Is this fair?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do not pay her $30 an hour. Give her a $2 increase, if even that and no longer pay her insurance. Then see how quickly she comes running back to wanting her insurance covered.

Newborns aren't that much work.

Spoken by a real nanny professional.

The nanny is trying to take advantage of her. The nanny needs a bit of reality check to realize what she is getting is a great deal.

[Anonymous]

Newborns ARE a ton of work if you are "doing it" right! Narration, singing, wearing, reading, etc - 75% of the newborns brain is formed in the first year. Plus a newborn with an older child is non-stop and takes a good deal of prior planning to keep both moving forward in learning and development. (Not to mention keeping both happy!)

That said, your compensation sounds fair and reasoned. If you cannot get your nanny to understand then there is not much else you can do. Once the "it's not fair" starts it only gets worse.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Newborns ARE a ton of work if you are "doing it" right! Narration, singing, wearing, reading, etc - 75% of the newborns brain is formed in the first year. Plus a newborn with an older child is non-stop and takes a good deal of prior planning to keep both moving forward in learning and development. (Not to mention keeping both happy!)

That said, your compensation sounds fair and reasoned. If you cannot get your nanny to understand then there is not much else you can do. Once the "it's not fair" starts it only gets worse.

I "do it right" and I can assure you that for a nanny who is worth upwards of $20 an hour, it shouldn't be that challenging because the majority of this should be instinctual. If you have substantial newborn experience and experience jugglig two kids' schedules, then you should be narrating, singing and reading much of the time with the older child AND you should be able to do all of those things without thinking about it. As for the schedules, you should be thinking that through from day one! Either adding the newborn will be a huge amount of work for the nanny because she doesn't have much practice (in which case she is not worth this rate), or it will be harder than one bu ultimately old hat (in which case, the nanny would be worth some of what she's asking for, but wouldn't be whining about how hard it is).

[Anonymous]

OP, you are way overpaying your nanny. $24/hr for two kids when one is in preschool three days a week? And another $1100/mo in health insurance?

She is taking advantage of you and I highly doubt she has friends making more than she is for two kids.

You should consider a new nanny. PP is right. She is resentful and will only get worse.

[Anonymous]

OP, I'm exhausted just reading your situation - I can't imagine dealing with it.

I'm an MB. Here are my gut reactions for what I'd do (recognizing this is infinitely more difficult when you're juggling the personal relationships):

- explain to your nanny that this has all gotten way too complicated. From now on pay her an hourly rate (back into if you wish in a way that works with her take-home understanding) and no insurance. Offer the hourly rate you feel comfortable with and tell her that is what you can do - take it or leave it.
- tell her that if that doesn't work for her you completely understand but you will need to find another nanny.
- maybe just go find another nanny anyway. Other nannies will be great for your kids and they will handle a transition. For the hourly rates you are paying you can get truly superior experienced care, very easily, even for only 30 hrs a week.

You could get excellent care tomorrow from an agency for less than you're paying now.

This is not worth the level of aggravation and frustration it's causing you. Your nanny is WAY out of line and I think she's really taking advantage of you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Newborns ARE a ton of work if you are "doing it" right! Narration, singing, wearing, reading, etc - 75% of the newborns brain is formed in the first year. Plus a newborn with an older child is non-stop and takes a good deal of prior planning to keep both moving forward in learning and development. (Not to mention keeping both happy!)

That said, your compensation sounds fair and reasoned. If you cannot get your nanny to understand then there is not much else you can do. Once the "it's not fair" starts it only gets worse.

I "do it right" and I can assure you that for a nanny who is worth upwards of $20 an hour, it shouldn't be that challenging because the majority of this should be instinctual. If you have substantial newborn experience and experience jugglig two kids' schedules, then you should be narrating, singing and reading much of the time with the older child AND you should be able to do all of those things without thinking about it. As for the schedules, you should be thinking that through from day one! Either adding the newborn will be a huge amount of work for the nanny because she doesn't have much practice (in which case she is not worth this rate), or it will be harder than one bu ultimately old hat (in which case, the nanny would be worth some of what she's asking for, but wouldn't be whining about how hard it is).

+1. You sound like a fantastic nanny and I'm sure you are worth your rate.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, I'm exhausted just reading your situation - I can't imagine dealing with it.

I'm an MB. Here are my gut reactions for what I'd do (recognizing this is infinitely more difficult when you're juggling the personal relationships):

- explain to your nanny that this has all gotten way too complicated. From now on pay her an hourly rate (back into if you wish in a way that works with her take-home understanding) and no insurance. Offer the hourly rate you feel comfortable with and tell her that is what you can do - take it or leave it.
- tell her that if that doesn't work for her you completely understand but you will need to find another nanny.
- maybe just go find another nanny anyway. Other nannies will be great for your kids and they will handle a transition. For the hourly rates you are paying you can get truly superior experienced care, very easily, even for only 30 hrs a week.

You could get excellent care tomorrow from an agency for less than you're paying now.

This is not worth the level of aggravation and frustration it's causing you. Your nanny is WAY out of line and I think she's really taking advantage of you.

Another MB and I agree with this exactly.