Have you ever...

[Anonymous]

done something during work that was not related to the kids? Like read a book when you could have been with them? Or told them you were looking up something on the computer for them but really you were looking up something for yourself?

[Anonymous]

Of course. We should actually try to be normal human beings, even when it's hard to do so.

[Anonymous]

Yes, of course. "I'm pulling up the elephant video right now...it's taking a second to load" = 20 second email check.

"Look at the long line of trucks you've made. I'm going to sit here and read while you drive them around the tracks."

And so on.

Yep, I do this when my MB is home. No, she doesn't mind.

[Anonymous]

Of course. I work 12 hour days. They don't need or want me in their face for 12 hours a day.

[Anonymous]

MB here. I expect my nanny does this. If not, I want to know her secret!!! Because on the days when I'm with dC (nanny is PT) id go crazy without taking those short little breaks during the day! I love pps "it's taking 20 seconds to load" bit because I've certainly done that before!!

[Anonymous]

OP here. Thanks everyone! I thought I was a terrible nanny for doing this!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Thanks everyone! I thought I was a terrible nanny for doing this!

No, you are not. Our nanny takes our DC to her home and never tells us the truth.. We are going to fire her.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Thanks everyone! I thought I was a terrible nanny for doing this!

No, you are not. Our nanny takes our DC to her home and never tells us the truth.. We are going to fire her.

Sorry to hear that. Thanks for the reassurances though everyone?

[Anonymous]

No, I don't. I have my lunch break (when charge naps) where I take a few minutes to myself and will set an appointment or return a call but I've never done any non-child related activity when I'm working. I'm telling the truth on this - I feel very strongly about it. While I let the charge play by himself (it's important he know how to entertain himself) I am watching him.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:done something during work that was not related to the kids? Like read a book when you could have been with them? Or told them you were looking up something on the computer for them but really you were looking up something for yourself?

When the baby is sleeping I check my email,that's it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:MB here. I expect my nanny does this. If not, I want to know her secret!!! Because on the days when I'm with dC (nanny is PT) id go crazy without taking those short little breaks during the day! I love pps "it's taking 20 seconds to load" bit because I've certainly done that before!!

Another MB here and I agree.

I don't want the nanny ignoring the kids, of course. But I do want the kids to learn to play independently, and I want the nanny to retain her sanity!

[Anonymous]

I will text or occasionally take phone calls when with the kids. This is only if it's something that needs to be done right then. But never just a chat or web surfing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No, I don't. I have my lunch break (when charge naps) where I take a few minutes to myself and will set an appointment or return a call but I've never done any non-child related activity when I'm working. I'm telling the truth on this - I feel very strongly about it. While I let the charge play by himself (it's important he know how to entertain himself) I am watching him.

That sounds sooooooo boring. I mean, I watch DC play by himself sometimes because he's being so cute...but staring at him for twenty minutes? Shoot me. I'll read The New Yorker a few feet away and glance up regularly.

[Anonymous]

I am sure as Nannies, we all have done something that was not necessarily kid-related at one time or another.

For me, on occasion I feel guilty if I receive an important phone call, whether business or pleasure that I get so involved in.
Even if my charge is behaving and occupying himself w/a toy or a T.V. show and is content, for some reason, I feel bad talking on the phone to someone when his parents are paying me to watch him.

Now this has happened about 2 or 3 times and is very rare, but I still feel guilty.

Or when my charge naps, I sometimes lay on the couch and take a 20 min. or so power nap. I have never fallen asleep and not woken up while my charge screamed and screamed, but I feel like if his parents came home and saw me there, it wouldn't look too good.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am sure as Nannies, we all have done something that was not necessarily kid-related at one time or another.

For me, on occasion I feel guilty if I receive an important phone call, whether business or pleasure that I get so involved in.
Even if my charge is behaving and occupying himself w/a toy or a T.V. show and is content, for some reason, I feel bad talking on the phone to someone when his parents are paying me to watch him.

Now this has happened about 2 or 3 times and is very rare, but I still feel guilty.

Or when my charge naps, I sometimes lay on the couch and take a 20 min. or so power nap. I have never fallen asleep and not woken up while my charge screamed and screamed, but I feel like if his parents came home and saw me there, it wouldn't look too good.

Yeah that's a hard situation!