Just a rant

[Anonymous]

I had yesterday off from my regular position so I took a one-day job with a family through my agency. They had one 3YO child and when I arrived they presented me with a list of about 20 chores to complete, including washing their garbage cans, scrubbing their microwave, swiffering rooms we never even went into (offices, formal dining room), and polishing all the fingerprints off their stainless steel appliances, all to be done during his single, one-hour nap. Needless to say I did none of it, because that nap was my chance to tidy up after his lunch, eat MY lunch, and read for 20 minutes to recharge for the afternoon.

I have to be honest, I have never encountered that sort of thing in person before, I've only ever heard stories from friends and on here, and I was shocked. Aside from that the parents were very nice, they were very impressed with the care I provided (mom worked from home all day and came out a few times to comment on how great I must be because normally the boy is whining at her office door or she hears him tantruming downstairs and yesterday she didn't hear a peep from him), and seemingly respectful during our interactions, so I tried to chalk it up to cluelessness and not rudeness... but I have to admit, I was still massively offended.

Thank goodness my agency was as appalled and outraged as I was.

So parents, this is (apparently!) the sort of thing some nannies get asked to do and THIS is where the outrage comes in. Those are not tasks for a nanny, those are tasks for a housekeeper/maid, and they get paid more (or you pay your nanny accordingly). I don't think anyone here is seriously complaining about loading a few dishes or running the kids' laundry, but rather these sorts of absurd and outrageous requests/demands.

[Anonymous]

Good for you for not doing ny of the chores. It annoys me when nannies rant about chores, do them, THEN get pissed.

[Anonymous]

If someone did that to me I would just start laughing and tell them it seems there's been a mistake, because the agency sent a nanny but apparently they want a cleaning lady.

[Anonymous]

Which agency?

[Anonymous]

This happened to me once. My babysitting agency sent me a day job and when the baby was in bed the mum asked me to mop the floors - it didn't happen. I don't mind folding some laundry while your baby sleeps but I'm not mopping your floor for anything less than cleaner money

[Anonymous]

It's strange that you were "massively offended" over a list of chores that you didn't do at your one day job. It's also strange that your agency would be so "outraged" as well, especially since your agency apparently doesn't do their job very thoroughly.

In any case, your nonissue is over and you can step away from your over-the-top rage.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's strange that you were "massively offended" over a list of chores that you didn't do at your one day job. It's also strange that your agency would be so "outraged" as well, especially since your agency apparently doesn't do their job very thoroughly.

In any case, your nonissue is over and you can step away from your over-the-top rage.

I didn't think my post sounded "rageful," and certainly not over the top. Sorry if you got that impression.

I don't feel it's odd to be offended that they would expect to get their house cleaned during my lunch hour on a day were I was providing great and VERY specific care for their son (15 min. of music, 30 min. of art, 30 min. of exercise, 90 min. of outdoor time, 15 min. of letters/numbers, and so on). That is an offensive expectation, in my opinion, particularly given that on-call nannies make $15/hr - that's about $10/hr less than your average house cleaner.

You don't have to agree I was just sharing my experience.

[Anonymous]

*where

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's strange that you were "massively offended" over a list of chores that you didn't do at your one day job. It's also strange that your agency would be so "outraged" as well, especially since your agency apparently doesn't do their job very thoroughly.

In any case, your nonissue is over and you can step away from your over-the-top rage.

I didn't think my post sounded "rageful," and certainly not over the top. Sorry if you got that impression.

I don't feel it's odd to be offended that they would expect to get their house cleaned during my lunch hour on a day were I was providing great and VERY specific care for their son (15 min. of music, 30 min. of art, 30 min. of exercise, 90 min. of outdoor time, 15 min. of letters/numbers, and so on). That is an offensive expectation, in my opinion, particularly given that on-call nannies make $15/hr - that's about $10/hr less than your average house cleaner.

You don't have to agree I was just sharing my experience.

I completely agree and I'd be offended as well. Sadly, they've probably had nannies/sitters who passive-aggressively sucked it up. And even more sad is this clueless parent will say "Well she was great with my kid but doesn't get her cleaning tasks done"... I wish this mother, and others, would get a wakeup call and hire a housecleaner for those extra tasks.

[Anonymous]

Everyone knows that the housekeepers

who agree to "keep on eye on your child"

while housecleaning,

are not nannies.