The Other Nanny

[Anonymous]

I work for a high profile family that has one weekday and one weekend nanny for each child (there are two children). I am the weekend nanny for the older child and have been for nearly two years. The nanny recently hired to care for the new baby, who is now 5 months old, is seriously standing on my last nerve. She criticizes how I handle my charge and orders him around - in another language. She hands me her charge, the baby, when my charge is sleeping so she can have her lunch.

I have told her to not talk to my charge the way that she does and I have translated her orders to him and often just go get whatever she was ordering him to bring her.

Since I dislike this other nanny, I am often short with her and rarely engage in conversation with her.

This is a weekend gig for me. Is it worth trying to talk it out with the other nanny? It is 6:15 AM here in California and I dread going to work because of this other nanny!

[Anonymous]

Are you able to have a talk to the parents?

[Anonymous]

Helping her out when your charge is sleeping so she can have lunch is normal and kind to do, what's wrong with that?

Have a talk with her and ask her not to talk in her language to your charge and let you be in charge.

You can dislike that person and not being short, that's what adults do. Let it go. You don't have to be friends but you can be courteous.

[Anonymous]

The PP - that sounds a lot like you're recommending this nanny let herself be walked over.

Can you tell us a little more why this new nanny thinks she can treat you this way? Is she older? More experienced? (Neither are reasons for her to treat you or her charge this way.) Did the parents say they want more languages spoken at home.

But you're probably going to have to have a stern conversation with her. It's not fun, but probably necessary. You may also need to talk to the parents. They may not know what's going on and would appreciate the heads up.

[Anonymous]

Why can't she eat when her charge naps? What does she do during her charges nap?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Helping her out when your charge is sleeping so she can have lunch is normal and kind to do, what's wrong with that?

Have a talk with her and ask her not to talk in her language to your charge and let you be in charge.

You can dislike that person and not being short, that's what adults do. Let it go. You don't have to be friends but you can be courteous.

The other nanny can eat when her charge sleeps. When OP's charge sleeps is her time.

[Anonymous]

I would discuss the situation w/both the other Nanny as well as the parents.

Hopefully together you can all find a solution.

Teamwork is essential here, for the benefit of the two young children involved here.

Good luck!

[Anonymous]

Does the family want the baby to be exposed to another language? That may be why she speaks to him in her native tongue.