I cannot handle how dumb my maid is. She's amazing with baby but just really dumb with everything else. I am a full time working mum and my baby goes to infant care so my helper does not have that much to do. I don't intend to let her go but can u teach me coping strategies to her absolute sheer stupidity?

I totally feel you. I also have problems with my helper who is good with my children but always slips up in other tasks, and I'm running out of patience. While I'm also trying hard to cope, I think the following may help: 1. Have very low expectations. Means don't expect that she'll use common sense, because what is common sense to you may not be common sense to her. You have to understand that helpers are not well educated. 2. Tell her where she's wrong every time she makes a mistake. 3. Give super crystal clear instructions, and demonstrate to her how to do things. Eg when you tell her to wash clothes, tell her very clearly and show her how to put the clothes in the washing machine, how much detergent to use, what settings to use, how to dry the clothes, how to iron them, how to fold them etc. 4. If there are written instructions printed on any label, don't expect her to read and understand them by herself because she'll somehow read it differently from us. Read it for her and tell her how to use it. 4. Repeat yourself like a robot when you give her instructions. If she needs to do the same task again the next day, be long winded and repeat your same instruction again the next day. Make sure she writes down your instructions. In short, sorry to sound harsh, but if she's acting dumb, then u got to handle her like a dumb person and teach her things from scratch, as if u are teaching a child. Take this as an opportunity to train up your patience in readiness for your child. Good luck!