Need suggestions on handling downtime

[Anonymous]

We are about to sign our yearly contract with our nanny. Beginning in January, she will have two days where both kids are in preschool at the same time, leaving her with about 5 hours of downtime total. How do others handle this situation? We need her for preschool dropoff so we can't just adjust her hours to make them later on those two days. Ideally, she'd maybe do some pickup and some adult laundry (she only does kids laundry right now). Meal prep is off the table (she can't cook). Or do we just give her those 5 hours to do whatever she wants? That doesn't seem entirely useful or fair. I'd like to find some suggestions that have worked for both parties so we can offer them to her and get her feedback. Thanks!

[Anonymous]

Errands perhaps? An hour a day really isn't that much time to fill.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Errands perhaps? An hour a day really isn't that much time to fill.

Also anyone can do meal prep - just cutting up vegetables or making a salad is a huge help.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Errands perhaps? An hour a day really isn't that much time to fill.

Sorry, I didn't explain it well -- it's two days a week and approximately 2.5 hours each of those two days.

We just don't have that many errands. We do grocery delivery and dry cleaning maybe once every other week. I wish there were more, that would be an optimal solution.

[Anonymous]

I am a nanny who does anything and everything for my charge so I could use that time to do deep cleaning of his room and bathroom (stuff I cannot do now when he is with me) and do his ironing. I would also have his lunch all ready by the time he got home. It would be a great time for me to prep art projects, too.

If my MB doesn't get pregnant soon, I will be in your nanny's position for 1.5 hours a day in September 2016 so I'd love to hear what other nannies do with their time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Errands perhaps? An hour a day really isn't that much time to fill.

Sorry, I didn't explain it well -- it's two days a week and approximately 2.5 hours each of those two days.

We just don't have that many errands. We do grocery delivery and dry cleaning maybe once every other week. I wish there were more, that would be an optimal solution.

You could cut out the grocery delivery and have her do that once a week, which would take care of one of those time slots -- cuts down on your delivery costs/tip. The other day could maybe be used for a deep clean of the playroom/bedrooms -- and by that I mean reorganizing toys, bookshelves, etc. Toys never seem to make it in the right bin every single day!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We are about to sign our yearly contract with our nanny. Beginning in January, she will have two days where both kids are in preschool at the same time, leaving her with about 5 hours of downtime total. How do others handle this situation? We need her for preschool dropoff so we can't just adjust her hours to make them later on those two days. Ideally, she'd maybe do some pickup and some adult laundry (she only does kids laundry right now). Meal prep is off the table (she can't cook). Or do we just give her those 5 hours to do whatever she wants? That doesn't seem entirely useful or fair. I'd like to find some suggestions that have worked for both parties so we can offer them to her and get her feedback. Thanks!

You want her for those specific times, so it isn't her fault thst it is
Down time. Why should you insult her by demanding that she wash your dirty underwear? You will need her for those five hours when kid is sick, school closed, snow days. She is a nanny not a jack of all trades.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Errands perhaps? An hour a day really isn't that much time to fill.

Sorry, I didn't explain it well -- it's two days a week and approximately 2.5 hours each of those two days.

We just don't have that many errands. We do grocery delivery and dry cleaning maybe once every other week. I wish there were more, that would be an optimal solution.

You are so cheap that you are worried about 5 hours of down time? I hope she reads this and starts looking for a new job and finds one.

[Anonymous]

I'd have her use that time to run errands or clean the kids' rooms, sort through clothing to remove outgrown things, changing sheets, etc. I don't know why she can't do simple meal prep--cutting up vegetables or starting something in the slow cooker is easy enough.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Errands perhaps? An hour a day really isn't that much time to fill.

Sorry, I didn't explain it well -- it's two days a week and approximately 2.5 hours each of those two days.

We just don't have that many errands. We do grocery delivery and dry cleaning maybe once every other week. I wish there were more, that would be an optimal solution.

You are so cheap that you are worried about 5 hours of down time? I hope she reads this and starts looking for a new job and finds one.

Really? So, when the two kids come home and she puts them down for a nap and she gets 1.5-2 more hours of downtime (which I don't begrudge one bit), I shouldn't care that all of that is adding up? Jobs evolve. I'm not forcing her to do anything -- I'm asking for suggestions on ways to make this work for both of us.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'd have her use that time to run errands or clean the kids' rooms, sort through clothing to remove outgrown things, changing sheets, etc. I don't know why she can't do simple meal prep--cutting up vegetables or starting something in the slow cooker is easy enough.

Nanny here and these are the kinds of things I am looking forward to doing when my charge starts preschool for two hours a day. All this plus prepping art projects and lessons. There are so many things I would love to do for him that I simply do not have the time to do now.

I am a terrible cook as well but I can follow a recipe especially for a slow-cooker and make a salad!

[Anonymous]

Idk OP. You seem to feel entitled to having her do things that have never been her job before. Once you include travel time, 2.5 hours in a day actually ends up being 90 minutes. You need her to be available during that time. That is what you're paying for. She can take on more kid related chores, planning activities, packing/prepping lunches and snacks, but I don't think you can reasonably expect to pawn off your laundry on her simply because you want your money's worth. You lay for the time you need her, or you don't if you can't stomache it, and you take your own kids to school.

[Anonymous]

We are in the same situation now - except it is 4 days perweek. I've asked for things like, return library books, pick up some new ones, grocery shop, clean kids room, organize toys and clothes and kids closets, get art supplies, prep art projects, research swim classes, tumbling or whatever (new games to try?), kids laundry. She does get a lot of down time but i see it as a perk and one that i hope is incentive to stay with us. But I do expect her to be productive if there is something that can help. I think if the task has something to do with caring for children than it is a fair assignment.

Maybe she could learn to cook.

Watching early moring talk shows and organizing toys sounds relaxing to me as does sipping on starbucks looking up fun activities (and implementing of course.)

Erin

[Anonymous]

OP I'm a nanny and I don't think this is weird or that you are taking advantage of her. don't listen to the other pps

[Anonymous]

I am not a nanny but I have a minimum of 30 minutes down time everyday in my job and so do all of you. Factor in talking to other people in office about non work related topics and it is another 3 hours per week.

OP, maybe your boss should bring his family's dirty underwear for you to wash.