Snow day. Is your live-in nanny working?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If the live-in would get a snow day off- would she still get paid?

Yes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Am I the only MB that has to do the same work on snow days--just from home? I mean, so much of work is now via email that it really makes no difference. So long as we have power, I have to work. Try doing that AND looking after the kids- not fun! I would really not even be in a position to give the live-in nanny a snow day--would make no sense.

No - you're not. The same is true for me and my husband. So we can both be at home on snow days but still be expected to be available for conference calls, working online, etc... Unless we've lost power we both have employers that expect us to work or take vacation time. So our nanny stays over if bad weather is predicted.

Your situation makes sense. OP however did not have to work. If you're also not working, and you asked your live-in to work anyway, it comes across a little bit like milking her for every dime. If this is a rare occurrence, and OP needed to actually get things done (ie. she wasn't sitting in bed watching TV while nanny dealt with the kids), it would be fine. Its when you make a habit of milking your nanny for everything you can get that breeds ill feelings. If this has been happening all winter, and OP is also the type to make her nanny work holidays that she has off, and she makes her nanny "earn her keep" while they travel, and so on and so forth, then yeah, that's going to piss your nanny off, even if "that's why you have a live in". Its human nature. No one likes working while others sit idle. It doesn't sound like that is the case here, and OP seemed to find a fair compromise.

I honestly don't think someone is "milking their nanny for everything they can get" if all they are doing is asking her to work the usual time for her regular salary. If I have a day off and choose to spend it reading, or getting a massage or running errands or having an affair or darning the kids' clothes or whatever... it doesn't really matter. I'm paying someone to work in my home and oversee my kids. How I choose to spend that time - whether it's in or out of the house - is my business. The nanny is being paid - she's not being "milked".

Your judgment/attitude is really distasteful.

Having an affair? Most good nannies prefer families who care about their children. I'd be on my way if you didn't. Sorry.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Am I the only MB that has to do the same work on snow days--just from home? I mean, so much of work is now via email that it really makes no difference. So long as we have power, I have to work. Try doing that AND looking after the kids- not fun! I would really not even be in a position to give the live-in nanny a snow day--would make no sense.

No - you're not. The same is true for me and my husband. So we can both be at home on snow days but still be expected to be available for conference calls, working online, etc... Unless we've lost power we both have employers that expect us to work or take vacation time. So our nanny stays over if bad weather is predicted.

Your situation makes sense. OP however did not have to work. If you're also not working, and you asked your live-in to work anyway, it comes across a little bit like milking her for every dime. If this is a rare occurrence, and OP needed to actually get things done (ie. she wasn't sitting in bed watching TV while nanny dealt with the kids), it would be fine. Its when you make a habit of milking your nanny for everything you can get that breeds ill feelings. If this has been happening all winter, and OP is also the type to make her nanny work holidays that she has off, and she makes her nanny "earn her keep" while they travel, and so on and so forth, then yeah, that's going to piss your nanny off, even if "that's why you have a live in". Its human nature. No one likes working while others sit idle. It doesn't sound like that is the case here, and OP seemed to find a fair compromise.

I honestly don't think someone is "milking their nanny for everything they can get" if all they are doing is asking her to work the usual time for her regular salary. If I have a day off and choose to spend it reading, or getting a massage or running errands or having an affair or darning the kids' clothes or whatever... it doesn't really matter. I'm paying someone to work in my home and oversee my kids. How I choose to spend that time - whether it's in or out of the house - is my business. The nanny is being paid - she's not being "milked".

Your judgment/attitude is really distasteful.

+1. Why do nannies on this forum think they are being "milked" because they are expected to work the hours they contracted to work? Why do they think that there is something horrid about a boss wanting to get his or her "money's worth" out of a nanny, by, say, having her do the job she is being paid to do? Every boss in every context expects his or her employees to "earn their keep," and if the boss doesn't feel like that is happening, the employee won't be kept around for long.

Not sure why the nanny poster quoted above has so much trouble with this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Am I the only MB that has to do the same work on snow days--just from home? I mean, so much of work is now via email that it really makes no difference. So long as we have power, I have to work. Try doing that AND looking after the kids- not fun! I would really not even be in a position to give the live-in nanny a snow day--would make no sense.

No - you're not. The same is true for me and my husband. So we can both be at home on snow days but still be expected to be available for conference calls, working online, etc... Unless we've lost power we both have employers that expect us to work or take vacation time. So our nanny stays over if bad weather is predicted.

Your situation makes sense. OP however did not have to work. If you're also not working, and you asked your live-in to work anyway, it comes across a little bit like milking her for every dime. If this is a rare occurrence, and OP needed to actually get things done (ie. she wasn't sitting in bed watching TV while nanny dealt with the kids), it would be fine. Its when you make a habit of milking your nanny for everything you can get that breeds ill feelings. If this has been happening all winter, and OP is also the type to make her nanny work holidays that she has off, and she makes her nanny "earn her keep" while they travel, and so on and so forth, then yeah, that's going to piss your nanny off, even if "that's why you have a live in". Its human nature. No one likes working while others sit idle. It doesn't sound like that is the case here, and OP seemed to find a fair compromise.

I honestly don't think someone is "milking their nanny for everything they can get" if all they are doing is asking her to work the usual time for her regular salary. If I have a day off and choose to spend it reading, or getting a massage or running errands or having an affair or darning the kids' clothes or whatever... it doesn't really matter. I'm paying someone to work in my home and oversee my kids. How I choose to spend that time - whether it's in or out of the house - is my business. The nanny is being paid - she's not being "milked".

Your judgment/attitude is really distasteful.

+1. Why do nannies on this forum think they are being "milked" because they are expected to work the hours they contracted to work? Why do they think that there is something horrid about a boss wanting to get his or her "money's worth" out of a nanny, by, say, having her do the job she is being paid to do? Every boss in every context expects his or her employees to "earn their keep," and if the boss doesn't feel like that is happening, the employee won't be kept around for long.

Not sure why the nanny poster quoted above has so much trouble with this.

Because it never goes both ways. Employers want to be rigidly by the book when it suits them. "I'm only following the contract!", you say. But if a nanny is rigid about the contract, she's labeled a inflexible and doesn't go above and beyond. The double standard is ridiculous. You have no foot to stand on, PP, unless you pay your nanny for every minute she's on the clock including the time she spends updating you after you've come home. You have no foot to stand on, unless you have never expected your nanny to step out of her contracted duties. If you'd secretly be salty if your beloved nanny stopped doing the little extras she does for you, you have NO ROOM TO TALK. Positive and flexible relationships are built on give and take. If you can't find it within yourself to give your nanny a break occasionally when it doesn't hurt you at all, you are in a take take take relationship, which is bound to fall apart. Just as you occasionally enjoy a day to "get things done" or simply relax, don't you think your nanny would appreciate one as well? Asshole.

[Anonymous]

In jobs that I've enjoyed the most and stayed in the longest, the parents would never have had me work if they were home and not working. They chose to spend the time with their children. They also recognized that throwing a bonus day off to their nanny could only help the relationship. It worked because I stated with them for many years. I still talk to my former MBs all the time.
The jobs I have not enjoyed and stayed at for a short time involved parents who would have me report to work on snow days so they could nap and watch TV all day. If they arrived home 20 minutes early, they would shut themselves in their bedroom until the second it was time for me to leave.
A little give will get you A LOT of take with a nanny.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Am I the only MB that has to do the same work on snow days--just from home? I mean, so much of work is now via email that it really makes no difference. So long as we have power, I have to work. Try doing that AND looking after the kids- not fun! I would really not even be in a position to give the live-in nanny a snow day--would make no sense.

No - you're not. The same is true for me and my husband. So we can both be at home on snow days but still be expected to be available for conference calls, working online, etc... Unless we've lost power we both have employers that expect us to work or take vacation time. So our nanny stays over if bad weather is predicted.

Your situation makes sense. OP however did not have to work. If you're also not working, and you asked your live-in to work anyway, it comes across a little bit like milking her for every dime. If this is a rare occurrence, and OP needed to actually get things done (ie. she wasn't sitting in bed watching TV while nanny dealt with the kids), it would be fine. Its when you make a habit of milking your nanny for everything you can get that breeds ill feelings. If this has been happening all winter, and OP is also the type to make her nanny work holidays that she has off, and she makes her nanny "earn her keep" while they travel, and so on and so forth, then yeah, that's going to piss your nanny off, even if "that's why you have a live in". Its human nature. No one likes working while others sit idle. It doesn't sound like that is the case here, and OP seemed to find a fair compromise.

I honestly don't think someone is "milking their nanny for everything they can get" if all they are doing is asking her to work the usual time for her regular salary. If I have a day off and choose to spend it reading, or getting a massage or running errands or having an affair or darning the kids' clothes or whatever... it doesn't really matter. I'm paying someone to work in my home and oversee my kids. How I choose to spend that time - whether it's in or out of the house - is my business. The nanny is being paid - she's not being "milked".

Your judgment/attitude is really distasteful.

+1. Why do nannies on this forum think they are being "milked" because they are expected to work the hours they contracted to work? Why do they think that there is something horrid about a boss wanting to get his or her "money's worth" out of a nanny, by, say, having her do the job she is being paid to do? Every boss in every context expects his or her employees to "earn their keep," and if the boss doesn't feel like that is happening, the employee won't be kept around for long.

Not sure why the nanny poster quoted above has so much trouble with this.

Because it never goes both ways. Employers want to be rigidly by the book when it suits them. "I'm only following the contract!", you say. But if a nanny is rigid about the contract, she's labeled a inflexible and doesn't go above and beyond. The double standard is ridiculous. You have no foot to stand on, PP, unless you pay your nanny for every minute she's on the clock including the time she spends updating you after you've come home. You have no foot to stand on, unless you have never expected your nanny to step out of her contracted duties. If you'd secretly be salty if your beloved nanny stopped doing the little extras she does for you, you have NO ROOM TO TALK. Positive and flexible relationships are built on give and take. If you can't find it within yourself to give your nanny a break occasionally when it doesn't hurt you at all, you are in a take take take relationship, which is bound to fall apart. Just as you occasionally enjoy a day to "get things done" or simply relax, don't you think your nanny would appreciate one as well? Asshole.

You clearly have had a miserable work history. Maybe you are a nightmare, or maybe you had a nightmare boss or two that turned you into a nightmare. Chicken/egg - doesn't really matter. Your situation is not the norm, your attitude is not typical (thank god!!!) and your presumptions and broad generalizations about employers are equally outside the norm.

Please just go away. We get that you're miserable and hate your profession, but now you're just boring.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Am I the only MB that has to do the same work on snow days--just from home? I mean, so much of work is now via email that it really makes no difference. So long as we have power, I have to work. Try doing that AND looking after the kids- not fun! I would really not even be in a position to give the live-in nanny a snow day--would make no sense.

No - you're not. The same is true for me and my husband. So we can both be at home on snow days but still be expected to be available for conference calls, working online, etc... Unless we've lost power we both have employers that expect us to work or take vacation time. So our nanny stays over if bad weather is predicted.

Your situation makes sense. OP however did not have to work. If you're also not working, and you asked your live-in to work anyway, it comes across a little bit like milking her for every dime. If this is a rare occurrence, and OP needed to actually get things done (ie. she wasn't sitting in bed watching TV while nanny dealt with the kids), it would be fine. Its when you make a habit of milking your nanny for everything you can get that breeds ill feelings. If this has been happening all winter, and OP is also the type to make her nanny work holidays that she has off, and she makes her nanny "earn her keep" while they travel, and so on and so forth, then yeah, that's going to piss your nanny off, even if "that's why you have a live in". Its human nature. No one likes working while others sit idle. It doesn't sound like that is the case here, and OP seemed to find a fair compromise.

I honestly don't think someone is "milking their nanny for everything they can get" if all they are doing is asking her to work the usual time for her regular salary. If I have a day off and choose to spend it reading, or getting a massage or running errands or having an affair or darning the kids' clothes or whatever... it doesn't really matter. I'm paying someone to work in my home and oversee my kids. How I choose to spend that time - whether it's in or out of the house - is my business. The nanny is being paid - she's not being "milked".

Your judgment/attitude is really distasteful.

+1. Why do nannies on this forum think they are being "milked" because they are expected to work the hours they contracted to work? Why do they think that there is something horrid about a boss wanting to get his or her "money's worth" out of a nanny, by, say, having her do the job she is being paid to do? Every boss in every context expects his or her employees to "earn their keep," and if the boss doesn't feel like that is happening, the employee won't be kept around for long.

Not sure why the nanny poster quoted above has so much trouble with this.

Because it never goes both ways. Employers want to be rigidly by the book when it suits them. "I'm only following the contract!", you say. But if a nanny is rigid about the contract, she's labeled a inflexible and doesn't go above and beyond. The double standard is ridiculous. You have no foot to stand on, PP, unless you pay your nanny for every minute she's on the clock including the time she spends updating you after you've come home. You have no foot to stand on, unless you have never expected your nanny to step out of her contracted duties. If you'd secretly be salty if your beloved nanny stopped doing the little extras she does for you, you have NO ROOM TO TALK. Positive and flexible relationships are built on give and take. If you can't find it within yourself to give your nanny a break occasionally when it doesn't hurt you at all, you are in a take take take relationship, which is bound to fall apart. Just as you occasionally enjoy a day to "get things done" or simply relax, don't you think your nanny would appreciate one as well? Asshole.

You clearly have had a miserable work history. Maybe you are a nightmare, or maybe you had a nightmare boss or two that turned you into a nightmare. Chicken/egg - doesn't really matter. Your situation is not the norm, your attitude is not typical (thank god!!!) and your presumptions and broad generalizations about employers are equally outside the norm.

Please just go away. We get that you're miserable and hate your profession, but now you're just boring.

You nasty tone doesn't exactly make you shine.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Am I the only MB that has to do the same work on snow days--just from home? I mean, so much of work is now via email that it really makes no difference. So long as we have power, I have to work. Try doing that AND looking after the kids- not fun! I would really not even be in a position to give the live-in nanny a snow day--would make no sense.

No - you're not. The same is true for me and my husband. So we can both be at home on snow days but still be expected to be available for conference calls, working online, etc... Unless we've lost power we both have employers that expect us to work or take vacation time. So our nanny stays over if bad weather is predicted.

Your situation makes sense. OP however did not have to work. If you're also not working, and you asked your live-in to work anyway, it comes across a little bit like milking her for every dime. If this is a rare occurrence, and OP needed to actually get things done (ie. she wasn't sitting in bed watching TV while nanny dealt with the kids), it would be fine. Its when you make a habit of milking your nanny for everything you can get that breeds ill feelings. If this has been happening all winter, and OP is also the type to make her nanny work holidays that she has off, and she makes her nanny "earn her keep" while they travel, and so on and so forth, then yeah, that's going to piss your nanny off, even if "that's why you have a live in". Its human nature. No one likes working while others sit idle. It doesn't sound like that is the case here, and OP seemed to find a fair compromise.

I honestly don't think someone is "milking their nanny for everything they can get" if all they are doing is asking her to work the usual time for her regular salary. If I have a day off and choose to spend it reading, or getting a massage or running errands or having an affair or darning the kids' clothes or whatever... it doesn't really matter. I'm paying someone to work in my home and oversee my kids. How I choose to spend that time - whether it's in or out of the house - is my business. The nanny is being paid - she's not being "milked".

Your judgment/attitude is really distasteful.

+1. Why do nannies on this forum think they are being "milked" because they are expected to work the hours they contracted to work? Why do they think that there is something horrid about a boss wanting to get his or her "money's worth" out of a nanny, by, say, having her do the job she is being paid to do? Every boss in every context expects his or her employees to "earn their keep," and if the boss doesn't feel like that is happening, the employee won't be kept around for long.

Not sure why the nanny poster quoted above has so much trouble with this.

Because it never goes both ways. Employers want to be rigidly by the book when it suits them. "I'm only following the contract!", you say. But if a nanny is rigid about the contract, she's labeled a inflexible and doesn't go above and beyond. The double standard is ridiculous. You have no foot to stand on, PP, unless you pay your nanny for every minute she's on the clock including the time she spends updating you after you've come home. You have no foot to stand on, unless you have never expected your nanny to step out of her contracted duties. If you'd secretly be salty if your beloved nanny stopped doing the little extras she does for you, you have NO ROOM TO TALK. Positive and flexible relationships are built on give and take. If you can't find it within yourself to give your nanny a break occasionally when it doesn't hurt you at all, you are in a take take take relationship, which is bound to fall apart. Just as you occasionally enjoy a day to "get things done" or simply relax, don't you think your nanny would appreciate one as well? Asshole.

You clearly have had a miserable work history. Maybe you are a nightmare, or maybe you had a nightmare boss or two that turned you into a nightmare. Chicken/egg - doesn't really matter. Your situation is not the norm, your attitude is not typical (thank god!!!) and your presumptions and broad generalizations about employers are equally outside the norm.

Please just go away. We get that you're miserable and hate your profession, but now you're just boring.

Wut?? What part of my post references my own work history? And where does it say I had nightmare bosses? My opinions about the kind of relationship I want with my employers is precisely why I have a great work history and never had the displeasure of nightmare bosses like yourself. I know what a give and take relationship looks like and have no desire to work for people who only want to take. You have not a clue who I am, nor how common my attitudes are. You would never know how I felt in real life, and you would be thrilled to hire me, I assure you. But I would never work for you!

[Anonymous]

Because it never goes both ways. Employers want to be rigidly by the book when it suits them. "I'm only following the contract!", you say. But if a nanny is rigid about the contract, she's labeled a inflexible and doesn't go above and beyond. The double standard is ridiculous. You have no foot to stand on, PP, unless you pay your nanny for every minute she's on the clock including the time she spends updating you after you've come home. You have no foot to stand on, unless you have never expected your nanny to step out of her contracted duties. If you'd secretly be salty if your beloved nanny stopped doing the little extras she does for you, you have NO ROOM TO TALK. Positive and flexible relationships are built on give and take. If you can't find it within yourself to give your nanny a break occasionally when it doesn't hurt you at all, you are in a take take take relationship, which is bound to fall apart. Just as you occasionally enjoy a day to "get things done" or simply relax, don't you think your nanny would appreciate one as well? Asshole.

NP here and wow, you are one angry nanny. You make a ton of assumptions, call people names, and expect to get random paid days off because you don't like an employer expecting you to work as scheduled.

No wonder nannies here have such a bad reputation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Am I the only MB that has to do the same work on snow days--just from home? I mean, so much of work is now via email that it really makes no difference. So long as we have power, I have to work. Try doing that AND looking after the kids- not fun! I would really not even be in a position to give the live-in nanny a snow day--would make no sense.

No - you're not. The same is true for me and my husband. So we can both be at home on snow days but still be expected to be available for conference calls, working online, etc... Unless we've lost power we both have employers that expect us to work or take vacation time. So our nanny stays over if bad weather is predicted.

Your situation makes sense. OP however did not have to work. If you're also not working, and you asked your live-in to work anyway, it comes across a little bit like milking her for every dime. If this is a rare occurrence, and OP needed to actually get things done (ie. she wasn't sitting in bed watching TV while nanny dealt with the kids), it would be fine. Its when you make a habit of milking your nanny for everything you can get that breeds ill feelings. If this has been happening all winter, and OP is also the type to make her nanny work holidays that she has off, and she makes her nanny "earn her keep" while they travel, and so on and so forth, then yeah, that's going to piss your nanny off, even if "that's why you have a live in". Its human nature. No one likes working while others sit idle. It doesn't sound like that is the case here, and OP seemed to find a fair compromise.

I honestly don't think someone is "milking their nanny for everything they can get" if all they are doing is asking her to work the usual time for her regular salary. If I have a day off and choose to spend it reading, or getting a massage or running errands or having an affair or darning the kids' clothes or whatever... it doesn't really matter. I'm paying someone to work in my home and oversee my kids. How I choose to spend that time - whether it's in or out of the house - is my business. The nanny is being paid - she's not being "milked".

Your judgment/attitude is really distasteful.

+1. Why do nannies on this forum think they are being "milked" because they are expected to work the hours they contracted to work? Why do they think that there is something horrid about a boss wanting to get his or her "money's worth" out of a nanny, by, say, having her do the job she is being paid to do? Every boss in every context expects his or her employees to "earn their keep," and if the boss doesn't feel like that is happening, the employee won't be kept around for long.

Not sure why the nanny poster quoted above has so much trouble with this.

Because it never goes both ways. Employers want to be rigidly by the book when it suits them. "I'm only following the contract!", you say. But if a nanny is rigid about the contract, she's labeled a inflexible and doesn't go above and beyond. The double standard is ridiculous. You have no foot to stand on, PP, unless you pay your nanny for every minute she's on the clock including the time she spends updating you after you've come home. You have no foot to stand on, unless you have never expected your nanny to step out of her contracted duties. If you'd secretly be salty if your beloved nanny stopped doing the little extras she does for you, you have NO ROOM TO TALK. Positive and flexible relationships are built on give and take. If you can't find it within yourself to give your nanny a break occasionally when it doesn't hurt you at all, you are in a take take take relationship, which is bound to fall apart. Just as you occasionally enjoy a day to "get things done" or simply relax, don't you think your nanny would appreciate one as well? Asshole.

You clearly have had a miserable work history. Maybe you are a nightmare, or maybe you had a nightmare boss or two that turned you into a nightmare. Chicken/egg - doesn't really matter. Your situation is not the norm, your attitude is not typical (thank god!!!) and your presumptions and broad generalizations about employers are equally outside the norm.

Please just go away. We get that you're miserable and hate your profession, but now you're just boring.

+1. That is one unhinged nanny.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Some of you don't seem to realize that if you're home, it's damn near impossible for a nanny to do her job. With every little squeal from your kid, you come running to reward that behavior. What's the point? If anything, it may result in your having to find yet another nanny.

Few parents can afford to pay a nanny enough to put up with that.

This.

[Anonymous]

American women are the laziest women who ever lived.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:American women are the laziest women who ever lived.

Entitled parents are the laziest.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Because it never goes both ways. Employers want to be rigidly by the book when it suits them. "I'm only following the contract!", you say. But if a nanny is rigid about the contract, she's labeled a inflexible and doesn't go above and beyond. The double standard is ridiculous. You have no foot to stand on, PP, unless you pay your nanny for every minute she's on the clock including the time she spends updating you after you've come home. You have no foot to stand on, unless you have never expected your nanny to step out of her contracted duties. If you'd secretly be salty if your beloved nanny stopped doing the little extras she does for you, you have NO ROOM TO TALK. Positive and flexible relationships are built on give and take. If you can't find it within yourself to give your nanny a break occasionally when it doesn't hurt you at all, you are in a take take take relationship, which is bound to fall apart. Just as you occasionally enjoy a day to "get things done" or simply relax, don't you think your nanny would appreciate one as well? Asshole.

NP here and wow, you are one angry nanny. You make a ton of assumptions, call people names, and expect to get random paid days off because you don't like an employer expecting you to work as scheduled.

No wonder nannies here have such a bad reputation.

As scheduled? Check your reading comprehension.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Some of you don't seem to realize that if you're home, it's damn near impossible for a nanny to do her job. With every little squeal from your kid, you come running to reward that behavior. What's the point? If anything, it may result in your having to find yet another nanny.

Few parents can afford to pay a nanny enough to put up with that.

This.

I live-in exclusively, but I make it clear that either I'm working or not. When I'm working, I don't care what my employers are doing... as long as the kids don't hear or see them. As long as the nanny is clear on expectations, and the parents agree to stay out of the area where nanny and kids are, it isn't an issue. If the parent wants to be out with the kids, that's fine, I can either be off or do a few other tasks.

I've had one employer who did come running every time a child started to scream, but we agreed ahead of time that she would. She couldn't handle the tantrums her children were throwing, so she stood out of their line of sight to watch me handle them and learn how to deal with them. I also taught her how to recognize the signs and cut them off before they began (starting about a week later, when the kids finally realized that I don't give in).