With regard to the article “Home-maid dilemma” (Jan. 24), many families in Saudi Arabia think they need a maid when in reality, they do not need one. Many countries have working families with young children and they do not need a maid. In my opinion, men need to help their wives more instead of going out with friends or sleeping on the couch after lunch. Also, children need to take responsibility for themselves so that they learn at a young age to clean up their own mess. If a family works together there is no need for a maid. Me, Online response II. If parents cannot be dedicated to their children, then they should reconsider having them. These parents place all child-rearing responsibilities on housemaids yet they get angry when the maids attempt to discipline the children for bad behavior. They cannot have it both ways. I have seen children slap and insult housekeepers and the parents let this pass. How will these children grow up to be proper adults? It's shameful. Housewife, Online response III. All this article does is defend the lack of responsibility of the mother and blame all problems on the maid! Here's an idea: How about not having children until you want to look after them yourself? There are plenty of working mothers in Saudi Arabia and all over the world (in both developed and underdeveloped countries) who manage to keep house and look after their own children without the luxury of a live-in maid. Rhea, Online response
