How do we find an Alice from the Brady Bunch?

[Anonymous]

Alice is a unicorn. If you set yourself up for finding that you are guaranteed to be disappointed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We are desperately looking for a part-time, live-out position in our home, but one that is a hybrid. In a perfect world, we need someone who works 5-6 hours per day. Before the children (9, 13, 14) come home from school, we need this person to be cleaning (light or deep) and running errands (grocery store, dry cleaner, etc.). But we also need a person to pick up youngest at school, oversee homework, drive to practices and occasionally prepare dinners.

We find listings for housekeepers who can clean, but don't have the child or driving or cooking skills. Or we find listings for nannies who have great child skills, but don't clean or run errands.

Like I said, we need an Alice from the Brady Bunch. Any advice on agencies, online sites or other resources?

Thanks!

You want to hire me?i can be like Brady Bunch,very dedicate person.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Alice is a unicorn. If you set yourself up for finding that you are guaranteed to be disappointed.

Why disappointed?..

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Since your kids are older and don't need a nanny per se, you can probably find someone at the upper end of your range.

Depending on what you mean by deep cleaning, you might want to offer $20-22/hr.

Try more like $60. an hour. Or $1,800 a week. Get with it, lady.

[Anonymous]

I don't see many people as wanting to take a job like that for what you want to pay. People pay $20 an hour left and right for basic childcare, why would someone want to ALSO scrub your toilets and pick up your clothes for $15?

[Anonymous]

You can absolutely find this person in your price range -- and I speak from experience (and yes, I will prepare for the outraged Nanny deluge in response to this post, but here goes):

Everyone here is right that your price range is way low for a career Nanny/household manager/housekeeper like Alice. But the reality is, you don't need an Alice, you need an organized self-starter who is responsible and good at herding cats. Um, I mean kids. We have had great experience with mature college kids (set up your interview and reference questions to discern whether your applicant really understands what it takes to run your house and herd your kids). It's not rocket science, but it does require a certain personality and skill set. I have also had good experience with 30 something's looking to make a career change. I.e. They've been overseas teaching or are making a geographic move and waiting to start school of some sort.

Most of these applicants are not looking for a long-term career as a Nanny, and most who will accept your pay range will not have experience as a Nanny. But that doesn't mean you can't find a smart, capable person who will commit to working with you for a year. But in your price range, you probably have to resign yourself to finding a new Nanny every year or year and a half. And you will have to work with your new Nanny to make sure the expectations on both sides are understood. But I have found quality Nannies every time I've looked, and my kids stay in touch with our past Nannies -- my kids are older, so they understand why our Nannies move on -- the Nannies are usually great role models -- they're moving on to school, new careers, etc. I ask for a one year commitment, but most of our Nannies stay on a bit longer.

BTW, I also ask that my Nanny housekeepers make my kids pick up after themselves -- which is actually harder on the Nanny than if she just did the work herself. I can't be home to supervise my kids after school or drive them to activities, so my Nanny's job is to teach them to be self-sufficient -- just like I would, if I was home. But this requires a particular type of personality.

You need to prepare yourself for a pretty intense search process weeding through applicants -- but you can absolutely find someone. I have found my last 3 Nannies on care.com -- be very particular in your job description, including the rate you're willing to pay. It generally takes me 40-50 hours to find my Nanny. Good luck!!

[Anonymous]

8:17 is clearly out of touch with reality.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You can absolutely find this person in your price range -- and I speak from experience (and yes, I will prepare for the outraged Nanny deluge in response to this post, but here goes):

Everyone here is right that your price range is way low for a career Nanny/household manager/housekeeper like Alice. But the reality is, you don't need an Alice, you need an organized self-starter who is responsible and good at herding cats. Um, I mean kids. We have had great experience with mature college kids (set up your interview and reference questions to discern whether your applicant really understands what it takes to run your house and herd your kids). It's not rocket science, but it does require a certain personality and skill set. I have also had good experience with 30 something's looking to make a career change. I.e. They've been overseas teaching or are making a geographic move and waiting to start school of some sort.

Most of these applicants are not looking for a long-term career as a Nanny, and most who will accept your pay range will not have experience as a Nanny. But that doesn't mean you can't find a smart, capable person who will commit to working with you for a year. But in your price range, you probably have to resign yourself to finding a new Nanny every year or year and a half. And you will have to work with your new Nanny to make sure the expectations on both sides are understood. But I have found quality Nannies every time I've looked, and my kids stay in touch with our past Nannies -- my kids are older, so they understand why our Nannies move on -- the Nannies are usually great role models -- they're moving on to school, new careers, etc. I ask for a one year commitment, but most of our Nannies stay on a bit longer.

BTW, I also ask that my Nanny housekeepers make my kids pick up after themselves -- which is actually harder on the Nanny than if she just did the work herself. I can't be home to supervise my kids after school or drive them to activities, so my Nanny's job is to teach them to be self-sufficient -- just like I would, if I was home. But this requires a particular type of personality.

You need to prepare yourself for a pretty intense search process weeding through applicants -- but you can absolutely find someone. I have found my last 3 Nannies on care.com -- be very particular in your job description, including the rate you're willing to pay. It generally takes me 40-50 hours to find my Nanny. Good luck!!

To add to this, you will probably need to have a translator there with you when you interview these applicants so you can get your point across regarding duties and such. Good luck.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You can absolutely find this person in your price range -- and I speak from experience (and yes, I will prepare for the outraged Nanny deluge in response to this post, but here goes):

Everyone here is right that your price range is way low for a career Nanny/household manager/housekeeper like Alice. But the reality is, you don't need an Alice, you need an organized self-starter who is responsible and good at herding cats. Um, I mean kids. We have had great experience with mature college kids (set up your interview and reference questions to discern whether your applicant really understands what it takes to run your house and herd your kids). It's not rocket science, but it does require a certain personality and skill set. I have also had good experience with 30 something's looking to make a career change. I.e. They've been overseas teaching or are making a geographic move and waiting to start school of some sort.

Most of these applicants are not looking for a long-term career as a Nanny, and most who will accept your pay range will not have experience as a Nanny. But that doesn't mean you can't find a smart, capable person who will commit to working with you for a year. But in your price range, you probably have to resign yourself to finding a new Nanny every year or year and a half. And you will have to work with your new Nanny to make sure the expectations on both sides are understood. But I have found quality Nannies every time I've looked, and my kids stay in touch with our past Nannies -- my kids are older, so they understand why our Nannies move on -- the Nannies are usually great role models -- they're moving on to school, new careers, etc. I ask for a one year commitment, but most of our Nannies stay on a bit longer.

BTW, I also ask that my Nanny housekeepers make my kids pick up after themselves -- which is actually harder on the Nanny than if she just did the work herself. I can't be home to supervise my kids after school or drive them to activities, so my Nanny's job is to teach them to be self-sufficient -- just like I would, if I was home. But this requires a particular type of personality.

You need to prepare yourself for a pretty intense search process weeding through applicants -- but you can absolutely find someone. I have found my last 3 Nannies on care.com -- be very particular in your job description, including the rate you're willing to pay. It generally takes me 40-50 hours to find my Nanny. Good luck!!

To add to this, you will probably need to have a translator there with you when you interview these applicants so you can get your point across regarding duties and such. Good luck.

You're being ridiculous. Just because you don't want this job doesn't mean someone else wouldn't. It's not really a nanny position considering the ages of the children. It's a housekeeper position that includes watching older children. OP, the nannies here on DCUM are not the ones who will be the candidates for your position. I don't mean that in a snarky way. I mean that most of the nannies here are primarily nannies for young children and they don't do housekeeping/household managing because they have their hands full with little children. I agree with the first PP above that you can absolutely find someone in your price range who probably won't have experience as a nanny but then you don't really need someone with that experience because that's not really necessary for the position.

[Anonymous]

I consider myself to be an ethical nanny, I charge fair rates, don't misrepresent my skills, etc. Most nannies do not make $30 although some with specialized skills do.

The issue with your position is that its most of the business day so any candidate likely will rely on this job to meet all of their cost of living needs. Therefore, you need to be prepared to pay an amount that a person can live on. Second, are you building in any break or rest time? Deep cleaning and herding three kids will be a lot of work.

Extending this to eight hours each day will build in the necessary rest time that your employee is going to need. Otherwise, expect to increase your hourly pay to account for those variables.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I consider myself to be an ethical nanny, I charge fair rates, don't misrepresent my skills, etc. Most nannies do not make $30 although some with specialized skills do.

The issue with your position is that its most of the business day so any candidate likely will rely on this job to meet all of their cost of living needs. Therefore, you need to be prepared to pay an amount that a person can live on. Second, are you building in any break or rest time? Deep cleaning and herding three kids will be a lot of work.

Extending this to eight hours each day will build in the necessary rest time that your employee is going to need. Otherwise, expect to increase your hourly pay to account for those variables.

It's only 6 hours, you can rest before and after work. Plus 6 hours leaves plenty of time for a second part-time job.

[Anonymous]

Alice was a housekeeper and not a nanny. You need a housekeeper who is willing to help with your children. You're on the wrong website.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Alice was a housekeeper and not a nanny. You need a housekeeper who is willing to help with your children. You're on the wrong website.

Bingo!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I consider myself to be an ethical nanny, I charge fair rates, don't misrepresent my skills, etc. Most nannies do not make $30 although some with specialized skills do.

The issue with your position is that its most of the business day so any candidate likely will rely on this job to meet all of their cost of living needs. Therefore, you need to be prepared to pay an amount that a person can live on. Second, are you building in any break or rest time? Deep cleaning and herding three kids will be a lot of work.

Extending this to eight hours each day will build in the necessary rest time that your employee is going to need. Otherwise, expect to increase your hourly pay to account for those variables.

It's only 6 hours, you can rest before and after work. Plus 6 hours leaves plenty of time for a second part-time job.

Yes but this employee will be doing manual labor. While anyone can work any number of hours in a 24 hour period if they choose to, manual labor is not the type of work one does and then goes to put in another 4-6 hours someplace else. This is America so OP can ask for anything under the sun and either legally or illegally she will probably find it. It may not be the quality she would like though.

[Anonymous]

Alice in real life has recently died. She had a fall and wasn't able to recover. I think she was in her 80's. She was amazing. Bless her and her family and friends.