Would it be nice to invite nanny and her family to brunch at my home?

[Anonymous]

First time MB here. My nanny has been with me for about 2 months. Things are going great so far. I thought it would be a nice way to get to know her and her husband/kids a bit better by inviting them to brunch at my house. To the nannies out there - would you like to receive an invitation for you and your family to brunch at your employer's home, or would it be weird or an imposition? Just don't want to make her feel obligated to come to my house on the weekend if she would prefer not to spend her time off with my family, or if it would be awkward for her. Thanks in advance.

[Anonymous]

It's an imposition on "off" time. Leave nanny and her family alone on her time off.

[Anonymous]

I wouldn't like it personally. I would feel obliged to say Yes as well even if I didn't want to go.

[Anonymous]

MB here. It's a lovely idea OP, but be careful about maintaining boundaries. I would wait and issue the invitation in a few months.

I know it seems counter-intuitive, especially if you have a terrific nanny and everything is going wonderfully, but it's actually helpful to try to maintain a professional employer/employee relationship and invitations like this can blur the lines. Wondering whether it might feel awkward to her is a good instinct and I think you're better off getting to know her in other ways, through the natural progression of the job. Pay attention to her cues - does she volunteer personal information, chat freely in conversation about her family, etc.... or is she more closed? Both are fine, but gauging your approach based on what you observe in her, while maintaining some professional boundaries, is (IMO) a smart way to go about it.

[Anonymous]

I think its a nice gesture!

[Anonymous]

Yes, I would love it! I have been working for one family for nearly three years and they have never even met my 12 year old son.

[Anonymous]

I would invite them out to dinner after you get home from work. I wouldn't do it on a weekend.

[Anonymous]

No way. Who the hell wants to go to their new boss's house on the weekend? And you basically flat out said you want to poke into her personal life by getting to know her family.

[Anonymous]

Keep it professional, OP.

[Anonymous]

What a lovely thought + gesture!

However you may want to tread carefully here since not all people are comfortable mixing business w/pleasure.

Wait a few month & in the meantime try to feel her out.
Mention her family and how nice it would be for you to meet them one day.

Watch her reaction carefully.
That should be enough to figure out if she would be interested or not.

Good luck!

[Anonymous]

No way. I like to keep my personal life private from my work life. And I don't want to spend my off time at work, especially on the weekend. Seems awkward all around.

[Anonymous]

Sounds like a nice idea to me.

[Anonymous]

Nanny here. I wouldn't like the idea of being invited on a weekend and 2 months in is really too early to have this kind of gathering.

It'll be tough for her to say no if she doesn't want to, it'll be really akward... Keep it professional, that's my best advice after about 15 years of nannying.

[Anonymous]

Yes, of course it's nice.

[Anonymous]

I think you should wait until there is an occasion...like your kids birthday, her birthday, one year anniversary, something like that.