Tips for helping MB during Maternity Leave

[Anonymous]

Hello nannies and MBs! I'm currently working my third nanny job for a great family caring for an (almost) 3 y/o. MB is 8 months pregnant and once she delivers will be taking a 3 month maternity leave. They are keeping me on, and while she doubts they will use me even close to 40hrs / wk, they are paying me my normal salary. I really appreciate this so much and would like to do as much as I can to help out without overstepping. I'm already planning on doing a lot to keep the toddler occupied and I'll help out with laundry, dishes, etc but is there anything else?

Also they said I was free to look for some p/t work during this time to make some extra cash (if I did, we would cut down my nanny pay a bit so it would be beneficial to both parties). I've looked but haven't found anything yet. Any ideas for this would be helpful as well! FWIW I don't live in the D.C. area.

[Anonymous]

Throw out the garbage.

[Anonymous]

When I was in your position, it was really helpful to take the older child out of the house multiple times per week. Parents signed her up for a few classes and we went to the playground frequently. It helped because then she had fun activities to do, then we'd come home for lunch and nap.

Do you like cooking? You could offer to do some meal prep for them.

[Anonymous]

PP again: find out if your MB wants privacy while she nurses or pumps if she's planning to nurse/pump.

[Anonymous]

Cook a few meals for the first few weeks and make extra for the next day.

[Anonymous]

I don't think you should do anything else your already going to be taking care of a 3 yr old and probably a newborn full time plus your mb that is a lot of work. Mb's are like the worst to take care of get me this get me that. You should get paid extra for an extra person. Make your mb do something like make dinner.

[Anonymous]

OP, I'm an MB and while I've never been in the position of your employer (second child, with toddler and nanny already) I would just say that she might be surprised at how much she actually does want you there. My advice would be to stay flexible. The mother may be wanting to make sure she gets quality time w/ the toddler as much as the baby - so maybe you'll be shifting off in which you're primarily handling each day. Or she may desperately need sleep, so having you there to take both kids for a few hours might be more necessary than she imagines now. Or you might be able to just encourage her to get out of the house for lunch w/ a friend (or her husband) after a few weeks.

This can all vary greatly from one individual to the next, of course, but the mother might find that the second baby is a different thing to manage when she already has a toddler. So be flexible and supportive. You sound lovely.

[Anonymous]

Thanks you to those that gave actual helpful advice, I appreciate it! I also think she may want me around more than she thinks, which is totally good by me but makes finding p/t work a bit tricky. I already help pu with dishes and laundry and will continue to do so but will also offer to help with dinners. And as for the older one, I'm definitely planning on trip to that park as well as some "big kid" trips that we wot be able to do as easily once MB goes back to work.

Thanks!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't think you should do anything else your already going to be taking care of a 3 yr old and probably a newborn full time plus your mb that is a lot of work. Mb's are like the worst to take care of get me this get me that. You should get paid extra for an extra person. Make your mb do something like make dinner.

MB here, who had a nanny through two maternity leaves. I am not even sure where to start with you! I'm sorry you've worked for such horrible people, but those were singular experiences, and not the norm. I would NEVER and HAVE never, in my entire life, either personally or professionally told ANYONE to "Get me [this]" or "Get me [that]". It would never cross my mind to speak to another human being that way. Also, a nanny does not get to "make" their boss do anything. If I asked my nanny to make what I considered a simple dinner and they said they weren't comfortable with that, I STILL wouldn't make dinner. I'd have one of my kids do it, order in, have DH pick up takeout, etc.

Maybe you are burnt out, PP, and should switch careers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't think you should do anything else your already going to be taking care of a 3 yr old and probably a newborn full time plus your mb that is a lot of work. Mb's are like the worst to take care of get me this get me that. You should get paid extra for an extra person. Make your mb do something like make dinner.

MB here, who had a nanny through two maternity leaves. I am not even sure where to start with you! I'm sorry you've worked for such horrible people, but those were singular experiences, and not the norm. I would NEVER and HAVE never, in my entire life, either personally or professionally told ANYONE to "Get me [this]" or "Get me [that]". It would never cross my mind to speak to another human being that way. Also, a nanny does not get to "make" their boss do anything. If I asked my nanny to make what I considered a simple dinner and they said they weren't comfortable with that, I STILL wouldn't make dinner. I'd have one of my kids do it, order in, have DH pick up takeout, etc.

Maybe you are burnt out, PP, and should switch careers.

I dealt with a mb on maternity leave who was a drug addict. It was very tough. She would not get out of bed. Db told me everyday I had to make her get out of bed by 4pm and make to do things like make dinner. It was exhausting. I was taking care of 4 kids 4 and under and she was the worst. I feared db everyday that he would come home and mb would be higher then a kite and in bed. He took out his anger on me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't think you should do anything else your already going to be taking care of a 3 yr old and probably a newborn full time plus your mb that is a lot of work. Mb's are like the worst to take care of get me this get me that. You should get paid extra for an extra person. Make your mb do something like make dinner.

MB here, who had a nanny through two maternity leaves. I am not even sure where to start with you! I'm sorry you've worked for such horrible people, but those were singular experiences, and not the norm. I would NEVER and HAVE never, in my entire life, either personally or professionally told ANYONE to "Get me [this]" or "Get me [that]". It would never cross my mind to speak to another human being that way. Also, a nanny does not get to "make" their boss do anything. If I asked my nanny to make what I considered a simple dinner and they said they weren't comfortable with that, I STILL wouldn't make dinner. I'd have one of my kids do it, order in, have DH pick up takeout, etc.

Maybe you are burnt out, PP, and should switch careers.

I dealt with a mb on maternity leave who was a drug addict. It was very tough. She would not get out of bed. Db told me everyday I had to make her get out of bed by 4pm and make to do things like make dinner. It was exhausting. I was taking care of 4 kids 4 and under and she was the worst. I feared db everyday that he would come home and mb would be higher then a kite and in bed. He took out his anger on me.

Not 15:28 but I have to agree with her. Your experience sounds pretty horrible, and I can understand if you were not in a position to quit or find another job(?). However, you have to admit that your experience is not the norm and its very unhelpful to act like all MBs home on maternity leave would act like your drug addict MB.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't think you should do anything else your already going to be taking care of a 3 yr old and probably a newborn full time plus your mb that is a lot of work. Mb's are like the worst to take care of get me this get me that. You should get paid extra for an extra person. Make your mb do something like make dinner.

MB here, who had a nanny through two maternity leaves. I am not even sure where to start with you! I'm sorry you've worked for such horrible people, but those were singular experiences, and not the norm. I would NEVER and HAVE never, in my entire life, either personally or professionally told ANYONE to "Get me [this]" or "Get me [that]". It would never cross my mind to speak to another human being that way. Also, a nanny does not get to "make" their boss do anything. If I asked my nanny to make what I considered a simple dinner and they said they weren't comfortable with that, I STILL wouldn't make dinner. I'd have one of my kids do it, order in, have DH pick up takeout, etc.

Maybe you are burnt out, PP, and should switch careers.

I dealt with a mb on maternity leave who was a drug addict. It was very tough. She would not get out of bed. Db told me everyday I had to make her get out of bed by 4pm and make to do things like make dinner. It was exhausting. I was taking care of 4 kids 4 and under and she was the worst. I feared db everyday that he would come home and mb would be higher then a kite and in bed. He took out his anger on me.

Not 15:28 but I have to agree with her. Your experience sounds pretty horrible, and I can understand if you were not in a position to quit or find another job(?). However, you have to admit that your experience is not the norm and its very unhelpful to act like all MBs home on maternity leave would act like your drug addict MB.

+1