why don't more SAHMs become nannies when kids are in college?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Okay, I know there are a lot of reasons why NOT to be a nanny, b/c it is effin hard work. However, I see that a lot of SAHM families feel the financial crunch/sacrifice, and worry about paying for college, even moreso than duel income families logically. Becoming a nanny is a lot easier than getting your old job in corporate America back. A well-educated nanny could make 60-70K a year. After taxes, that's I dunno, 45-55K that could pay for multiple kids' in-state college expenses, or go a long way towards a year of private for one kid. Plus you get to snuggle with small kids. It's hard work, but basically the SAHM experience + getting paid for it during a time where your household could really use the cash.

Omg. This post is so funny.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They are lazy. Duh. Hard to work after hanging out for a few years.

Most SAHMs are useless and unemployable. I can’t tell you how many are in our neighborhood, yet still have cleaning services, lawn services, nannies, and countless other contracted services to avoid doing any work.

I am going to take you seriously. When you go to work, you do one job maybe two and yet you expect SAHM or ( dads) to do all the jobs) you mentioned. How is that fair? We are not slaves! I assume you have nannies, yard service and cleaning service too? Why can't SAHM's? They stay home to raise the children, not mow the lawn. And if you can afford cleaning service why not?

Raising a child isn’t a full-time job. Don’t pretend that it is.

You're right it's more that a full time job. 24/7.

I can only hope that the venomous PP is a misguided teen trying to fulfill some kind of weird "dare" from a friend by baiting SAHMS. No one who is a mother or a father could be so aggressively obtuse. or if this is in fact a parent, they need some mental health counseling. Generally, I find DCUM kind of entertaining, but the viciousness of this poster worries me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’d rather dog sit than watch someone else’s kids and deal with parents.

LOL so true. I take care of my kids because they are mine, not because it's my calling in life. Also, we don't struggle financially so I instead do volunteer work etc that is fulfilling and where I feel my contribution is appreciated.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wow some (notice, SOME) SAHMs are touchy. OP wasn't saying ALL SAHMs should be nannies, but that those who are concerned about finances should/could maybe consider it once their kids are off to college b/c it can make a non-trivial amount of money while being able to enter the workforce.

Op makes it sound like nannying is a fine job. It isn't. There are no standards for the job and how the nanny is treated. Most nanny jobs don't pay well. The hours and vacation time are inflexible. Do most nannies get health care benefits? People are quoting some of the top ranges for salaries and a lot of entry level jobs with companies pay better, have flexibility with hours and vacation, and provide a route to move up into a better position.

We do have a serious problem with child care in this country. It isn't respected. Someone concerned about money, even lacking a college degree, can find lots of work that pays better with actual benefits.

If I needed to make money, there are a lot better options. I assume op's post is fueled her frustrations with not being able to find good cheap child care. Trying to spin the job of being a nanny as a reasonable option for someone who needs money is a joke.

[Anonymous]

What a great idea, OP.

How much does this gig pay?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would consider it! I love babies and I’ll definitely be providing childcare for my grandkids if I have them and my kids want it. If not I always thought it would be fun to do some Pt work as a nanny.

Unlikely that it would be fun. I'm a sahm and the stories I can tell you about how nannies are treated. First off, nannying isn't pt work. Nannies take over for families who work full time. They get pressured to work beyond their hours all the time. The families who employ them often take advantage of them.

The first reference call I made when I tried to hire a nanny left an impression. The nanny should not have used this person as a reference. She did a great job for them but the mom was angry that when the nanny had lunch she also read a newspaper. This was her lunch. It was only 15 minutes. One kid napping. Other kids in school. Mom lost her mind and was furious when she saw it after installing a nanny cam. She admitted the woman was great with her kids and reliable but felt if she was paying her there were no breaks. She told the nanny she expected her to do maid work because of this. I also learned lots of parents expected the nanny to clean, do laundry etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wow some (notice, SOME) SAHMs are touchy. OP wasn't saying ALL SAHMs should be nannies, but that those who are concerned about finances should/could maybe consider it once their kids are off to college b/c it can make a non-trivial amount of money while being able to enter the workforce.

Op makes it sound like nannying is a fine job. It isn't. There are no standards for the job and how the nanny is treated. Most nanny jobs don't pay well. The hours and vacation time are inflexible. Do most nannies get health care benefits? People are quoting some of the top ranges for salaries and a lot of entry level jobs with companies pay better, have flexibility with hours and vacation, and provide a route to move up into a better position.

We do have a serious problem with child care in this country. It isn't respected. Someone concerned about money, even lacking a college degree, can find lots of work that pays better with actual benefits.

If I needed to make money, there are a lot better options. I assume op's post is fueled her frustrations with not being able to find good cheap child care. Trying to spin the job of being a nanny as a reasonable option for someone who needs money is a joke.

NP: I agree with all your points, but I think for a SAHP who has a spouse who provides the family benefits and who is just looking for cash, it is a potentially viable option. Especially if they enjoyed taking care of kids and lack other work skills/career interests and if they just want to earn enough during kids' college years to help with cash flow for college expenses. They might feel more comfortable in the home setting doing familiar work etc. rather than launching a new career. They might like that it has a built in "end-date" when the kids she's nannying get older so that they don't feel pressured to keep working. It seemed to work okay for the few women I knew who took this route or similar (e.g., taking on lots of babysitting jobs), but they really only wanted cashflow for a few years not a new career and thought nannying/caregiving was a straightforward way. Or the opportunity just sort of fell in their lap and they thought why not.
I do worry that someone who is entertaining this idea may be letting fear/insecurity limit the job options they're willing to think about rather than what would serve them best in the long run. But I chose career over full time SAP so I may have a different perspective than they do.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would consider it! I love babies and I’ll definitely be providing childcare for my grandkids if I have them and my kids want it. If not I always thought it would be fun to do some Pt work as a nanny.

Unlikely that it would be fun. I'm a sahm and the stories I can tell you about how nannies are treated. First off, nannying isn't pt work. Nannies take over for families who work full time. They get pressured to work beyond their hours all the time. The families who employ them often take advantage of them.

The first reference call I made when I tried to hire a nanny left an impression. The nanny should not have used this person as a reference. She did a great job for them but the mom was angry that when the nanny had lunch she also read a newspaper. This was her lunch. It was only 15 minutes. One kid napping. Other kids in school. Mom lost her mind and was furious when she saw it after installing a nanny cam. She admitted the woman was great with her kids and reliable but felt if she was paying her there were no breaks. She told the nanny she expected her to do maid work because of this. I also learned lots of parents expected the nanny to clean, do laundry etc.

+1, so very true. The demands grow if you give the employer an inch. Don’t get me started on the DC upper NW “nanny share” cheap-outs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sahm doesn't qualify you as a nanny.

People like nannies with early childhood degrees and the like. I don't have that.
Plus, I'm old. My 50 yr old hips and back can no longer chase a toddler around and I have little energy/desire to change gross diapers or deal with potty training to boot.
And I only like my own kids.

Here is your answers - SAHMs don't like to work. That was the whole point of SAHM.

Here's your answer-being a mom and nanny are not respected jobs. The whole point of being a SAHM is to raise a tiny human to be a productive, loving caring adult human. To be there for their children because they love them! This is not a dig at moms or dads who have to work but, pp is really insulting with "the whole point of SAHM is not to work" YOU ARE WORKING BUT NOT GETTING RESPECT OR PAY.

This is the reason I wouldn't want to nanny because of people LIKE YOU pp

I respected my nannies very much. Did you respect the women who raised your children while you were working out and lunching with your SAHMs girlfriends?

You make no sense and have some weird misogyny going on.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If a SAHM became a nanny, won't she be another low paid WOHM that helps medium to high paid WOHMs to lean in?

LOL.

What OP is asking for is a supply of low paid WOHMs who can work for her as a nanny, cleaner, cook, tutor, physical therapist etc.

+100.

[Anonymous]

I don’t know any SAHMs with financial problems. It’s mostly only something you do if you’re rich.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They are lazy. Duh. Hard to work after hanging out for a few years.

Are you Indian?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I love how being a nanny is just considered an anyone can do it, kind of job. We literally get no respect.

I’ve worked as a professional nanny for 25 years and earn over $100k. If you want to be a high earning nanny, you need to devote yourself to the job, and most people don’t want to do that. I invest thousand every year in continuing education. My training (beyond university) includes ECE, Montessori, doula, newborn care specialist, advanced first aid and cpr, emergency medical care, child nutrition, ADHD, autism, and special needs coursework.

Being a nanny is a job that some of us take quite seriously and no, just being a stay at home mom doesn’t necessarily qualify you to earn above average wages.

I think this thread made it very obvious to all readers that the vast majority of SAHMs are unqualified to become nannies. They don’t like kids, they don’t like schedules and they don’t want to be told what to do.

I think this thread has pointed out that there is a huge difference in liking your own kids and having a desire to be a professional caregiver to other people’s kids. Most SAHMs in this area are highly educated and stepped out of their chosen professional field to care for THEIR kids. If they want or need extra cash they are qualified and capable of finding a job in their own field. Maybe for some SAHMs being a nanny is appealing but for many it is not at all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They are lazy. Duh. Hard to work after hanging out for a few years.

Most SAHMs are useless and unemployable. I can’t tell you how many are in our neighborhood, yet still have cleaning services, lawn services, nannies, and countless other contracted services to avoid doing any work.

the jealousy is killing you isn't it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This reminds me of an educated professional friend who asked me (a SAHM) if I would be her nanny (two kids in diapers) since I was home anyway with two kids in diapers. It would be so easy she said. I scoffed.

She couldn't hold on to any babysitters or nannies, and her work hours were crazy. She offered $10 per hour, it was a few years ago.

I think she never really spent much time with her kids, so she didn't realize how much responsibility and work is involved.

Don't have kids if you don't have time for them.

Sahm with the same experience. I would hide the fact that I was a sahm and make people think I did a part time tech job from home. Some parents would be aggressive in trying to make me their low paid slave.