From then on, they always had conflicts with grandma and so she got fired. No actually, she left because she can't take grandma's attitude anymore. Haha
1 week after or so, my cousin-in-law found another working student to babysit Xyril. The babysitter arrived this morning, hours later she asked that she has something to buy in the city we waited for her but she did not return. I didn't even get her name. Ate told us that she asked where the girl is and she was informed that she went back home.
So they have to find a new babysitter. I think Xyril was already a year older. My aunt found a babysitter again. I forgot her name though. She only stayed for a month or two because she had to go to Manila for a greener pasture. I think she was around her mid-20s at that time. So she knows already about the housework. No need for basic instructions.
June 2010, when they found a working student. Her name is Diona. Ate Diona was 18 years old when she worked in the house. She takes care of Xyril during weekdays while she goes to school during weekends.
The year 2011, when I entered college. That's when I lived with them here in the house. The house has 3 bedrooms and I got to share the same room with Ate Diona. She was doing well when she started. You can really see her diligence and determination to graduate for her to sustain the family's needs in the future and have a stable job.
She stayed here for 4 years after she graduated from college. That was pure hard work and perseverance to continue her dreams. We didn't keep in touch though, we don't know how is she doing today. Probably she has her own family now. She never visited the house again. She was also the one who left Papi,(the aspin dog) with us.
On her day of departure back to her hometown, it was an emotional one because Xyril got attached to her. Of course, because they bonded for 4 years, almost every day. He was crying when she left and even days after he was still asking why Ate Diona was not coming back.
A month after Ate Diona left, they were able to find another working student again. Her name is Flordeliza, we call her Flor. She was only 15 when she first entered the house. An innocent teenager carries her inspiration and grit for her dreams. Xyril was already 4 years old at that time. So he doesn't need that much extra care as a babysitter does. What she does is do all housework. Disclaimer, I do my own laundry and I help with the chores as well ha. You might say na I am just sitting pretty even though I'm not. Haha
Flor had the longest stay in this house. She was the last person our grandpa was with when he died because she was the watcher at the hospital at that time. She stayed here for almost 6 years! She stayed there when she entered 7th grade and left when she graduated in senior high school.
Just imagine the endurance, homesickness, pain, comfort, a sacrifice she gave for her future and her family. There were times that I saw her crying in her room because of homesick. She goes home during an emergency and also after Christmas so she gets to spend New Year with her family.
By the way, in 2015, my cousin and his family, moved out of the house because they had a new baby and we got another nephew named Scott Fredric. Flor didn't dare to take care of a newborn baby and so they decided to move out and lived with my cousin's in-law mom. Her mom was willing to take care of Scott and until now, they still live with them there. Scott turns 6 this coming May 30th.
Flor stayed here from May 2015 until July 2020. What a long journey it was for her. I mean, living under the same roof with people you just met or haven't known gives me ultimate anxiety but to her, living with us for 6 years is not a joke.
Her last day was when months after our grandpa died. They had built a strong friendship within those years though do it was an emotional goodbye too. She decided to leave last year in July 2020. But she didn't leave yet until a new house helper comes. She has to train her for the everyday routine with the housework and stuff. She trained her for a week. That new house helper is what we have currently. Her name is Sai-sai. I will make a separate article about her life on next one.
Thanks for reading!
Keep safe everyone ❤
Kami noon nagkaroon din ng kasama sa bahay. Dalawa ibang time dumating. At sa kamalasan nila ako ang naatasan nilang alagaan. Napaka tigas na ulong bata 😅. Pero sila naman mga hindi na nag aaral that time. Nag work siguro sila para maka tulong sa pamilya nila. Diko rin sure, pero wala talaga akong paki sa kanila noon basta magawa ko lang ang gusto ko. Di din kami close kasibmga sumbungera sila kaya lagi ako napapalgalitan 😅😂.
Stay in sila pero may day off at yon, umuuwi sila sa pamilya nila. Awan lang if asan na sila ngauon 🤔. At dahil di nga ako naginy close sa kanila, ayon walang goodbyes 😅