Maidless

I was struggling with my bamboo poles again today to hang up the washing and had to think of the lasting discussion topic - to have a maid or not. We are one of the few "maidless" households that I know of. Some other European families don't have one but for the Chinese it is a must. Probably if you can afford to live on a condominium it is a matter of face. Many moms never go to the pool with the kids, it's always the maids who sit around with bored faces. One lady here whose husband is a pilot even has two live-in maids since she has three children and it would be to hard for her otherwise.
Of course it is a tempting thought every night after dinner when I am clearing the kitchen that actually somebody else could do it. And living as an expat in Singapore is one of the few opportunities when a normal family could actually afford to have one. Wouldn't have to worry about going out in the evenings or even shopping.
I still can't get my mind round to having a stranger in the house all the time. Would she have to sit at the table with us? What do I do with her when we go on holiday? How can I let her take care of my kids when she has probably some of her own back home who never see their mum? How can I teach the kids to make chores if somebody is being payed to do everything? How can I let somebody sleep in this tiny windowless, AC-less room behind the kitchen?
So far no maid for us. But maybe after half a year we will have given in to the social pressure. Who knows.