Dirty underwear?! I thought all DCUM nannies make $25/hour and never do anything but childcare and rest during naptime. |
Most employers must approve when an employer takes time off. Op is not unreasonable in saying late August does not work. She can't force nanny to take it during a certain time although I agree it is bad faith for manny to now move the week. The week is nanny's choice but the op gets to approve the REQUEST. |
Is your only back-up care plan the grandparents? What about when your nanny is sick? I'm not trying to be snarky, but 3+ months is plenty of time to hire a temp nanny to cover a week of supervising a preschooler. Presumably some college kids will still be on summer break and happy to earn some money in the final week.
I get that it's frustrating, but I don't think your back-up care plan is very reasonable. I'm sure you do though, so you could go with telling the nanny that this happened last year and you're not happy about it happening again. For next year, her vacation dates need to be finalized & in writing 60+ days in advance and that any changes after 60 days won't be accommodated. |
I think it really depends on if she actually told you the prior week was what she was taking or if it was maybe /probably. If the latter, you can turn down the week she wants (if your contract allows) but you can't turn down all 51 other weeks and make her take the one you booked the grandparents for. |
This. You don't crap out when your employer most needs you. |
Yeah. Helping a temp nanny or college kid get up to speed in your house and with your toddler sounds like a lot of fun two weeks after giving birth and at home all alone. |
OP's comments imply that she and the nanny had an initial discussion where they proposed travel dates but did not make definite plans. If OP had said the nanny gave her specific dates and then changed her plans, OP would be justified in asking the nanny to concede. Under the circumstances, OP needs to take this as a lesson learned and hire a temp nanny. |
OP here. We've worked it out with our nanny just fine and she is flexible within a 6 week period of the summer when her adult daughter is visiting her again (and often comes to our house to hang out 8am-5pm).
She is also excited about the new baby coming. Yes, our job demands/travel and our vacation travel to visit family abroad require our vacations to be planned months in advance. Yes, the nanny agreed in writing to the weeks around the birth. We put most things in writing and now will start requiring signatures and double copies. Yes, we have backup options, both formal and informal and several nanny families in the neighborhood that we can pay to have our kid at 1-2 days if something pops up. I don't know how or when my labor, delivery or recovery will go so I prefer not to have a logistical nightmare with my full-time childcare at the same time. I likely will not be allowed to drive due to a C-section. Last year we simply took turns off of work during her vacation and stayed home, this year we do not have that flexibility. Thanks to those who gave actual advice, esp Nanny Deb, not just sat at one or the other end of the spectrum. |
I know for a fact that you are wrong. Every airline I fly charges around $150 to make any changes to a flight. Some have a 24 grace period after booking but otherwise you are fined and have to pay the difference of the new flight. Can't stand how people make so many false comments on here |
It really, really, might be ok OP.
I had a C section, dh went back to work 2 weeks after dd was born. I managed to care for myself, 2 year old and infant just fine. No family help, no nanny, just me. And guess what? It was totally doable. Did my 2 year old watch lots of TV? Yes, but it's a short season I her life. |
I was by myself with my 2-y-o and newborn, after a C-section, in less than 1 week. I don't get what the big deal is. DH made an attempt to get home a little earlier than usual. I think I might have had a cleaning lady come. |