No concern for Nanny

[Anonymous]

I've been having this issue with my MB lately. She seems to be more concerned about herself & how she's going to take care of things when I'm not around. Basically last week I left work early because I wasn't feeling well and went to the ER, the next day MB sends me a long text explaining a few things and then asks was I coming in that day. Not even bothering to ask was I ok, or am I clear to come in. Then today I had an anxiety attack while she was away and when she came home I explained how I was having this attack and her child wasn't making it better because she was freaking out, throwing things and having a tantrum because I wasn't serving her snack fast enough. MB just looks at me & says nothing and then looks at her child & says "Oh Elizabeth, don't be such a butthead." I was baffled. I'm starting to think this job isn't for me. Sn: I've been there for almost a year.

[Anonymous]

Why were you having an anxiety attack at work? You don't work in the kind of environment where you can step away or have someone take over for you.

[Anonymous]

MB here. I'm sorry about your recent health scares, but I think if you were having anxiety attacks at work with my young children I would be looking for another nanny. I'm guessing that was what was going through her mind and she was just too polite to tell you.

I agree with the other PP that you may need a line of work where you can take a break if you have an attack. Nannying is not one of them.

[Anonymous]

Op here, I've been taking care of children for 15+ years and never had an anxiety attack before. I've been dealing with blood pressure issues and things and the worry triggered an attack. MB had another nanny who would step in when I was unavailable to work in the evenings because they covered Morning, but the nanny recently moved on to another job opportunity.

[Anonymous]

Nanny here and if you are prone to anxiety attacks your should NOT be a nanny. Please get help and find another profession.

As to your question about MBs - very few are truly concerned about their nanny beyond how it will effect them. Just the nature of the beast like any boss in any other profession.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Nanny here and if you are prone to anxiety attacks your should NOT be a nanny. Please get help and find another profession.

As to your question about MBs - very few are truly concerned about their nanny beyond how it will effect them. Just the nature of the beast like any boss in any other profession.

I agree with all of this. Why on earth did you think it was appropriate or in your bests interests to tell your boss you're not emotionally capable of performing the job?

[Anonymous]

In Nanny work, there is a whole boatload of daily stress.

After today's anxiety attack, you must see a psychiatrist who can prescribe you some Xanax, Klonopin or even Zoloft.

Otherwise you really should seek a different form of work.

Good luck!

[Anonymous]

you lost me after anxiety attack

[Anonymous]

Your MB probably didn't know how to react and of course, her main priority would be the effect this all has on her child and herself.

[Anonymous]

Normally I understand when nannies are upset with mb being insensitive. In this case, I agree with pps. You need to take a break from nannying, maybe leave childcare completely.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:MB here. I'm sorry about your recent health scares, but I think if you were having anxiety attacks at work with my young children I would be looking for another nanny. I'm guessing that was what was going through her mind and she was just too polite to tell you.

I agree with the other PP that you may need a line of work where you can take a break if you have an attack. Nannying is not one of them.

I agree also. A mother's first concern has to be the safety and well-being of her child(ren). It sounds like you are quite obviously not currently able to provide reliable safe care, and that you told your current boss that her child was causing or contributing to your ill health.

If your employer is not looking for a new nanny at this moment I'd be shocked and she wouldn't be doing her job as a parent.

[Anonymous]

I have a diagnosed anxiety disorder and I have been a nanny for 7 years. I might get anxious sometimes, but I do not let it show. It does not affect my job performance.

[Anonymous]

Well you blamed your anxiety attack on the kid. No surprise the mom would look for other options.

[Anonymous]

Op here. I never said I blamed the child for the anxiety attack. I said I was having one, and he was trantruming while it was happening. I informed mom because she and I have a close relationship, and I like to keep her informed especially if something goes wrong with me, we can both find a solution. I've never gave MB any reason to look at me with a side eye and I always do my job promptly and throughly. But I'm currently in search of another job because I don't want to be unable to perform my duties as a nanny while going through my own issues.

[Anonymous]

Is the child at an age when tantruming is normal (i.e., 5 or younger)? Because, if so, I too would have looked at you like you had two heads if you (1) told me you had an anxiety attack at work to the extent that you couldn't care for my child during that time and (2) then seemed to blame me or my young child for his/her ill-timed tantrum (because why else would you be telling me?).