By Chew Hui Min

When a video of a maid kicking, stamping and stepping on a small child was uploaded on Stomp and AsiaOne, reactions came in fast and furious.

Forummer paufurhs was so horrified that she said: "I was aghast, angry and almost cried while watching the video. I imagined my child being the victim. It ripped my heart out!"

"Very frankly, I dare not watch again the video especially the part where maid stood on the back bone of the kid."

Other than horror, the other common reaction was anger, and there were many demands for justice to be done.

Some even wanted to exact vengeance themselves, like dragonst678, who posted: "I make sure she won't be able to use her legs for a long long time."

Some wondered where the attack took place, but regardless of where it occurred, the violence of the attack made me flinch and feel sick.

Cases like these make a good case for not entrusting our children to strangers, no matter how busy our work is.

Unfortunately, it is not just maids or nannies, I have also heard of childcare centres where teachers punish their young wards by hitting and slapping them.

In a society where we are so used to being served and having our every need outsourced, perhaps this is one job that we need to do ourselves.

Which is why I agree with tatyyuen who posted: "Why someone would entrust their precious children to be raised by a stranger, no matter what credentials were provided, is beyond me.

"That's why my wife have already decided that our children be raised by her and not a maid. If one is required, they will not be left alone with the child (or children).

"There is no way to be sure that the child will be safe when the maid is unsupervised... And don't expect a child to tell as they will be fearful of retribution from the maid (with whom they spend more time with than the parents)."

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