How to be the best possible nanny?
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Anonymous
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I currently have a fantastic nanny job that I definitely want to keep. Aside from being a great nanny to my charge (loving, teaching her, engaging her) - what the the little extras that I might be forgetting? I am always ten minutes early and never rush out. My charge's toys and room are always picked up and put away before I leave. I never leave one dish in the sink. I have taken over all the ordering for the baby and pretty much the house. I do the child's grocery shopping and never leave for the weekend without making sure she has enough food.
Anything I might be forgetting? Anything special that your nanny does that you appreciate (even if it was not in your contract or agreement)? Thanks! |
Anonymous
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Encoursge job creep. Be an even bigger doormat than you already are--if this is possible.
Being a nanny is a job. You perform the duties as described in your contract. |
Anonymous
I kinda agree. OP, while I commend you going the extra mile (or two!) in your job, I also think by doing too much of what's not in your original agreement can also come back to bite you in the butt later. From your description, it sounds like you are already doing an excellent job!! 
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Anonymous
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OP here. I should note that I am paid $30 an hour plus overtime, with my healthcare and dental covered 100% by the employers and use of their Tesla to drive their daughter to any class I think will benefit her or anywhere we want to go. And all for one sweet and amazing 20 month old. My employers are also lovely, caring and warm people.
Still think I am a doormat? I just want to do the best possible job I can. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. |
Anonymous
| What are you doing to incorporate reading and education into daily routines and play? |
Anonymous
| Would they appreciate a regular "newsletter" or photobook? My kids' elementary teachers regularly send home a summary of what the kids' are doing, with pictures. |
Anonymous
| Why dont you just move in so you can be at your employers beck and call every second of your life? You are being extra nice because of 30/h and driving a tesla overwise you woudn't care. Money can make people do crazy things. |
Anonymous
| MB here. OP you sound like a wonderful nanny and I think it's unfortunate you're getting some snarky comments. I think your attitude about your work is One of the reasons you get paid well and the family is good to you. Every family is different so it really depends on the situation. For example, for me ordering kid stuff may not be as big a plus since I love picking out clothes for my kid (and diapers/wipes are easy to get on subscription), but I love that my nanny is proactive about classes and events. Other things that I really appreciate that my nanny does: taking photos (as I know DH and I miss many awesome moments by not being around during the day), teaching baby sign language (probably not applicable for a 20mo), making sure there's enough clean baby laundry on fridays to last the weekend, and leaving detailed notes on a baby app that I can look at during the day. |
Anonymous
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This site is full of ignorant annoymous a**holes. One minute you have a bunch of people complaining about their nanny and then here you have them complaining because a nanny wants to be great at her job! Honestly I think some people are just bored.
I hope you get the advice you need OP! |
Anonymous
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OP here. I taught my charge sign language already - she still signs when she talks which is very sweet. I also read to her - and have always read to her - for over an hour every day since she was born (broken into smaller time increments, of course). She actually knows about twenty sight words at 20 months along with the alphabet and can count to 15 (more importantly, she understands the value of the numbers) - she is far ahead of her peers. She speaks in full sentences and is extremely bright. Very sweet, very empathetic and very funny (but that is all her - I had nothing to do with those things!).
I have the nanny/teaching stuff down. We do imaginative play and I host playgroups for her as well as take her to classes and storytimes. I was asking more about the extras for the family/parents/household. I have a good hour and a half break when she naps and could add a few more duties and still have time to rest and do personal calls. |
Anonymous
OP here and thank you! I could definitely take more pictures of her. And at the end of the week, everything my charge owns except the clothes on her back are clean. |
Anonymous
Yeah, like work hard and want to do the best possible job. Crazy. |
Anonymous
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For $30/HR, I would also want to do the best job ever.
This sounds like a very sweet gig to me!!
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Anonymous
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You sound like an amazing nanny! My DS has a wonderful nanny and aside from being a fantastic teacher and influence on my son, these are the things she does beyond her job with my kid that I appreciate (although I bet you're already doing them, OP!)
- Nanny is 100% NO DRAMA. She never comes to work with complaints about her boyfriend, parents, traffic, friends, cramps, etc. When she walks in the door she always appears to be in a great mood and is thrilled to see my son. - Nanny is happy to read any book on raising kids that I read and is always open to discussing them. I am a FTM and I read a lot! - Nanny is reassuring and compliments me as a mother. - Nanny does little extras without being asked. We don't even own an iron but she will bring my son's few dress shirts (maybe one a month) home with her and press them. It's not even that I care that these shirts are ironed, it is that she just does it without being paid and without being asked. The last thing is out of nanny's control, but I can't tell you how great it feels to have complete strangers come up to me and tell me how great she is with my son. |
Anonymous
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OP, are you looking for ways to become indispensable to the family even after their daughter starts full-day school? We have a wonderful nanny who, because of all the extras she does for us, we are considering keeping even after both of our kids are in school all day.
The only requirements of the job were caring for the children and doing baby laundry. However, she has taken it upon herself to: -vacuum and mop our small main area -prepare salads for us (she knows we have one with most dinners) -empty trash cans throughout the house -do all of the household laundry -make our beds We leave the house in good shape for her each day, but it's often in even better shape when we come home at the end of the day. All of these extra things she does make our lives so much easier, and we appreciate her beyond words. She has said that once the kids are in school, she would be happy to run errands and prepare meals. I have even caught her pulling some weeds in my garden. I guess when she sees something that needs tending to, she just does it. She treats our home like her own. We never asked for any of it (and never would), but we go the extra mile for her, too. |