Nanny to servant.
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Anonymous
| I've worked FT for a large family since the summer of '09. I love the family to bits, but the youngest is now in Pre-school and so my hours were cut a bit. MB/DB were very considerate and asked if I'd like to help with light housework, and regain some hours. They usually have maids come out twice a week, but cut them down to once every two weeks since I work about two hours 5 days a week doing light cleaning (dishes, laundry, folding, vacuuming, sweeping, mopping ect.) Now, I was told I'd be doing housework while all the kids are at school from 12 to around 2 or 3, before picking up the kids. Which I do, I keep things very clean and I honestly believe I go above my duty (organizing, doing bathrooms, windows ect) but I don't mind because the family has been so good to me. However, I've noticed since I've started doing more housekeeping, that I'm expected to pretty much clean up after everyone all the time. In my mind, and the way it was explained to me was that I was "maid" from 12 to 2 and nanny from 3 to 9ish, not maid/nanny all day. I always clean up after myself, any mess I make...but it's gotten to the point where MB/DB expect me to clean up after them, do laundry 24/7 and be their personal servant. This is not what I signed up for, I am a nanny, and I rather spend my time with the children rather than cleaning out the dog cage. How can I gently and respectfully let MB/DB know that my "maid" time is different than my "nanny" time. |
Anonymous
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End this now. You need to start seeking new employment ASAP. (in the event they want to replace you/don't react properly)
"MB, the new arrangement with me cleaning is not working out. I'm unhappy, and I feel like I'm doing way above "light housekeeping". My passion, and my job, is childcare, so that's what I have to stick to. Please advise on where to go from here". I hate seeing nannies getting taken advantage of like this. |
Anonymous
| There's no reason for you to be HOUSEKEEPING for 4 hours a day. WAY too much. Could you do 1 hour and then go pick up the kids? |
Anonymous
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If you continue to be passive and clean things that are not part of your duties then it is 100% your fault. I don't even think they're taking advantage. I just think you're being a sucker and resentfully cleaning things you are not even being asked to clean. If they eat and have bowls laying around, skip them. If they say anything about it then that is when this becomes an issue. And please don't come back saying that they did tell u you have to do it because I don't believe that because you would have written it in your post instead of saying ''i'm now expected to pretty much clean up after everyone all the time''
Everytime I read these type of posts the nanny is always claiming she goes 'above and beyond' and then assumes that the employer expects their windows and bathrooms cleaned. You went out of your way to do these things. YOU accepted being a maid and YOUR the one who is going ''above and beyond'' OBVIOUSLY THEY'RE NOT GOING TO JUMP IN YOUR FACE AND TELL YOU TO PLEASE NOT CLEAN. Heck, IF you cleaned up after me all the time even though I didn't tell you to clean up after me then I'd assume you were doing it as a favor or because you were bored or something. Your taking advantage of yourself. |
Anonymous
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Please, the family is obviously looking for this level of service. There is nothing wrong with that, they are paying for it. If the job description is not what you want, then pick yourself up and find another job that better suits what YOU want, and the family can find another caregiver/housekeeper that better suits THEIR needs. They gave you a choice, you said yes, if you have changed your mind don't blame them.
Nannying is a service profession - and not everyone is cut out for service. |
Anonymous
| Yes, being a nanny is a service position-a CHILDCARE service position. You want your house cleaned? Hire a CLEANING service. Hopes this helps to clear up your obvious confusion regarding this issue, PP. |
Anonymous
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OP your family was considerate enough to offer the right of first refusal. They need a different type of nanny position now and the balance between housekeeping and interacting with the children has shifted. You aren't changing diapers or spotting anyone on the monkey bars anymore!
The type of domestic activities that families with school age kids need are very different. As the kids get older the balance will shift even more, its lot of housework, lots of laundry, chauffeuring the kids, maybe cooking, and maybe homework help but even this is minimal. |
Anonymous
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Is the problem: a) that they are expecting more cleaning than you can do in the 10-15 hours a week that they are paying you to clean so that you are having to clean while watching the kids? Or b) that you aren't OK with the kind of cleaning tasks they are expecting during the 10-15 hrs they pay you to clean?
If it is a, I would make a list of your tasks for a given week along with a time estimate for each, and then sit down and talk to them about what you can realistically do during the hours that you don't have the kids. It is possible that they want you to do household tasks while the children entertain themselves (not unrealistic with older elementary kids, questionable if one is still preschool age), and if so, this just may not be a good fit for you anymore. If it is b, then you just may no longer be a good fit for their needs. If they are paying you for 10-15 hrs a week of cleaning, it is not unreasonable for them to expect you to clean up after them/do laundry etc. Of course it is perfectly understandable if you don't want to take on these chores. In that case, you need to decide whether to accept the reduction in hours or just look for another job. |
Anonymous
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They are paying you for 10-15 hours a week of cleaning. You are their PT housekeeper and there is nothing wrong with them wanting this service.
If you don't like it, look for another job. Stop whining. |
Anonymous
| Your post reads very entitled. |
Anonymous
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If you want Alice from the Brady Bunch, that's fine.
Just don't try to define her as a nanny. |
Anonymous
Exactly. I am a nanny, not a housekeeper. I have always done cleaning up after myself and kids, and took the extra hours a week to "play maid" but I am not a maid/housekeeper. Why do people assume that nannies are their to be a personal servant? |
Anonymous
You literally say that in every post. |
Anonymous
Then you shouldn't have agreed to do 10-15 hours of housekeeping/wk. Thats a huge amount of housekeeping. We pay a housekeeper for 12 hours a week, and she keeps the house spotless, does all the laundry, and comes up with tons of extra organizational projects and household management tasks with that much time. Your doing yourself no favors saying you expected to get paid for 10-15 hours a week to "play maid" |
Anonymous
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"Play MAID"????? How about they pretend to pay you????
They are paying for a service. If you don't want to provide it, then don't. But if I was paying someone for 10-15 hours a week of housework, you'd better believe that I'd expect them to do almost all of the household cleaning/organizing, all laundry, etc. When you took the job, you became a HOUSEKEEPER. Either except that or find another job. |