Is this normal?//WWYD

[Anonymous]

So, I was faced with a situation yesterday that really made me question if this family is the "right fit" for me & my overall happiness with my job. I've been with my current family for 8 months. There are 2 children - DC1 is 14 and DC2 is 10. Yesterday, I picked DC1 up from school and dropped her off at home before doing the grocery shopping for the family (this is routine). When I returned from grocery shopping, DC1 tells me that she has a headache and told me she took 1 aspirin and it didn't do anything. She said she began to feel nauseous. She asked if she could lay down before starting her homework so I said yes. MB came home minutes later and, after being filled in on the situation, started freaking out that DC1 had taken only 1 aspirin because "that's only half a dose and now she can't take anything else to make her feel better and I really need to look at the bottle before I give her medicine". I calmly explained that she had taken the medicine while I was out grocery shopping and that she hadn't told me until after the fact. MB then scolds DC1 (age 14!!) for not calling me to ask about taking medicine beforehand. MB then picks up the aspirin bottle to read over the dosage instructions and realizes it expired in 2010. She became very passive aggressive and ran into her office to call poison control. She then (very sternly) told me to go through all the medicine cabinets and throw out the expired medicine (which there happened to be a lot of). The whole situation just really baffled me, especially that I am apparently expected to treat this 14 year old girl like she is a toddler.

Am I being too sensitive, or do you guys have any advice? Thanks in advance!

[Anonymous]

It sounds like MB had a bad day at work, so in this case I'd let it go (although she was being silly and you were being reasonable).

If this behavior comes up again, though, with her wanting you to monitor a teenager, you'd be reasonable to have a chat with her explaining that at 14 you were actually already babysitting so you had assumed her 14yo needed your companionship more than your supervision and can she please explain how she'd like you to approach the care of DC1.

[Anonymous]

Wow. What a helicopter mom.

[Anonymous]

OP here- these are my thoughts exactly. I was definitely more than capable of taking my own medicine well before the age of 14. I'm just not sure I'm comfortable having to literally babysit someone who will be considered an adult in 4 years.

[Anonymous]

I'd reconsider this job if I were you. The crazy MB just might charge you with child neglect before you know it.

[Anonymous]

Too sensitive but child should call mom, not you before taking medicine. I would not worry about it. Old medicine just will not be as effective and she can easily take a half dose and finish the dose later. That is more about mom not cleaning it up vs. you.

[Anonymous]

Bump

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Too sensitive but child should call mom, not you before taking medicine. I would not worry about it. Old medicine just will not be as effective and she can easily take a half dose and finish the dose later. That is more about mom not cleaning it up vs. you.

+1

[Anonymous]

MB sounds unhinged, and I would not want to work for such a crazy control freak.

[Anonymous]

Good lord. The mother sounds nuts. I'd want out on those grounds alone (and I'm an MB).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:MB sounds unhinged, and I would not want to work for such a crazy control freak.

Red flag for sure. Leave before MB blames you for something else that's not your fault.

[Anonymous]

I'd be more worried about the fact you thought it was ok for a teen to take aspirin in the first place. Asprin is verydangerous for kids and teens!! They can take ibuprofin or acetaminofin but not aspirin. And if taking those two, doses can be alternated...tylenol at 3, advil at 5.

[Anonymous]

Are you kidding me pp?

[Anonymous]

OP, I agree with one of the other PP's who said it sounded like MB had a bad day at work. If you've been with them for that long and this is the first odd behavior you are seeing, I wouldn't worry and start looking for a new job.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'd be more worried about the fact you thought it was ok for a teen to take aspirin in the first place. Asprin is verydangerous for kids and teens!! They can take ibuprofin or acetaminofin but not aspirin. And if taking those two, doses can be alternated...tylenol at 3, advil at 5.

Seriously? I don't imagine the nanny chooses what to put in the medicine cabinet. Also, the kid took the aspirin without talking to anyone. LOL @ blaming the nanny.

OP, mom might have had a bad day but her reaction was over the top. At the very least, have her clarify how A) the kids handle taking OTC meds when you aren't there. B) what were you supposed to do after the fact and C) how are you AND the kids supposed to handle this from here on out.

I would absolutely not tolerate being blamed for something not my fault. And MOM should have cleaned out her own damn medicine chest.