Junk Food Nanny...Part II. [UPDATE] OMG!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am a nanny and didn't think she was out of line for requesting you make healthier food choices in front of the kids. However, lecturing you about the evils of plastic and Vaseline and dictating every single product you use crosses the line for me. Everyone has a right to their beliefs and kudos to her for being so environmentally conscious but if this stuff was such a big deal it should have been addressed during the interview process. She should have been upfront during the interview and she would have had a better chance of hiring a nanny who is a better fit for their lifestyle. I couldn't work for them. I'm not saying they are wrong in any way for how they live their lives but it's over and beyond what I'm willing to do.

+1
Completely agree.

+2

You putting petroleum products on your lips in her home or waiting until you get home to do it changes NOTHING about the environment or her children, it's all about control.

[Anonymous]

Yes your MB is crazy but I don't think you should be nannying If you aren't going to set positive examples for children. You ARE a role model and your actions directly impact their developing minds. I think you should take some early childhood education classes because it sounds like you just aren't getting "it". Yes it's a "free country" but you can't go around swearing all day long with your charges right? That's not in the contract, I bet, but its poor behavior and not acceptable. Pretty much a given. Same thing goes with junk food. You're allowed to have it, but why would you want to model this sort of behavior in front of young kids? Maybe this isn't the line of work for you .

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:While OP's boss may be going about communicating her beliefs in a negative or controlling way, there is nothing wrong with her having and expressing them...isn't it a free country for her too? Bottom line, it's MB's home and she is completely within her rights to dictate what enters it. I don't use bleach products in my house, and were I to hire someone to clean it, they would not be allowed to bring them in...how is requesting a stainless steel water bottle or no junk food any different (perhaps pettier but still within reason). If you want a job where no one gives a s*** what you do, this isn't the right profession for you.

But you would probably tell them that before the job starts, right? And the products are part of the process of cleaning your home. Big difference dictating what OP can use to drink or what she puts on her face, etc.

OP is an adult, not some control freak's little bitch.

How difficult is it to understand that nannying is a job that constantly changes. There seems to be this prevailing mentality that if something isn't IN THE CONTRACT (like those actually mean anything) then it can't be requested. Perhaps MB didn't feel like she had to include food stipulations because she reasonably expected that the woman she was hiring wouldn't need guidance in this area; once she realized that it was necessary, she brought up the issue-as was her prerogative to do so. If you can't adapt to changing needs and demands, this is not the career/job for you.

Do you not get it or are you being purposely obtuse? Dictating personal choices that have absolutely nothing to do with the children you care for is out of line. The food issue is one thing, but the water, petroleum, whatever else is another.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:While OP's boss may be going about communicating her beliefs in a negative or controlling way, there is nothing wrong with her having and expressing them...isn't it a free country for her too? Bottom line, it's MB's home and she is completely within her rights to dictate what enters it. I don't use bleach products in my house, and were I to hire someone to clean it, they would not be allowed to bring them in...how is requesting a stainless steel water bottle or no junk food any different (perhaps pettier but still within reason). If you want a job where no one gives a s*** what you do, this isn't the right profession for you.

And if you were requesting that she cooks and feeds YOUR children only with organic, healthy food, you will be completely within reason. Requesting that people who enter your home copy your lifestyle choices in their entirety is...well, it's her right since it's her home, but if she feels so strongly that anyone who works her must not use plastic products in their life, she should have made that clear while recruiting for the position. What business is it of hers what hangers the nanny uses in her home? Is she within her right to request that all nanny's clothes must be made of organic cotton only? Come on. I can get behind no junk food, but the rest? Crazy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Fellow nannies and parents, I would like to say thank you all so much for responding to my topic. I mean, the responses were overwhelming. Some helpful, some not so, many bashed me for lacking any common sense, etc. But I want to thank everyone nevertheless. From the OP.

Just wanted to provide a crazy update.
CAUTION: * Spoiler Alert!! * {Just joking!}

For those that advised my MB was on a power trip, you guys were 120% on the mark. The issue wasn't really about my diet or how I was negatively influencing her sons. It was about advancing her own agenda and sitting on her soapbox smirking at me. Again, it was completely unfair of her to tell me I had to bring my own lunch every day, then criticize my meal choices since they obviously didn't mesh w/her lifestyle. She made it seem like if the boys witnessed me munching on Oreos, they in turn would be negatively influenced and start asking for cookies as opposed to carrots for snacks. That I had a responsibility as a nanny to model healthy eating behavior. Since I was in HER home, she had every right to dictate my food choices. Are you guys really for real on all this??! How uneducated are you all?

Anyway, today I brought in a water bottle. SmartWater which I grabbed from my fridge and took to work today.
When my MB saw it in the fridge she asked me if it was mine. Duh much????? Of course, I said it was and I asked if there was a problem w/me storing my drink in the fridge. {Because she seemed upset, I assumed it was because my water bottle was taking up too much room, after all SmartWater bottles are pretty tall.}
She then made a snorty noise and told me from now on, she would appreciate it if I didn't bring plastic bottles into her home again. She told me I could purchase a stainless steel water bottle online for about six dollars like she did. She even instructed me to write down a website where I could do so. Then she went on to lecture me how only 7% of plastic can effectively be reduced and that plastic bottles just took up landfill space. She then tried to use her sons as an example to me. She said if I cared anything about my charges, I would do the right thing and ban plastic altogether since most of it cannot be recycled. She then asked me if I used plastic hangers at home and I admitted that I did. Then another lecture. I tried so hard not to roll my eyes. I don't disagree w/anything she said, but at this point I realized she just wants everyone else to conform to her beliefs. Again, I live in a free country and as a tax paying citizen, I have every right to do what I want. My parents already raised me. The luxury of being an adult is being able to live as I choose. If I want to eat hot cheetos w/my ham sandwich for lunch, then I have the fundamental right to. Same w/drinking from a plastic water bottle.

Later on in the day, I was putting Vaseline {petroleum jelly} on my lips {I prefer it to chapstick} and she stood in front of me and asked if my ointment contained petroleum. When I said it did, she then asked me not to apply it in her home and went off on some tirade about petroleum, etc. Honestly, I didn't understand what she was talking about.
At this point, I was just fed~up w/all the lectures already so I said I would be willing to eat all healthy/organic if she would provide my lunches. I also stated that I would bring my SmartWater from home in a stainless steel bottle from now on if she would provide the bottle.'
She looked at me like I was asking for a million dollar bonus!!

When her husband came home, I heard her whispering to him in the front room and when I saw them both, they both looked at me kinda funny.

After much thought, I am not going to work for this Type A Control Freak any longer.
I cannot stand another day in her presence.
After I get my check on Friday, it will be "Hasta Lavista Baby!"

Are there really people out there like this? Is this normal for people who recycle or is this over the top?

[Anonymous]

Op, while I don't agree with your employer's approach about educating you on clean healthy living, I do find your attitude disturbing. You are a 37yr old educated woman, you should not be giving excuses as to why you can't find a better solution for living a healthier lifestyle. What you put into your body and how you live your life does effect everyone. The products you buy support companies that produces them which in turn continues to produce that crap. They market it to ingorant individuals who use/eat it in excess and develop diseases like Diabetes/cancer. The more people with it, the higher our insurance premiums rise. All that because you want to kill yourself slowly. The plastic you waste puts toxic fumes into our atomsphere and fills landfills.

If everyone made an effort to change just a few things about their lifestyle the world would be in a much better state. We need to stop acting so selfishly and be a community. I understand that you grew up in a generation of waste but that doesn't mean my generation has to pay the price for you. You need to change. Change for yourself, your children, family. Love yourself enough to feed yourself properly and think about the crap you waste before your purchase it because our future children deserve a better world.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Op, while I don't agree with your employer's approach about educating you on clean healthy living, I do find your attitude disturbing. You are a 37yr old educated woman, you should not be giving excuses as to why you can't find a better solution for living a healthier lifestyle. What you put into your body and how you live your life does effect everyone. The products you buy support companies that produces them which in turn continues to produce that crap. They market it to ingorant individuals who use/eat it in excess and develop diseases like Diabetes/cancer. The more people with it, the higher our insurance premiums rise. All that because you want to kill yourself slowly. The plastic you waste puts toxic fumes into our atomsphere and fills landfills.

If everyone made an effort to change just a few things about their lifestyle the world would be in a much better state. We need to stop acting so selfishly and be a community. I understand that you grew up in a generation of waste but that doesn't mean my generation has to pay the price for you. You need to change. Change for yourself, your children, family. Love yourself enough to feed yourself properly and think about the crap you waste before your purchase it because our future children deserve a better world.

I just burned some plastic bags in honor of you

[Anonymous]

I'm the original 10:06 poster, let me just clarify something. I am in no way saying that the employer's request was reasonable (who cares what kind of lip balm she uses, really), rather, I was trying to point out that she was well within her rights to make requests regardless if they were in the original contract/known from the get go. So often, when job descriptions/duties change, I see a knee jerk reaction on these boards of "was it in your contract?". In was just trying to make the point-and perhaps this was the wrong thread to do so-that there needs to be room for change and flexibility in this line of work, and many of the nannies here don't seem to get that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Op, while I don't agree with your employer's approach about educating you on clean healthy living, I do find your attitude disturbing. You are a 37yr old educated woman, you should not be giving excuses as to why you can't find a better solution for living a healthier lifestyle. What you put into your body and how you live your life does effect everyone. The products you buy support companies that produces them which in turn continues to produce that crap. They market it to ingorant individuals who use/eat it in excess and develop diseases like Diabetes/cancer. The more people with it, the higher our insurance premiums rise. All that because you want to kill yourself slowly. The plastic you waste puts toxic fumes into our atomsphere and fills landfills.

If everyone made an effort to change just a few things about their lifestyle the world would be in a much better state. We need to stop acting so selfishly and be a community. I understand that you grew up in a generation of waste but that doesn't mean my generation has to pay the price for you. You need to change. Change for yourself, your children, family. Love yourself enough to feed yourself properly and think about the crap you waste before your purchase it because our future children deserve a better world.

I just burned some plastic bags in honor of you

LMAOOO... well she's certainly on a motivational trip.

True, there are a ton of things that are terrible for the environment and for our bodies. But the perks of being an independent, individual adult allows for one to choose what they wish to eat, use, and do. People are born and raised differently and have their own unique nature and mentality. You admonishing them about it and urging them to "choose a better life" can only go but so far... especially on an anonymous forum. So I'd advise you to save it for people who actually care or for those whom you can sufficiently influence... either directly or indirectly. This forum isn't gunna cut it, no matter how you spin it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm the original 10:06 poster, let me just clarify something. I am in no way saying that the employer's request was reasonable (who cares what kind of lip balm she uses, really), rather, I was trying to point out that she was well within her rights to make requests regardless if they were in the original contract/known from the get go. So often, when job descriptions/duties change, I see a knee jerk reaction on these boards of "was it in your contract?". In was just trying to make the point-and perhaps this was the wrong thread to do so-that there needs to be room for change and flexibility in this line of work, and many of the nannies here don't seem to get that.

Yes, this is the wrong thread for you to go on a rant about nannies complaining about what is/isn't in the contract.

[Anonymous]

I just ate a fried bologna sandwich with fried onions, white bread and slathered with Hellman's original mayonnaise. Had a big gulp coke, french fries with gobs of ketchup and dessert is going to be either Key Lime pie with vanilla ice cream or brownie with walnuts.and double fudge icing also with vanilla ice cream. Maybe I will just have half of each now and other when kids get up from nap. Dollar store has plastic hangers in every color of rainbow and am going to buy a half dozen. Also it has plastic bowls (2 for $1.00) and I use these once or twice and then toss. Haven't checked but I can probably find a 1/2 lb plastic jar of generic petroleum jelly.

Best thing is, tbese kids love me because I teach them to share and they tell me that I must share my lunch, too.

I think I will also disinfect kitchen sink by pouring a bottle of clorox down drain and throwing it away in plastic trash bag.

Toodles

[Anonymous]

OP, cash your check and deposit cash into your acct. so CB can't stop payment. On Sat. am, stop by to tell her you won't be back and munch on Oreo. Let us know and best of luck to you. Lord, I pity those poor cbildren with a mother like this.

[Anonymous]

I think MB is WAY out of line, but I also would be concerned that OP is going to drop dead while I'm at work.

[Anonymous]

Oh OP I believed you initially but this is too much. You've been with them for almost 4 months and she's just now showing a control issue?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was one of the MBs who responded to your original post defending your right to eat what you want, but suggesting that a good compromise to set a good example for the children might be for your MB to buy the food. But after reading this, I have to say that I am a whole lot less sympathetic and mighty glad you aren't my nanny. While I think if your MB was that concerned about foods/environment she should have used her interviews to find someone who shared those concerns, and she doesn't sound like a gem of a person to know or work for, you are also intractable. If you think the country is so free that you just get to do whatever you want, whenever and however while at work, I suggest you start your own business. And for everyone's sake, not a child care business.

I'm a nanny and I agree with this. OP sounds selfish and spoiled the the mentality that since it's a free country she can rape and pilage the environment and everyone else just has to live with it. Sadly there are far too many Americans with this piss poor attitude and it's no wonder we're failing as a nation. I stopped buying plastic 3 or more years ago...i use glass food storage containers, lunch bots and wax bags for lunches that won't need to be microwaved, and kleen kanteen bottles. It's so much better on so many levels. All I can say OP is stay in whatever midwestern cave you live in because you would not fit in anywhere else, and stay the eff away from the west coast. We don't need anymore trash.

You seem fun.