Do you always respond to texts from nanny family while off duty?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My NF got lucky with me because they can reach me anytime. We often communicate after hours. I don't mind it at all. Luckily I don't hate my NF like the rest of you do, I appreciate the communication and planning we do.

I guess the best thing for everyone would just be finding the right type of family for you. If you are an older nanny why isn't very good with handling a cell phone then you might be better with an old fashioned family. But then if you are a younger more current nanny you could work with a younger family that does things differently.

DH is only 28 and LOATHES cell phones and the need for constant and immediate connection. He carries (when he remembers) and inexpensive flip-phone for emergencies only. I am sure there are nannies out there who simply are not addicted to their phones (like I am). Age isn't a factor - nor is "old fashioned" a good description of someone who needs solitude and independence. I actually think that DH is quite avant-garde in his approach.

My sister is like this. She is only 23 and an artist and needs her privacy and quiet. She refuses to own a cell phone.

Wow - seriously, I just met a very cool guy, about 28 or 29, who feels the same way about cell phones and he is a graphic artist who works on computers so he is not "old fashioned" at all. There is something so present about him. When you talk to him you feel like he is really listening to you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They will eventually look for a nanny who knows how to use her phone. Just depends how long you want this job?

She is on her own time and unless they want to pay her OT to read/answer their texts, calls, email, she doesn't respond to them. The reasons for contacting her are irrelevant.

[Anonymous]

I'm an MB and I think your employers are being obnoxious and overstepping. You are not on duty when you're not at work and you shouldn't have to be responding to texts all the time.

I've contacted our nanny on occasion when I can't find the lovey and we're having a meltdown at bedtime, or if the kids are really sick and we're not sure she should come to work tomorrow. Or if she left her phone at the house and might need it.

I think something like that happens perhaps once every other month. Daily texts after hours are just obnoxious and uncalled for.

I'd try to train them out of expecting a response from you. Things like "Good morning- I just saw your text from last night, I usually turn my phone off when I'm home w/ my family." or "I tend to have pretty busy evenings and have the ringer off when I'm with friends, at class, out to dinner, reading, watching a show, going to bed early, etc...

Do that enough times and maybe they'll stop.

I'm sorry. It's obnoxious.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm an MB and I think your employers are being obnoxious and overstepping. You are not on duty when you're not at work and you shouldn't have to be responding to texts all the time.

I've contacted our nanny on occasion when I can't find the lovey and we're having a meltdown at bedtime, or if the kids are really sick and we're not sure she should come to work tomorrow. Or if she left her phone at the house and might need it.

I think something like that happens perhaps once every other month. Daily texts after hours are just obnoxious and uncalled for.

I'd try to train them out of expecting a response from you. Things like "Good morning- I just saw your text from last night, I usually turn my phone off when I'm home w/ my family." or "I tend to have pretty busy evenings and have the ringer off when I'm with friends, at class, out to dinner, reading, watching a show, going to bed early, etc...

Do that enough times and maybe they'll stop.

I'm sorry. It's obnoxious.

This is good advice. I have done this as a nanny. Some take longer to train, if they are people with few boundaries. Others get it more quickly. Just keep doing it and saying it nicely like that. It'll get through.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm an MB and I think your employers are being obnoxious and overstepping. You are not on duty when you're not at work and you shouldn't have to be responding to texts all the time.

I've contacted our nanny on occasion when I can't find the lovey and we're having a meltdown at bedtime, or if the kids are really sick and we're not sure she should come to work tomorrow. Or if she left her phone at the house and might need it.

I think something like that happens perhaps once every other month. Daily texts after hours are just obnoxious and uncalled for.

I'd try to train them out of expecting a response from you. Things like "Good morning- I just saw your text from last night, I usually turn my phone off when I'm home w/ my family." or "I tend to have pretty busy evenings and have the ringer off when I'm with friends, at class, out to dinner, reading, watching a show, going to bed early, etc...

Do that enough times and maybe they'll stop.

I'm sorry. It's obnoxious.

Train them? Her employers are not nice but they aren't dogs to be trained. All she needs to do is tell them she isn't available to them when she is not on duty, no exceptions. Tough if you can't find "lovey". The ONLY allowable reason to contact her is a true emergency and you not being able to find a toy is not an eergency. If she left her phone at your house, how is she going to read your text.

[Anonymous]

I always respond. And if I don't respond within 30 minutes I always apologize for not getting back to them in a timely manor.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm an MB and I think your employers are being obnoxious and overstepping. You are not on duty when you're not at work and you shouldn't have to be responding to texts all the time.

I've contacted our nanny on occasion when I can't find the lovey and we're having a meltdown at bedtime, or if the kids are really sick and we're not sure she should come to work tomorrow. Or if she left her phone at the house and might need it.

I think something like that happens perhaps once every other month. Daily texts after hours are just obnoxious and uncalled for.

I'd try to train them out of expecting a response from you. Things like "Good morning- I just saw your text from last night, I usually turn my phone off when I'm home w/ my family." or "I tend to have pretty busy evenings and have the ringer off when I'm with friends, at class, out to dinner, reading, watching a show, going to bed early, etc...

Do that enough times and maybe they'll stop.

I'm sorry. It's obnoxious.

Train them? Her employers are not nice but they aren't dogs to be trained. All she needs to do is tell them she isn't available to them when she is not on duty, no exceptions. Tough if you can't find "lovey". The ONLY allowable reason to contact her is a true emergency and you not being able to find a toy is not an eergency. If she left her phone at your house, how is she going to read your text.

Clearly we are VERY different kinds of bosses.

[nannydebsays]

I know nannies who charge a fee for texts and a higher fee for calls that happen when the nanny is off work. Seems to help parents stop the habit and act independently.

Of course, you have to charge enough to make your employers unhappy to spend that amount of money...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm an MB and I think your employers are being obnoxious and overstepping. You are not on duty when you're not at work and you shouldn't have to be responding to texts all the time.

I've contacted our nanny on occasion when I can't find the lovey and we're having a meltdown at bedtime, or if the kids are really sick and we're not sure she should come to work tomorrow. Or if she left her phone at the house and might need it.

I think something like that happens perhaps once every other month. Daily texts after hours are just obnoxious and uncalled for.

I'd try to train them out of expecting a response from you. Things like "Good morning- I just saw your text from last night, I usually turn my phone off when I'm home w/ my family." or "I tend to have pretty busy evenings and have the ringer off when I'm with friends, at class, out to dinner, reading, watching a show, going to bed early, etc...

Do that enough times and maybe they'll stop.

I'm sorry. It's obnoxious.

Train them? Her employers are not nice but they aren't dogs to be trained. All she needs to do is tell them she isn't available to them when she is not on duty, no exceptions. Tough if you can't find "lovey". The ONLY allowable reason to contact her is a true emergency and you not being able to find a toy is not an eergency. If she left her phone at your house, how is she going to read your text.

I didn't mean it literally, and I don't think the other pp did either. I know plenty of people who use this term as a catch phrase for when you keep giving the same response to someone in order to change their expectations/behavior. No harm meant.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I always respond. And if I don't respond within 30 minutes I always apologize for not getting back to them in a timely manor.

At anytime? Do they pay you a fee to be on call to answer the phone anytime they please? I am quite flexible, but would never do that now. It just reinforces the misguided concept that I am at their beck and call and have no life of my own. When I worked for great families, I didn't think of it, but now having worked for a bad one who sees me as "theirs", I realize I must. the great families were respectful and kind enough not to overstep those bounds to start with.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I always respond. And if I don't respond within 30 minutes I always apologize for not getting back to them in a timely manor.

At anytime? Do they pay you a fee to be on call to answer the phone anytime they please? I am quite flexible, but would never do that now. It just reinforces the misguided concept that I am at their beck and call and have no life of my own. When I worked for great families, I didn't think of it, but now having worked for a bad one who sees me as "theirs", I realize I must. the great families were respectful and kind enough not to overstep those bounds to start with.

typo: The* (capitalized)

[Anonymous]

nannydebsays wrote:I know nannies who charge a fee for texts and a higher fee for calls that happen when the nanny is off work. Seems to help parents stop the habit and act independently.

Of course, you have to charge enough to make your employers unhappy to spend that amount of money...

HAHA you are hilarious nanny deb. You get more and more out there every day.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm an MB and I think your employers are being obnoxious and overstepping. You are not on duty when you're not at work and you shouldn't have to be responding to texts all the time.

I've contacted our nanny on occasion when I can't find the lovey and we're having a meltdown at bedtime, or if the kids are really sick and we're not sure she should come to work tomorrow. Or if she left her phone at the house and might need it.

I think something like that happens perhaps once every other month. Daily texts after hours are just obnoxious and uncalled for.

I'd try to train them out of expecting a response from you. Things like "Good morning- I just saw your text from last night, I usually turn my phone off when I'm home w/ my family." or "I tend to have pretty busy evenings and have the ringer off when I'm with friends, at class, out to dinner, reading, watching a show, going to bed early, etc...

Do that enough times and maybe they'll stop.

I'm sorry. It's obnoxious.

Train them? Her employers are not nice but they aren't dogs to be trained. All she needs to do is tell them she isn't available to them when she is not on duty, no exceptions. Tough if you can't find "lovey". The ONLY allowable reason to contact her is a true emergency and you not being able to find a toy is not an eergency. If she left her phone at your house, how is she going to read your text.

Clearly we are VERY different kinds of bosses.

Well I respect my employees, just as my employer respects me and this means that their time off is sacrosanct. Unless it is a fire emergency, I would never contact them when off duty. Your children are not the responsibility of your nanny when she is off duty. They, and their problems, petty or real, are your comcern.

[Anonymous]

I really just can't believe the attitudes of some of the nannies on here.... I honestly don't understand why you are in this profession.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I really just can't believe the attitudes of some of the nannies on here.... I honestly don't understand why you are in this profession.

And we don't understand why you bothered to have children.