Nannies and MB's tell me how you work out the car/driving situation?
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Anonymous
| We're not new to being a nanny family but due to a recent move we are new to needing our nanny to drive our car. We used to live in a very walkable area of DC but recently moved out of state to an area that's somewhat walkable (little cafes and a park) but there's not enough to fully entertain everyone during the week. I'd like our nanny to drive our DD's (3 and 1) but I'm not sure how to handle the car situation. Both DH and I have to drive to work because there's no public transportation so we don't have a car to leave at home. We stagger our hours and work different schedules so we can't carpool. Our nanny has her own car and she is willing to drive but I don't feel safe with the kids in her car because it's a very tiny sports car, we live in an area with lots of snow, and everyone else here drives giant SUV's so I'm afraid if something did happen they wouldn't stand a chance. The other day I drove with her by myself and I also noticed that there are some basic maintenance issues going on with the car (warning lights on, wipers not working so we couldn't see well). Please don't flame me for being a car snob, I'm not at all, we have an old Toyota ourselves, but I don't know what to do because I want our nanny and the kids to be able to get out but I don't feel safe with them doing it in her car. Does anyone have any creative solutions? TIA! |
Anonymous
| Buy her a car to use or leave one of yours at home during the day. There aren't any "creative" solutions, just ones that actually make sense and are realistic. |
Anonymous
| I'm not "creative" enough to make a car for you, OP. You have to buy her another car to use if you want her to drive your children or have either you or DH take public transportation or carpool. |
Anonymous
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Your nanny should never be forced to use her won car - that was not a part of the arrangement when you hired her. Find another way to work and leave her your car or buy a third car.
Did this never cross your mind before you moved? |
Anonymous
| Lease a car for you or DH to get work and leave one of the other cars at home. |
Anonymous
| But a safe used car for your nanny to use with the kids. |
Anonymous
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Did this just occur to you AFTER you moved and then looked around?
If you want your nanny to drive your children places, you have to buy her a car in which to do it. |
Anonymous
Lease the nanny and kids a car - you'll probably never exceed the mileage any you know the kids will be safe. Install the car seats in the nanny's car and then drive that car when you need to shuttle the kids on weekends. That is what we do. |
Anonymous
| Just adding to the choir. We have 3 cars; the "kid" car is our minivan. Whoever has the kids drives the van -- this is the nanny on weekdays. |
Anonymous
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This is basic 101 stuff. When we hired a nanny, I gave her my minivan to drive the kids and I purchased a commuter car.
If you can't afford this, frankly you can't afford a nanny. |
Anonymous
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Hire a nanny with a larger car and give her two car seats to use. OR
use uber. OR get a third car, used minivan. |
Anonymous
| I would buy yourself a new car or buy a cheap used car for the nanny. |
Anonymous
If you have the money, any parent would choose the other way around - make the newest and safest car the car that hauls their children. |
Anonymous
This is a great solution! |
Anonymous
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Wow OP here - I had no idea so many people had three cars. I don't agree with the statement that if you can afford a nanny you can afford an extra car, since my salary basically just covers the nanny's salary (working pt to try and keep
a foot in the door). I'm also surprised so many people are so anti-nannies driving their own cars since I thought that was a fairly common thing. Our nanny did that for the last family she worked for. Of course we would reimburse for mileage and wear and tear etc. It's not like we would have been asking her to do something for free. Thanks for the feedback though. |