Nannies: Does it bother you when someone calls you the babysitter?

[Anonymous]

It irks me when people say "oh you're a babysitter?" Or "how is your babysitting job?" There is a big difference between babysitting and nannying. When I do a few extra hours for a family on a weekend, it's babysitting. I get there, maybe feed the kids, entertain them for a bit, and put them to bed. My day job, nannying, is basically like being a third parent. Just wondering if other nannies are annoyed by this.

[Anonymous]

Yes it bothers me but I try to not let it get to me.

[Anonymous]

I'm probably in the minority, but it doesn't bother me. Many people look down on nannying just as much as baby-sitting. People who consider you "just" a baby-sitter aren't going to respect a nanny more. Eh, I think it goes with the job.

[Anonymous]

I am a MB and when I am with my nanny in social situations, I often introduce her as the baby's babysitter. To me, saying she is my nanny makes it sound more like I am calling her my domestic servant, so to me, it sounds more respectful to introduce her as a babysitter. Am I off-base? Would she likely prefer to be called my nanny?

[Anonymous]

My boss intoduces me as "my name", and further explains that I take care of her DD. I appreciate the way she does it. I've been intoduced in the past to grandparents and friends in the past as "nanny" and then referred to as "nanny" by the, and it was the really pissed me off. They also would talk over and around me as though I were furniture, so that MB was just an all around bitch.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am a MB and when I am with my nanny in social situations, I often introduce her as the baby's babysitter. To me, saying she is my nanny makes it sound more like I am calling her my domestic servant, so to me, it sounds more respectful to introduce her as a babysitter. Am I off-base? Would she likely prefer to be called my nanny?

You should ask her!

I think most nannies prefer to be called nannies than babysitters - the former implies much more in terms of respectability, qualifications, and her role in your child's life, whereas any 13-year-old can be a babysitter.

OP, yes it annoys me when people ask me how my "babysitting" is going, but I just smile and say it's going wonderfully. I don't need to tell them that I'm making and saving more than they are sitting in their "important" offices

[Anonymous]

Yes it bothers me. But being called a housekeeper/ maid is worse.

[Anonymous]

In the beginning it bothered me because most people assumed I was poor and barely making ends meet. After they realized that for the most part I make more than many of the people in my age group who work corporate jobs, I stopped caring. The hardest part is dating, many guys seem to question my career choice and believe i'm an uneducated slacker. That has put a sour taste in my mouth to the point that I date only individuals who never mention their job within the first three dates. My current boyfriend is a successful musician who appreciates my position and understands the negative views certain careers face.

However, I prefer that my employers refer to me by my name and state my job as nanny rather than babysitter.

[Anonymous]

Yes sometimes but only when you are caring for a baby .

[Anonymous]

Most nannies should be referred to as babysitters because they sure do not act like a nanny should.

[Anonymous]

I'm a nanny and it doesn't bother me because to me–someone who didn’t grow up understanding the concept of a nanny–it sounds slightly snobbish. I would prefer to be introduced as "this is Rosey and she takes care of Charlie when I am at work." One mom would just introduce me as her friend! I thought it was sweet

[Anonymous]

MB and DB introduce me by name and inform the inquiring individual(s) that I care for their DD.

Honestly, idc if I'm called a babysitter. Hell, I tend to refer to myself as a babysitter.

[Anonymous]

I noticed that foreign families use "nanny" (the truth) and it's "babysitter" with American families.

[Anonymous]

I'd rather hear "Annie meet Megan our childcare provider" vs. babysitter! Please don't call me a babysitter.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My boss intoduces me as "my name", and further explains that I take care of her DD. I appreciate the way she does it. I've been intoduced in the past to grandparents and friends in the past as "nanny" and then referred to as "nanny" by the, and it was the really pissed me off. They also would talk over and around me as though I were furniture, so that MB was just an all around bitch.

You have a great boss! My previous employer called me MY NANNY. I hated it.