Would you rehire a nanny that you let go under these circumstances?

[Anonymous]

We recently let go our baby's former nanny and I am having second thoughts about it. She is really wonderful and special in how she cares for the baby; I think maybe 1 nanny in 100 engages their baby as well as this nanny does and I think even most parents (myself sometimes) cannot match her. Having said that, the nanny has committed many gross errors and as I did not see the situation improving, I felt compelled to let her go. My mother was coming to stay with us (and could help with the baby) for almost two months and I figured that we would be able to find a replacement during that time so I let the nanny go before finding one. Well, those two months came and went and we still haven't found a good replacement. We have trialed three nannies, interviewed several others and are not happy with any of them and between any of them and the former nanny, I prefer her, even with all of her mistakes. Even though we let the nanny go due to performance issues, we told her we were letting her go because we wanted and had found a bilingual nanny so there would be no hard feelings. However... even though I told her performance was not the issue, I was so frustrated (and not good at covering this) at her ongoing mistakes that in her last couple weeks, she told others (who told us) she thought she would be gone soon.

I know if we rehired the nanny, it would not be on a permanent basis because of her ongoing mistakes. I can deal with (and minimize) her mistakes for a few months, though, even longer if I have to. I reached out to the nanny and she said she would be happy to work for us again, even on a temporary basis. However, my husband is dead-set against bringing her back. He believes that once a person is let go (especially for performance issues), you can not bring that person back. He is afraid that the nanny will hold on to some bitterness from being let go and will at some point, hurt the baby. I would be afraid of this, too, but not with this nanny. She is the only caregiver out of many we interviewed/tried out/worked with whom I felt confident would not hurt my child. As I work from home, I have seen and heard her with the baby all day for months and never once did I ever feel any uncertainty about this. She is a good person, open with her emotions, sincere, and truly cared for our child. If anything, I would worry more that she would kidnap our baby, not hurt him! But I don't believe she would kidnap our baby either.

Anyway, I am wondering if it is really a bad idea to bring this person back into our lives? And if it is not a bad idea, how do I convince my husband to let me?

[Anonymous]

She's not going to hurt your child if you rehire her. Nor will she kidnap him.

It's really impossible to say whether or not it's a good idea to rehire her without knowing what kind of performance issues there were.

[Anonymous]

You sound like a complete nut. Quit your job and stay home. If you couldn't find someone in two months, you're not ever going to. Seriously.

[Anonymous]

Did she not tickle your child on cue?

[Anonymous]

What were the performance issues, OP?

[Anonymous]

In general no - I would not rehire someone I fired. I fired them for a reason and I trust myself not to do that lightly.

I also don't think anyone who has been fired wants to go back to work for that employer again.

Also, it totally undermines your authority. If you didn't mean it even when you fired someone then why would that same employee ever again take you seriously.

Of course, without knowing what the "gross errors" are it's impossible to give more of an answer than that.

But if you thought the errors were firing offenses two months ago then either they still are serious, or you seriously mishandled it - very seriously.

Either way you need to keep looking.

- MB

[Anonymous]

Don't go against your husband on this. It sounds like you are wavering and barely taking his opinion into account. He has a right to decide who he employs in his home and who watches his child every bit as much as you do.

[Anonymous]

OP: Could you be a little more specific on what she lacked in her job performance just so I can get a clearer picture of what was so bad about her work? Thx!

[Anonymous]

You are crazy. OP. No one wonder you cannot find a Nanny. Stay home

[Anonymous]

I wouldn't OP! You let her go for a reason. Find a new nanny with little experience and train her "your way."

You sound to be very particular so it's going to be hard (not impossible) to find a good match. Dedicate the first week to training the nanny.

[Anonymous]

Some patented is paranoids..kokooooooo?

[Anonymous]

What mistakes did she make ?

[Anonymous]

If you fired me I wouldn't come back

[Anonymous]

You must be the op of the storytime nanny. Please do nannies a favor and don't get a nanny.

[Anonymous]

What did she do that caused you to let her go when you know she loved your kid? Can't answer the question without knowing that part of it.