The multiple disable children may cause many problems in a family. To resolve the problems, many families hire foreign house helper to caretaking the child, which, in turn, may cause other problem such as the tension between mother and the child.
The purpose of this study is to explore the relationship between mother and the multiple disable adolescent in the family with foreign house helper from the mother’s perspective. A review of the history of foreign house helper in Taiwan is discussed first. And a field study is conducted to observe four families with foreign house helpers to caretaking the multiple disable adolescents.
The eco-social background of each family is introduced and in-depth interviews with mothers and foreign house helpers are conducted separately. The interview emphasizes on how the attachment between the child and foreign house helper is developed through the close relationship in a long period of time as well as how the attachment influences on the mother-child relationship.
Six conclusions are drawn from the field study:
1. The internal support system of a family, such as continuous and consistent help from other family members, can influence the decision to hire a foreign house helper.
2. Most of families follow the tradition of father as the major economic provider of the family while mother as the major house keeper.
3. Thus, mother will arrange and supervise the work of foreign house helper.
4. The mother-child relationship is severe dampened by the intrusion of foreign house helper for the working mother.
5. However, the intensity and frequency of mother-child interaction as well as the magnitude of concerns of mother can help to reinstate it.
6. Overall, the foreign house helper can positively relieve the caretaking and housekeeping pressures from the mother of the multiple disable child.
As the complexity of caretaking the multiple disable children, the study also provide suggestions to the regulation on foreign house helper.
