I disagree the poster is a troll. The poster is pointing out that nannies have a commitment to children that trumps the traditional employee/employer relationship. For someone to quit with callous disregard for the bond that a child has developed it disgusting and selfish. I think OP should not have taken the position to begin with if she felt that she was not being fairly compensated. She took a position, formed a bond with a child and developed a routine with the family that depended on her. Than, out of no where, she says, "I quit, it's my right. Bye!" How awful. I can understand that the family is upset, though they aren't handling the situation well. They just have to understand that many nannies don't care about making a commitment. In fact, many are just in it for the money. As a mom, I'd rather someone just came out and said that. It's a win-win when that happens. I wouldn't hire you because I'm looking for a committed professional and you wouldn't waste your time with me. This didn't have to be so hard OP. I hope you start to learn empathy. That should be a requirement to work with kids and you don't have it. Scary, really! |
| OP, you're actually doing the family a favor by leaving. You don't sound very honest. I'm horrified that you ever had access to children. |
| Are freaking serious PP? A nanny should be more committed to a job because she works with kids? Are you freaking shitting me? As callously as nannies are treated, you have the gall to say that? Good God woman the extent of your selfishness and stupidity is almost beyond comprehension. If you don't want to hire someone for which taking care of your child is a job, ie. an employee, (and I NEVER say this) you need to stay home and take care of your kid yourself. A nanny can very well love working with children, but that doesn't erase the necessity to make money. Why not work with children and make MORE of it somewhere else. You know how to protect yourself from this very situation? Offer as competitive package as you can and be a considerate boss, not offering as little as legally possible. |
| so...a person should work for substandard wages indefinitely simply because they accepted employment? They can never leave, never better themselves until the parents decide they're done with the nanny? That makes no sense whatsoever. |
+1 and I'm an MB. I will say that there are some people on DCUM who frequently recommend that a nanny should just quit every time they come on here with a small complaint while at the same time constantly criticizing parents who want to fire a nanny because its bad for the children to change nannies. You can't have it both ways BUT there are also many circumstances in which its better to move on. It's reasonable for both a nanny to quit because it's better for her and for parents to fire a nanny because it's better for their family. |
Sorry, I smell a sock puppet. Amazing the amount of trolls on this site... |
The difference, in my opinion, is that a nanny's duty is to herself and her own family and at the end of the day this is her job, while a parent's duty is to their family and the well being of their child. If a nanny is not good for your kid, by all means drop her, but if you're pissy because she reads during nap time, won't clean your house and its not in her duties, I think the actual care she provides for your kid is what's important and YOU shouldn't sever the relationship for stupid reasons. A nanny has every right to quit for stupid reasons. Hopefully she cares enough not to, but it is a job, and there are more kids in the world. Most of the time when a nanny on here complains its the MBs flippantly telling her to quit if she's not happy, no one is making her stay, not the nannies. |
I'm the PP you quoted and I agree completely that it is stupid to fire a nanny because she won't clean the house etc. Basically I agree with all the reasons you listed. But I've seen several posts here with legitimate reasons for firing a nanny and someone always chimes in to tell the parents they clearly don't care about their children. I've also seen posts from nannies complaining because their otherwise great families did one thing they didn't like and they aren't sure what to do about it. Usually several MBs might suggest discussing it but there's always at least one nanny telling them to just quit. I just wanted to clarify what I meant but I do agree with you it's different for nannies than parents and nannies don't have the same obligation to children that their parents do, which is why I think it's important for parents to treat the good nannies well so they don't want to quit. |
Wow. You seem fun. |
| People who care about their children make damn sure they pay and trest yheir nsnnies well so the nanny is happy. |
| OP here. Yes, perhaps I should not have taken this job. I regret it, but at the time, I did intend to stay as I do get a good amount of babysitting offers on the side to supplement. However, when the opportunity came along to take a child care job with set hours (not asking me to as flexible as this family did and no they did not mention this need up front to me), and make more than I would working multiple jobs, then yes, I took it. I have a daughter to care for and the more income I can make and the more time I can spend with her, the better. I do care for the kids I watch of course, but things happen sometimes and if it will make things better for my daughter, then I am going to do it. |
| I have decided to finish out the last week as I felt bad enough for having to leave even though they are not taking it well. I at least want to feel like I gave it the best I could and honored the notice I gave. |
This is the right thing to do. Good choice. Hope the week isn't too awful - hold your head high. Hope the next job works out! |
especially since they are neighbors. |