"I saw your nanny" post

[Anonymous]

Not sure where I'm actually allowed to post this (not on the general forums, apparently) but thought I'd take a shot in the dark that the parents see this here. And lest I need a disclaimer: I employ a nanny and she's wonderful and 99% of the nannies I see on the days I am not at work are pretty amazing. I've never actually witnessed any abuse until today so I felt motivated to post this. Please keep any general comments to another more relevant thread.


I saw a nanny mistreating one of her charges this afternoon and figured I'd want to know if it were my nanny.

It was around 12:30pm today and she was with a red double stroller near the elevator at the Judiciary Sq metro station outside the building museum. She was a francophone African and she was in charge of 3 white children. One was a younger toddler boy (1 – 1.5 years old?) and two were a few years older (3 – 4ish?), one boy one girl. The older boy was throwing a fit and the nanny kept yanking his arms very roughly and yelling at him while trying to get him to sit in the stroller. She was trying to push the stroller in the elevator while he was tantruming and he bucked and fell out of the higher seat on the stroller. He whacked his head on the elevator and then landed on his head on the stone floor outside (she hadn't strapped him in). She just yanked him back up and slammed him back in the stroller and kept screaming at him "what is wrong with you?!" Eventually she was able to strap him in and go into the station with him screaming the whole time. I of course would prefer to honor the family's privacy, but I did catch that the boy's name was E – – – – – –. (If you think you know this child, I will share his name.)

[Anonymous]

I would not consider that abuse, she is no nanny of the year but shit happens and she yanked his arm and yelled what is wrong with you. I don't think that is abuse. The child fell and hit his head because he was being a little shit, god works in mysterious ways sounds to me like he needed a little something.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would not consider that abuse, she is no nanny of the year but shit happens and she yanked his arm and yelled what is wrong with you. I don't think that is abuse. The child fell and hit his head because he was being a little shit, god works in mysterious ways sounds to me like he needed a little something.

You didn't see it. It was certainly abuse. I hope you're not a nanny.

[Anonymous]

Hmm.

Obviously if he was having a tantrum she should have made sure to securely strap him into the stroller and when he fell and hurt himself she should have stopped the rushing and made sure he was okay.... I'm also not fan of screaming, but I appreciate everyone has tough days at work... I agree with pp that little of what I just read sounds like abuse. Poor handling of the child's behavior? Definitely. Incompetent nanny? Possibly; it would depend on how frequent these kinds of incidents are. But what exactly made you single it out as abuse, OP? Was it the nanny's demeanor that seemed particularly mean or...?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would not consider that abuse, she is no nanny of the year but shit happens and she yanked his arm and yelled what is wrong with you. I don't think that is abuse. The child fell and hit his head because he was being a little shit, god works in mysterious ways sounds to me like he needed a little something.

You didn't see it. It was certainly abuse. I hope you're not a nanny.

Was a bone broken ? Was a huge laceration left? Not abuse. Even if she had hit him repeatedly it's not abuse in most states. It might not be okay with the parents but the word abuse indicates a criminal offense. Let's not label someone as a criminal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would not consider that abuse, she is no nanny of the year but shit happens and she yanked his arm and yelled what is wrong with you. I don't think that is abuse. The child fell and hit his head because he was being a little shit, god works in mysterious ways sounds to me like he needed a little something.

You didn't see it. It was certainly abuse. I hope you're not a nanny.

Was a bone broken ? Was a huge laceration left? Not abuse. Even if she had hit him repeatedly it's not abuse in most states. It might not be okay with the parents but the word abuse indicates a criminal offense. Let's not label someone as a criminal.

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/abuse?s=t

a·buse
verb (used with object), a·bused, a·bus·ing.
1. to use wrongly or improperly; misuse: to abuse one's authority.
2. to treat in a harmful, injurious, or offensive way: to abuse a horse; to abuse one's eyesight.
3. to speak insultingly, harshly, and unjustly to or about; revile; malign.
4. to commit sexual assault upon.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would not consider that abuse, she is no nanny of the year but shit happens and she yanked his arm and yelled what is wrong with you. I don't think that is abuse. The child fell and hit his head because he was being a little shit, god works in mysterious ways sounds to me like he needed a little something.

You didn't see it. It was certainly abuse. I hope you're not a nanny.

Was a bone broken ? Was a huge laceration left? Not abuse. Even if she had hit him repeatedly it's not abuse in most states. It might not be okay with the parents but the word abuse indicates a criminal offense. Let's not label someone as a criminal.

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/abuse?s=t

a·buse
verb (used with object), a·bused, a·bus·ing.
1. to use wrongly or improperly; misuse: to abuse one's authority.
2. to treat in a harmful, injurious, or offensive way: to abuse a horse; to abuse one's eyesight.
3. to speak insultingly, harshly, and unjustly to or about; revile; malign.
4. to commit sexual assault upon.

Fascinating.

But what I'd really like to see is the legal definition.

[Anonymous]

OP here. The kid was yanked repeatedly by the arm so violently that I was thinking she was in danger of dislocating his shoulder or elbow. Also, she could have prevented him from falling but did nothing and he hit his head hard enough (he fell from a high up seat on the stroller) that I'd be worried about a concussion. The abuse isn't really up for debate. Myself and two other men who were nearby were pretty shocked. And I stepped in as soon as I was close enough to diffuse the situation. I generally mind my own business but I am still pretty shaken by what I saw.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would not consider that abuse, she is no nanny of the year but shit happens and she yanked his arm and yelled what is wrong with you. I don't think that is abuse. The child fell and hit his head because he was being a little shit, god works in mysterious ways sounds to me like he needed a little something.

You didn't see it. It was certainly abuse. I hope you're not a nanny.

Was a bone broken ? Was a huge laceration left? Not abuse. Even if she had hit him repeatedly it's not abuse in most states. It might not be okay with the parents but the word abuse indicates a criminal offense. Let's not label someone as a criminal.

Um, yes it is. And I REALLY hope you are a random bored troll and not a nanny. Maybe you're the nanny in the OP, if so, you deserve to go to jail.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would not consider that abuse, she is no nanny of the year but shit happens and she yanked his arm and yelled what is wrong with you. I don't think that is abuse. The child fell and hit his head because he was being a little shit, god works in mysterious ways sounds to me like he needed a little something.

You didn't see it. It was certainly abuse. I hope you're not a nanny.

Was a bone broken ? Was a huge laceration left? Not abuse. Even if she had hit him repeatedly it's not abuse in most states. It might not be okay with the parents but the word abuse indicates a criminal offense. Let's not label someone as a criminal.

Um, yes it is. And I REALLY hope you are a random bored troll and not a nanny. Maybe you're the nanny in the OP, if so, you deserve to go to jail.

Haha jail for yanking an arm you are funny.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would not consider that abuse, she is no nanny of the year but shit happens and she yanked his arm and yelled what is wrong with you. I don't think that is abuse. The child fell and hit his head because he was being a little shit, god works in mysterious ways sounds to me like he needed a little something.

You didn't see it. It was certainly abuse. I hope you're not a nanny.

Was a bone broken ? Was a huge laceration left? Not abuse. Even if she had hit him repeatedly it's not abuse in most states. It might not be okay with the parents but the word abuse indicates a criminal offense. Let's not label someone as a criminal.

Um, yes it is. And I REALLY hope you are a random bored troll and not a nanny. Maybe you're the nanny in the OP, if so, you deserve to go to jail.

Haha jail for yanking an arm you are funny.

If you yanked my, or any kid's, arm hard enough to dislocate a shoulder you better believe you would have charges pressed...and since abusers seldom act just once, eventually you'd be in jail. I'd love to see how funny you'd find your situation then.

[Anonymous]

If it was my kid, I would want to know.

Thx OP for posting.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. The kid was yanked repeatedly by the arm so violently that I was thinking she was in danger of dislocating his shoulder or elbow. Also, she could have prevented him from falling but did nothing and he hit his head hard enough (he fell from a high up seat on the stroller) that I'd be worried about a concussion. The abuse isn't really up for debate. Myself and two other men who were nearby were pretty shocked. And I stepped in as soon as I was close enough to diffuse the situation. I generally mind my own business but I am still pretty shaken by what I saw.

That would qualify for me as well - I asked upthread what made you consider it abuse and that kind of roughness with a young child's arm would be abuse IMO personally, if not legally.

[Anonymous]

I'm surprised to hear so many nannies think this is acceptable behavior on the part of the adult. Very frightening.

OP, what you witnessed was absolutely abusive behavior. You could easily have engaged the station manager or called police. That horrible "nanny" should be glad you didn't.

I hope the parents see this post and find themselves a better nanny.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm surprised to hear so many nannies think this is acceptable behavior on the part of the adult. Very frightening.

OP, what you witnessed was absolutely abusive behavior. You could easily have engaged the station manager or called police. That horrible "nanny" should be glad you didn't.

I hope the parents see this post and find themselves a better nanny.

I'm sorry but just because they say they are a nanny doesn't mean it's true. They could be a nanny, a mb stirring the pot or even some bored person that found the nanny forum and has know idea what a real nanny is like but these people like to stir the pot. I don't know anyone that would come here for real advice