The dreaded summer

[Anonymous]

I'm at the end of my wit. I'm working for this family 2 years now. This summer the family made a decision that the kids don't go at all to any camps. 3 kids between 5 and 10. That would be fine with me. I worked for families with the same situation. I'm with the kids 9 hours/day. BUT this year I can't even plan any really outgoings. The 2 older kids got signed up for swim team in the middle of the day! From 1-2 PM. ALL summer long. We can't use electronics at the house. Not even on a rainy day!. I didn't mind that too much because in my house I don't even own a tv by choice. But every once a while it is nice to watch a movie when the weather is miserable outside. The kids hardly have any friends. Hardly any playdates. And after a few hours I have hard time to keep all the kids busy and entertained. Any ideas what I can do to keep our sanity to the end of the summer?

[Anonymous]

The best part about nannying for older children is you don't have to keep them entertained all day. Let them amuse themselves for an hour or two every day.

Water balloons, sprinklers, water guns.

Why no outings, what time do you start work? Couldn't you go somewhere (aquarium, zoo) from 9am-12pm and have them eat their lunch in the car on the way to swimming? Once in a while swim practice is bound to be canceled, and then you can make that a trip to the beach or the waterpark.

What do the kids do when they're home sick since there is no tv allowed?

[Anonymous]

What are your hours? Because 1-2pm swim class leaves plenty of time for other activities before and after. The kids don't need a TV at all, just have them read a book or better yet pick a cool series and read out loud to them. You change your voice for different characters, act out scenes etc. there is a ton you can do with them, science experiments, art projects, build forts outside, like the pp above said sprinklers, kiddie pool. You can make an effort at swim class to set up playdates with children from the team. Have a make your own pizza party, plant a garden, bake! the possibilities are endless unless your just a lazy nanny who doesn't actually what to plan activities or interact with the kids.

[Anonymous]

I completely get that you need activities to fill the day, but I also don't understand why a 1-2pm commitment is causing this much stress. If you are working 9 hours a day and I'm assuming it's normal hours, that would give you plenty of time to have a morning activity, be home for lunch, and then head to swim class. Then another activity (or extra swimming?) afterward.

[Anonymous]

Are you serious? You can still do plenty of things during your day. I'm just truly in awe at your incompetence to figure this out for yourself.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Are you serious? You can still do plenty of things during your day. I'm just truly in awe at your incompetence to figure this out for yourself.

We actually don't have enough details here to make that kind of judgement.

[Anonymous]

I am a qualified adult nanny and start at 8. It is nearly impossible to get out of the house before 10! My charges are much younger though. I also wouldn't allow lunch to be eaten in the car, and our lunch takes about 45 min. So I can see OP's point. Again, her charges are older, so that makes a huge difference. OP, I would have a morning activity every day, then lunch, then swimming. When you are done with swimming you can do an activity out or go back to the house for some reading, free play, bike riding, etc. If you are feeling tip overwhelmed, a different position may better suit you.

[Anonymous]

I'm the OP here. I'm kind of confused of the answers. Now I know why the humane race is in trouble. Sorry to inform you but I'm good what I'm doing. But never been in this situation before. I already helped planting the garden with the kids. EVEN the parents ask my gardening advices. The parents DON'T want me to baking sweets with the kids. The father is working from home. And basically we have to ask permission for everything. He tells me he doesn't want to exhaust the kids before the practice. From 8-12 I have to finish up the house chores and studying with the kids. I TEACH the kids to be part of the chores. They are old enough for that. BECAUSE whatever job I have with kids I ALWAYS try to teach them about life. BUT If the parents don't help me out what can I do?

Just picture the next situation they come home from a vacation. Their flight got cancelled. The kids are up since 5AM. The mom was working from home that day. The youngest one is totally out of control. He is hysterical that he wants to be with his mom. Everybody is on a short fuse. I try to be calm between the mountain load of laundry... Raining outside and 3 kids stretched to the end. I started to saw with the oldest one, making a puzzle with the middle one and reading with the youngest one. This was one of the day when it was 0 willingness from their part to cooperate. If you read it well my post I said I'm not at all a TV person. BUT every once a while it helps to sit down a good movie where we can settle the nerves and laugh together on some silliness. When I left yesterday I heard the father telling the kids "I see how tired you are guys lets watch some movie and have popcorn." He was supposed to spend only 2 hours with his kids.....

And just for a side note, today we went for cray fishing It was fun. Sometimes some people come here just to vent a little. Maybe we just had a bad "hair day".

And sincerely how many of you is able to spend 9 straight hours with 3 kids ( everyone of them wants all your attention ) per day basically without any adult interaction. ( I only pick up my phone if it is very must.... rarely texting and never online) Because I keep the family rules and my professional rules.

[Anonymous]

Just one more little thing. I love to go biking with the youngest one. We did it weakly before the summer. I taught all of them ice skating. With the youngest one we always had so much to do outside even in the crazy cold snowy day. But the older ones are not at all interested in those things. Tonight I made a schedule that make sure all the kids get "ME" time with me. BUT they also have to learn spend time alone and figure out what to do with their time. Oh and the oldest one and the youngest one CAN'T stand each other....

[Anonymous]

I is able to spend 10 hours a day with three kids with no adult interaction because I enjoys what I do.

Sorry, couldn't resist. But I have no problem spending the day with three children. Sometimes their conversations are much more interesting than what some adults talk about.

[Anonymous]

You are a good nanny, Op.

[Anonymous]

OP here againIt is ok if you enjoy it that way. We are different. This makes the world a better place to live and not boring. One of the reason i work with kids the last 20 years because I LOVE to work with them. I'm not just a nanny. I'm a teacher and educator. And I always think about the kids as they are the future..... I'm even getting my Master's degree in a very special education program. But sorry every once a while I need adult interaction for the work day

[Anonymous]

And nannies are not super humans Just for a joke

[Anonymous]

OP, you are a maid who also nannies. Why do you allow these people to treat you so horribly?

[Anonymous]

It sounds like you don't like this family, OP. Perhaps you need another job, because I really don't see your problem. Your mornings are filled with teaching and chores (that you involve the kids in-which is great). Then you have lunch and swimming and then about 3 hours after that you can fill with fun activities or downtown with books and arts. This sounds like a busy and active day. But you don't like it.

So if you don't like it, get a new job with a family you like. Or reset your expectations. Your MB or DB don't want you to use the movie treat. SO you have to think of something else. You have 20 years experience. This should not be hard.