My nanny seems furious that I'm here

[Anonymous]

I'm a nanny and I love when my boss stay home ,this is not a problem for me,your nanny is very stupid.

[Anonymous]

I'm a nanny, and I'd be annoyed too. Not because you stayed home, but because you (unnecessarily) exposed her to what sounds like a terrible stomach virus. You "took the day off" to take care of your sick little one, why not just give the nanny a pass and take care of both of your kids?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Unless your child was vomiting and having diarrhea on a near constant basis (in which case they should have been in the hospital), there is no reason why your nanny should not have been able to take care of all children on her own. What a wonderful experience it could have been for your other child/children to learn that they can play quietly/independently as well while a sick sibling was being cared for momentarily.

Instead, you cut your nanny out of the loop and undermined her ability to do her job.

Imagine how annoyed you would be if you went into work to find that you had to spend your day with a boss who felt you were incompetent...I dare say a sigh or two would escape your lips as well.

My sick girl is spewing from one end or the other frequently enough that she shouldn't go out. My other kid is not even three so all I want is for her to not catch what the younger one has - which is why I stayed home - so the nanny could take the healthy one out for the majority of the day. Today is not the time for a learning experience. I didn't want the sick kid going to the playground and either getting more sick or making other kids sick.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Unless your child was vomiting and having diarrhea on a near constant basis (in which case they should have been in the hospital), there is no reason why your nanny should not have been able to take care of all children on her own. What a wonderful experience it could have been for your other child/children to learn that they can play quietly/independently as well while a sick sibling was being cared for momentarily.

Instead, you cut your nanny out of the loop and undermined her ability to do her job.

Imagine how annoyed you would be if you went into work to find that you had to spend your day with a boss who felt you were incompetent...I dare say a sigh or two would escape your lips as well.

My sick girl is spewing from one end or the other frequently enough that she shouldn't go out. My other kid is not even three so all I want is for her to not catch what the younger one has - which is why I stayed home - so the nanny could take the healthy one out for the majority of the day. Today is not the time for a learning experience. I didn't want the sick kid going to the playground and either getting more sick or making other kids sick.

MB ignore much of the snarky comments you are getting here. I was a nanny for many years and there were time my boss was home. Sometimes it can be awkard if it does not happen often. It also takes some give and take while you learn to get into comfortable grove togther. Your nanny was just caught off guard but her attitude was not kool either. Just try to communicate with her and see what happens.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Unless your child was vomiting and having diarrhea on a near constant basis (in which case they should have been in the hospital), there is no reason why your nanny should not have been able to take care of all children on her own. What a wonderful experience it could have been for your other child/children to learn that they can play quietly/independently as well while a sick sibling was being cared for momentarily.

Instead, you cut your nanny out of the loop and undermined her ability to do her job.

Imagine how annoyed you would be if you went into work to find that you had to spend your day with a boss who felt you were incompetent...I dare say a sigh or two would escape your lips as well.

My sick girl is spewing from one end or the other frequently enough that she shouldn't go out. My other kid is not even three so all I want is for her to not catch what the younger one has - which is why I stayed home - so the nanny could take the healthy one out for the majority of the day. Today is not the time for a learning experience. I didn't want the sick kid going to the playground and either getting more sick or making other kids sick.

Your kids live in the same home, you being there did nothing to prevent anything from spreading. Find a better excuse or stay home completly and don't subject your nanny to the same germs you feel as though you are shielding your daughter from.

[Anonymous]

This would be a HUGE red flag for me. Most people prefer having a little distance from the boss, but most people are also professional enough to know that it is not appropriate to act on or express that preference. Also, a nanny who is mature and secure in her skills and ability to engage the kids generally doesn't mind having a parent around from time to time. That's her chance to show you how good she is. Personally, I gained tremendous respect and fondness for my nanny while I was working alongside her during my maternity leave, and as a result, she was amply rewarded at her next review.

I would suggest taking Nanny Deb's approach, more or less.

[Anonymous]

Sorry OP. Your nanny is strange. I would have been thrilled that you were responsible enough to recognize that a diarrhea and vomiting toddler falls under the realm of parental duties. I would have appreciated a heads up to get myself mentally prepared to deal with the challenges of you being home and sharing my workspace with my boss, which we all know is a headache. But a professional nanny should be able to roll with this and see that you were being considerate.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Unless your child was vomiting and having diarrhea on a near constant basis (in which case they should have been in the hospital), there is no reason why your nanny should not have been able to take care of all children on her own. What a wonderful experience it could have been for your other child/children to learn that they can play quietly/independently as well while a sick sibling was being cared for momentarily.

Instead, you cut your nanny out of the loop and undermined her ability to do her job.

Imagine how annoyed you would be if you went into work to find that you had to spend your day with a boss who felt you were incompetent...I dare say a sigh or two would escape your lips as well.

My sick girl is spewing from one end or the other frequently enough that she shouldn't go out. My other kid is not even three so all I want is for her to not catch what the younger one has - which is why I stayed home - so the nanny could take the healthy one out for the majority of the day. Today is not the time for a learning experience. I didn't want the sick kid going to the playground and either getting more sick or making other kids sick.

So, you don't want to make other kids sick but its ok to make your nanny sick? We ban everyone from the home if one of us is sick and don't let anyone in till all fabrics are washed (towels, bedding) and house is scrubbed down. If your nanny gets sick, then what? You both miss work more.

[Anonymous]

Personally, I cannot stand it when the parent is in the home alongside me. It just is a whole different dynamic and it has nothing to do w/me being a slacker nanny or anything like that.

That being said however, this is a special circumstance and the fact that your child is ill and you need to be there for one day is understandable. For your nanny to be sighing heavily and having an attitude is not okay in my book. She is acting quite immature and unprofessional. Geez. She needs to loosen up and understand it isn't always all about her.

My gut feeling is that something is bothering her...More than just your mere presence.

I think she is peeved that she had to come in today if you were already going to be home.
She probably feels that since you were going to stay home today, then you should have given her the day off as well. No need for two adults to be in the house together. Plus, it would be best for her not to be in the house because if you end up getting what your toddler has (which is highly likely), then one of you needs to be healthy in order to care for the kids in a week or two.

[Anonymous]

I think your nanny would probably have likes getting a heads up instead of being presented with it when she walked in

My bosses sometimes work from home and I don't mind it. But once in a while, they work where we play with makes the days crazy tough. Can you work in the bedroom instead of the kitchen where they are? Maybe she's acting like that because you are right there and she feels self-conscious about being silly with you healthy child. I know I would be. Doesn't excuse her behavior, but let's not just assume nanny is lazy and is upset that she can't be lazy because MB is home.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think your nanny would probably have likes getting a heads up instead of being presented with it when she walked in

My bosses sometimes work from home and I don't mind it. But once in a while, they work where we play with makes the days crazy tough. Can you work in the bedroom instead of the kitchen where they are? Maybe she's acting like that because you are right there and she feels self-conscious about being silly with you healthy child. I know I would be. Doesn't excuse her behavior, but let's not just assume nanny is lazy and is upset that she can't be lazy because MB is home.

Then nanny should act like an adult and use her words instead of throwing a tantrum like a toddler.

[Anonymous]

Another nanny who thinks you did the right thing. I can and will take care of sick kids but if a parent wants to do it then you will not hear me complain. Personally I would have made quick plans to spend the morning at the park and afternoon somewhere with a/c so that you could get some work done. My MB is a wahm so I am used to stepping in or out when needed. Maybe you nanny does not have experience working around parents because she sounds immature.

[Anonymous]

The nannies who think they should get a free day off because a charge is sick are ridiculous, whiny, and way too entitled. A nanny's job is to care for kids. Kids have germs. Kids get sick. It is part of the job. A professional nanny is completely prepared to do her job and would find it a luxury to have an extra pair of hands to help her do her job. OP, your nanny is lazy.

Imagine if nurses or teachers threw a tantrum every time they had to work with kids who are sick. If you choose to work with kids, you assume the risk of being exposed to germs.

Of course, most of you wouldn't catch anything because everyone knows that incubation time for most illnesses predate the appearance of symptoms.

[Anonymous]

I agree that it could be that the nanny is annoyed not that you are there, but that she is there when your kid is sick and you are home. But perhaps she's lazy and/or dislikes you.

[Anonymous]

Why is everyone so quick to assume that the nanny is lazy? Perhaps she is just genuinely annoyed by OPs presence in the middle of her workspace. Honestly, how many of you MBs would like to work with the CEO of your company in your office for the entire day...with no notice!?