Anonymous wrote:Ask me your questions about daycare, nannies and childcare in general.

Do you know that “nannied” is not a verb

What are some of the most annoying things parents do at daycare?

Anonymous wrote:Another potty training question: My two year old says he is scared of using the ptty (although he loves the bathroom and flushing the toilet and is okay sitting on the toilet and little potty and has peed and pooped in the potty). he holds his pee all morning then pees around the all afternoon.

I am not totally sure it is all fear—when i extoll the virtues of the potty or show him the Daniel tiger potty episode he turns to me and says “but why? Potty no.” I mean, I get it. Diapers have worked great his whole life, why stop now?

So how do you encourage a toddler use the potty who is both scared of the potty and also considers it fairly irrelevant to his lifestyle?

I’m truly not a potty training expert and my older two potty trained “late” because I just didn’t care enough to push it while they were younger. I may not be the best at all encompassing potty training advice.

I personally would keep doing what your doing. For some kids the anxiety is around being naked on the toilet, I do not know why this scares some kids.. maybe it’s primal? I will say daycares are fantastic about potty training kids and kind of forcing most kids to get over their fears.

Have you tried having him sit on the toilet to use the restroom but keep him in his diaper? Sounds ridiculous but sometimes the feeling of going while sitting on the toilet helps. I also am not above incentives. I think most kids get over their fear and figure it out. I wouldn’t push but gently encourage, if that makes sense.

Another potty training question: My two year old says he is scared of using the ptty (although he loves the bathroom and flushing the toilet and is okay sitting on the toilet and little potty and has peed and pooped in the potty). he holds his pee all morning then pees around the all afternoon.

I am not totally sure it is all fear—when i extoll the virtues of the potty or show him the Daniel tiger potty episode he turns to me and says “but why? Potty no.” I mean, I get it. Diapers have worked great his whole life, why stop now?

So how do you encourage a toddler use the potty who is both scared of the potty and also considers it fairly irrelevant to his lifestyle?

So...you've been in the same industry for 15 yrs? That's not that unusual.

Anonymous wrote:Are you from another country OP? Did you grow up poor?

Nope.

Grew up super middle class. Like, as middle class as you can get. My mother was a teacher and my father a firefighter. My sister is a teacher as well, my brother is a firefighter too.

When I nannies, I made more than them both.

Anonymous wrote:Are your kid well behaved? Good sleepers?
Or do you feel like your kids and parenting are a mess?
Basically, do you think you are better at raising what society perceives as well behaved kids?

My kids are fine. They’re not the best behaved, not the worst. No major issues just whiney and impatient and drive me mad. My youngest two are great sleepers but my oldest is not. I fixed my mistakes after her.

No, I’m not. There are some things I’m better at because I saw what worked and what didn’t but it’s so different when they’re your own kids. I did avoid some mistakes.

Anonymous wrote:How do you not scream when you see little kids?
I worked in a day care too, and had kids. I had nannies for my kids, but worked with kids in a sport's academy as a teacher (all ages).
Thinking about working in a day care again... makes me want to scream.
Oh, and I was really good at working with kids. Usually ages 18 months to 3 years old. Though they moved the kids up before they turned three.
I mean I was really, really good at it. To the point that people were enrolling kids just bcs their friends told them about me.
It was draining physically and emotionally. And in a day care situation, I also hated seeing teachers that were horrible.
I was not able to distance myself from the kids, so to say. I loved everyone of them.

I would never work in a daycare again unless my life or my families life depended on it. I may nanny again but I do think those days are over as well. But I truly have a passion for working with children, I’m not sure where it will lead me.

Anonymous wrote:Have you considered opening a home daycare or small preschool?

I’d actually love to open or work at a Waldorf school. I wouldn’t open a daycare center as it’s honestly too much for me.
Iffy with home daycare. We have one child come and in our state that’s allowed but if he accepted a second I’d have to apply to be a home daycare which consists of dropping a lot of money on licensing.

Most likely I’ll work non-profit when my youngest starts kinder. It’s within the realm of childcare but not as much direct responsibility.

Anonymous wrote:Were your parents upset you decided to be a nanny?

Nope. Once they realized how much money I made.

Are you from another country OP? Did you grow up poor?

Are your kid well behaved? Good sleepers?
Or do you feel like your kids and parenting are a mess?
Basically, do you think you are better at raising what society perceives as well behaved kids?

How do you not scream when you see little kids?
I worked in a day care too, and had kids. I had nannies for my kids, but worked with kids in a sport's academy as a teacher (all ages).
Thinking about working in a day care again... makes me want to scream.
Oh, and I was really good at working with kids. Usually ages 18 months to 3 years old. Though they moved the kids up before they turned three.
I mean I was really, really good at it. To the point that people were enrolling kids just bcs their friends told them about me.
It was draining physically and emotionally. And in a day care situation, I also hated seeing teachers that were horrible.
I was not able to distance myself from the kids, so to say. I loved everyone of them.

Have you considered opening a home daycare or small preschool?

Were your parents upset you decided to be a nanny?