Parents please check up on your nannies

[Anonymous]

I've seen a nanny in our neighborhood for the last five months who takes her twin charges, about two-years-old, out for a "walk" and then sits them on a convenient garden wall and talks on the phone or texts. When they were still in the stroller, she would just leave them in the stroller, and talk or text on her phone. She is usually there for about 30 minutes. Her charges try to get her attention and she ignores them. I am willing to bet that this nanny walks far enough away from their building so her employers can't see her and sits her butt down - then tells the parents that she took the kids for a walk.

I know this is not at the level of child abuse. I know I don't have all the facts. The nanny may work for horrible parents and get paid minimum wage but that is no reason to ignore little kids.

I am a nanny and generally side with nannies -- but I see no problem checking up on any nanny to make sure she is doing what she says she is doing, myself included.

[Anonymous]

Nannies are not children. Employers should be employers and manage their employees, but the tone of your post infantalizes nannies. Most nannies do not do the nonsense you describe and there is no reason to whip everyone up over it. There are probably plenty of other indicators that this nanny is bad at her job, and it probably doesn't require "checking up" on her to see it.

[Anonymous]

I wish my employers would check up on me or even bother to watch the nanny cams they have set up in the playroom and charges room. Maybe then they would stop acting astonished that their child knows his colors, letters, can color and throw a ball back and forth and see that I WORK ON THESE SKILLS WITH HIM and he did not pick them up magically.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Nannies are not children. Employers should be employers and manage their employees, but the tone of your post infantalizes nannies. Most nannies do not do the nonsense you describe and there is no reason to whip everyone up over it. There are probably plenty of other indicators that this nanny is bad at her job, and it probably doesn't require "checking up" on her to see it.

Nearly all occupations I can think of have a check and balance system. I don't think OP is infantilizing anyone. DH is a cardiac surgeon and routinely has superiors watching his surgeries.

[Anonymous]

As I nanny I welcome being checked up on.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I wish my employers would check up on me or even bother to watch the nanny cams they have set up in the playroom and charges room. Maybe then they would stop acting astonished that their child knows his colors, letters, can color and throw a ball back and forth and see that I WORK ON THESE SKILLS WITH HIM and he did not pick them up magically.

+1 Your DD didn't learn french words and songs by osmosis so stop acting like she did and offer an occasional "thank you" or "well done".

[Anonymous]

Why not talk to this babysitter, OP?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why not talk to this babysitter, OP?

OP here. What should I say? First, she is busy on her phone and I'd have to interrupt her. She never even looks up when I say hello to she and her charges. Second, I don't know what to say...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why not talk to this babysitter, OP?

OP here. What should I say? First, she is busy on her phone and I'd have to interrupt her. She never even looks up when I say hello to she and her charges. Second, I don't know what to say...

When I see something that concerns me, I'll think of something to say.
Think about it.

[Anonymous]

I have checked up on our nanny unexpectedly. Once, she was in the middle of reading a book to DD. Every other time she was on her fricking cell phone to her friends.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have checked up on our nanny unexpectedly. Once, she was in the middle of reading a book to DD. Every other time she was on her fricking cell phone to her friends.

And you found her where?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have checked up on our nanny unexpectedly. Once, she was in the middle of reading a book to DD. Every other time she was on her fricking cell phone to her friends.

And you found her where?

The one time she was reading a book to DD was in the library. The times I caught her on her phone were - when she was pushing the stroller down the sidewalk, in the park, in the playground of a local school and sitting in a Starbucks with DD next to her.

One more time and she is fired.

[Anonymous]

Trust but verify. Always.

I feel bad for those two little girls.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have checked up on our nanny unexpectedly. Once, she was in the middle of reading a book to DD. Every other time she was on her fricking cell phone to her friends.

And you found her where?

The one time she was reading a book to DD was in the library. The times I caught her on her phone were - when she was pushing the stroller down the sidewalk, in the park, in the playground of a local school and sitting in a Starbucks with DD next to her.

One more time and she is fired.

Where did you HIRE her from?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have checked up on our nanny unexpectedly. Once, she was in the middle of reading a book to DD. Every other time she was on her fricking cell phone to her friends.

And you found her where?

The one time she was reading a book to DD was in the library. The times I caught her on her phone were - when she was pushing the stroller down the sidewalk, in the park, in the playground of a local school and sitting in a Starbucks with DD next to her.

One more time and she is fired.

Where did you HIRE her from?

care.com