What would you do? Nanny needs to cut back hours and is offering.....

[Anonymous]

I am so torn on how to handle this situation. Our wonderful nanny just got accepted into nursing school. I am so happy for her. The original plan that we can up with was for her to take classes at night. However, she just told me that at nova they require you to be full time for the program. With that being said she said that she will be able to work two days a week and maybe 2.5 days. Her mom who is also a nanny is willing to work in her place for 3 days a week. My kids already know her mom and they play with her often. The only issue I have is that her mom's English is very very poor. I can possibly get by. However my oldest is in preschool part time and I am worried that if something needed to be communicated from her teachers, it would not be possible. The chances of that happening is pretty rare. I know I should probably find someone else.......but switching is also a lot of work and emotional change. What would you do?

[Anonymous]

Discuss it with your favorite teacher at the school. Perhaps one of them speaks Spanish?

[xtianstone]

Honestly, I would find another nanny or au pair. Before I used au pairs, I had a nanny who did the same thing. I noticed that school + nanny was a lot of stress, and it showed in her work. In hindsight I would have moved much more swiftly.

If you are interested in au pairs, I have recommendations. I did a lot of research. Still, when they return to their home country it is a bit of heartbreak. I still keep in touch with all of mine.

-- Christian

[Anonymous]

Your concerns about using mom as nanny are valid. Is there anyway you can request written communication from the preschool? I mean they have to have some sort of system in place for when accommodations need to be made.
I would be more concerned with her being able to take and follow instructions from you or if there was an emergency.
Unfortunately it seems like you are going to have to find a new nanny. If you like her and want to continue the relationship maybe she can babysit for you occasionally.
She will be able to find work nursing students can get hired many places.
Sadly, this can be the downside to hiring someone not a career nanny or in school.

[Anonymous]

I would get a new nanny.

[Anonymous]

I think you need to get a new nanny. FT nursing school will take a lot of time and it will be very stressful - there is more to it than just attending class.

[Anonymous]

Nursing school is INTENSE. That 2.5 hrs will last about 2 weeks before the work load gets to be too much. Make the change now.

[Anonymous]

I would keep the nanny + have her mother take over for the days that you would not have her.

Considering that your children already know her mother and are comfortable w/her is important.

If you start completely from scratch now, it is going to be a lot of time, work and added stress.

Regarding the language barrier, if the mother doesn't understand something from the teacher, I would just ask the teacher to write me a short note if she ever needs to discuss anything w/me.

[Anonymous]

I'd bite the bullet and just start over OP. Use your current nanny to get you through until you find the right person, and maybe have her train her replacement, but find a full-time solution that meets your needs fully.

Then keep your current nanny as back-up care, babysitting coverage.

[Anonymous]

having known friends that did nursing programs I'd be surprised if she can do 2 full days for you, but maybe...

What I would be worried abuot is the language issue with teh preschool. At my child's old preschool and our current one the teachers did not have email and VERY rarely (ever?) initiated calls. They could send notes home i guess but that required extra work so was not common. They seemed most to like to mention things to the kids or to the pick-up adult. So not having someone who can help convey that (the kid won't remember by the end of the day) would be a big problem.
You know if your school is this way or not though, OP.

[Anonymous]

OP here thanks everyone for your responses. Once spring break is over, I am going to talk to the school. We do get weekly emails from the teacher. I guess I just meant; if something usual happened. (Ie. Being sick and needed to be picked up early) And then we are going to make a decision.

[Anonymous]

As someone who recently finished nursing school, I think its only a matter of time before you have to find someone else. Unfortunately. She may be able to work it out for the first semester but each one gets more intense. Not sure if she's starting her actual nursing classes, but her schedule will also change each semester and she may find that next semester she has class 3 days a week and clinical 2. Or has class 2 days a week, a 12 hour clinical, and a lot of homework. Either way, the situation is likely not a long term possibility. Either her schedule will change to the point she can no longer work, or she'll become burnt out.

As miserable as it is, I would start looking for another nanny and then keep your current nanny as a babysitter type deal since your kids like her.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As someone who recently finished nursing school, I think its only a matter of time before you have to find someone else. Unfortunately. She may be able to work it out for the first semester but each one gets more intense. Not sure if she's starting her actual nursing classes, but her schedule will also change each semester and she may find that next semester she has class 3 days a week and clinical 2. Or has class 2 days a week, a 12 hour clinical, and a lot of homework. Either way, the situation is likely not a long term possibility. Either her schedule will change to the point she can no longer work, or she'll become burnt out.

As miserable as it is, I would start looking for another nanny and then keep your current nanny as a babysitter type deal since your kids like her.

+1

[Anonymous]

Last year, I was working as a nanny part time while going to school full time, and I can tell you that it was very stressful for both me and the parents I worked for.

She can tell you that next semester she will have class on Monday and Wednesday, but will be able to work Tuesday and Thursday. There is no guarantee that in the spring semester it will be the same way.

When I signed up for my after school position, it was because all of my classes were in the morning. Then I had to break the news that the next semester I had an unavoidable afternoon class which meant I wouldn't be able to work. The semester after that, I had to take afternoon classes everyday, so I couldn't work for that family at all anymore.

Your nanny will likely figure out that working as a nanny will probably be too demanding of a job to do during nursing school. I started out in nursing, and I was lucky to find a part time job in the library where I could study and get paid. Nannying (unless you have an infant) is not that type of gig.