Kids' caretaker traveling to N.J. next weekend

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No I would not. But if I were in her situation I wouldn't plan my life around 2-3/hrs per day of work. Honestly unless I were working FT with a family, and dependent on that income, I would want to be with my own family during this crisis.

OP, how old is this person? And is their only responsibility here is taking care of your kids?

[Anonymous]

Not sure where you live, but if in DC area it’s illegal.

[Anonymous]

Absolutely not.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:She is not legally allowed to travel from dc, md or va for nonessential vacation. It’s against the law.

Isn't the nanny not supposed to be working anyway? How is her travel to OP's house to work for a nonessential business allowed?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:She is not legally allowed to travel from dc, md or va for nonessential vacation. It’s against the law.

Isn't the nanny not supposed to be working anyway? How is her travel to OP's house to work for a nonessential business allowed?

Th governor of Maryland deemed residential services including childcare essential, so that is not the issue.

If it were me, OP, I would not have her back. It sucks, but if she goes, you need to find someone else that you can trust to close the loop with your nuclear family and theirs.

[Anonymous]

Remind her it’s illegal. Have a 2 week quarantine. Look for new sitter to replace ASAP.

[Anonymous]

I would find a new sitter altogether.

[Anonymous]

Pretty sure that’s illegal.

[Anonymous]

I think I'm pretty moderate on all of coronavirus issues, but I would insist on a 14 day quarantine at least. And I might even consider looking for someone different permanently.

[Anonymous]

No - only after 14 days of being back.

[Anonymous]

It is completely reasonable to insist on a 14 day quarantine!

[Anonymous]

OP, if she is sufficiently careless to take this trip, then she is already compromised. She is almost certainly not taking the precautions needed during her regular life right now so you need to either accept that this person is going to be constantly putting you all at risk or you need to find a different caregiver regardless of her trip.

Can you find another family who can join forces? I know a few people who have teamed up with another parent or parents so that the two households have no contact with anyone outside of their home (other than a weekly grocery run), but that way they can trade childcare hours and the kids have someone other than siblings to play with.

[Anonymous]

Here's the thing about quarantine. Many people will have moderate symptoms of COVID. You have to completely trust that if she develops symptoms during the 14 day period, that she recognizes the potential for that dry cough or slight body ache that doesn't get worse to potentially be COVID. Otherwise she could start working for you on day 15 but really be a couple days into a mild case.

Do you trust her to stay home if she develops any symptoms? Or do you think she would shake it off, be oblivious, prefer to get paid? This is about her judgment in general.

[Anonymous]

Ugh this is why the virus will continue to spread into the late summer!!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ugh this is why the virus will continue to spread into the late summer!!!

I understand what you are saying and think the nanny is irresponsible too - but this was never about stopping the virus altogether. This is about flattening the curve so hospitals aren’t overwhelmed all at once. And to buy time for medical and vaccine developments.

We are likely to have the virus over the next year with additional spikes in cases no matter what we do. I think a lot of people have the misunderstanding that this will be over this spring if we all do proper social isolation but that’s just not the case and we should all be mentally prepared.