Nannies attending charges events when not working

[Anonymous]

How many of you nannies attend your charges sporting events or school events like choir concerts, kindergarten graduations when your not working? If you do go to soccer games on a weekend how often, weekly, once per season? I try to go to 1 game per season per child. I find however that as the years go by my former charges want me to keep showing up. I don't mind to much as I enjoy seeing them but my personal time is really being eaten up by attending these events for my charges and past charges. Do other nannies deal with this ?

[Anonymous]

No. I never spend time with my charges outside of my working hours. If they want me to be there they will have to pay me. This is your job, not your family.

[Anonymous]

Yup I go to the events for the kids who will really appreciate it. I work for 2 families with older children, out of the 4 distinct personalities there is one that really appreciates the things given to him or done for him, so I have attended a few of his games. I have not gone out of my way to attend the games of the other kids because I know it wouldn't mean much to them.

[Anonymous]

You need to go, ONLY as often as you're invited, and you WANT to go. Done.

[Anonymous]

When you have no personal life because you spend all your time doing things for current and past charges, you really need to take a step back. That's not healthy

[Anonymous]

I go to birthday parties and graduations - big events in their lives. I haven't had a charge old enough to play sports but I'd probably go to a game or two for the child's sake.

I work for the parents not the child. I would never want to do anything that might make my charge feel as if he/she doesn't mean anything to me.

[Anonymous]

No, I never attend them.

I have never been asked to attend by either parent or child.

If the child personally asked me to, I probably would since I wouldn't want to disappoint the child.

However, if I were attending multiple events as you are + it was eating up a lot of my personal time, I would have to politely decline as you need your personal time for YOU and to do things for you only.

No need to feel obligated.
Just let your charges know that as a grown-up, you have grown-up things to do in your free time, however that does not mean that you do not care about them or not want to be there for them. Let them know that you are there in spirit.