Xmas gift
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Anonymous
| Do nannies get their families gifts for Christmas- if they celebrate the holiday? I always have the children make a present for Mom & dad (1 gift) but I want to get the parents something as well. Nothing crazy big or expensive. I know the appreciate me and although Christmas isn’t about us, I want to show them that I appreciate them as well. I’ve already lucked up with the sales, so I got both moms a candle and may throw in a bottle of lotion and or hand soap from bath and body works, but it’s hard for the dads. I was thinking about making them a junk food box but I don’t know. If you guys do give gifts, what are you planning to give? |
Anonymous
| Last year I gave my boss and her husband a bottle of sake and their son a small toy and a book. |
Anonymous
| I have with some families (my best ever was when I got marshmallow shooters for the kids, their adult half-sibs and the parents and they had an epic Christmas Day marshmallow war). Current family I did a really sentimental gift when I started with them as babies and parents werw like, “That’s very thoughtful but not our taste,” so I will keep it small and just do stuff with the kids and a nice card for the parents. They are just a more buttoned-up kind of family and very anti-clutter. |
Anonymous
Well that wasn’t nice of them, I’m sure you put thought in your gifts and it took time. Even if they didn’t like it, or it wasn’t “their taste” they should’ve been appreciative- sorry to hear that was their reaction. My families are extra- in a good way, when we make art projects for fun or for special occasions/holidays, their always like omg this is wonderful yada-yada-yada lol... so I know anything I give to them, they would be more than appreciative. But as for you, I would just get the kid something and not the parents (if you’re still with them) just a verbal merry Xmas. |
Anonymous
| Nannies should not get their employers gifts. "Gifts flow downward". I always write a heartfelt note about the last year with the children and a gift from the child (hand-print mugs this year). I get the child a very nice gift every birthday and Christmas, however. |
Anonymous
I don’t think you should feel obligated to get a gift for your employer. However, there’s no harm in it if you do or don’t- to each his own. If you’re writing a heartfelt letter, that’s still considered a “meaningful” gift. |
Anonymous
I didn’t hold it against them because of the nature of it (framed shadow box with preemie clothes from the twins and clay handprints and photos of parents with them). So they either had to display it or stick it in a closet, and since they didn’t really want to display it... |
Anonymous
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MB here. Gifts should flow down, not up.
Please do not give me anything from Bath & Body Works. I "grew out" of that store by the time I hit high school. Please do not give my husband junk food. There is enough of it at his office. |
Anonymous
You sound like a real treat. Perhaps some of us don’t think of ourselves as “beneath” our employers, but rather as collaborators. More like a consultant than a direct report. And btw, the point of gifts is to express warm feeling. It is not some nightmare to recieve a gift you don’t particularly want. Express soncere gratitude for the gift and the good wishes that accompany it and then donate or dispose out of sight. |
Anonymous
| If you want to give them something either do a photo book they can look at once or twice and toss on a shelf, or a nice framed photo (or collage) of the kid(s). Don't do any bath stuff or whatever. You could also offer to make dinner one night or bring homemade bread-cookies-pie-whatever you're good at. No one expects nannies to give their employers a gift and it might make them feel awkward. |
Anonymous
NP here. It is not about being beneath anyone, PP. Employers give gifts to employees and not the other way around. You can be a "collaborator" but you are still an employee. Gifts flow down. |
Anonymous
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I agree w/the previous posters who say gifts flow down.
They really do. (Beginning in childhood of course!) I am a Nanny & typically will purchase a nice gift for my charge(s.) However I do not gift my bosses and I think that they are more than okay w/it because they know that I definitely make much less than them. |
Anonymous
| I hope these employers at least teach their kids to accept gifts graciously. I can't believe an adult would tell a nanny who put a fair amount of thought into a gift that it was not their "taste." To her face. That's pretty socially inept. A simple "thank you" will do if you can't muster anything else. |
Anonymous
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The MB who posted about not liking bath and body work products, You sound horrendous. Your poor nanny.
I don't do anything for my bosses. I don't like them. Last year they bought me a small gift but no card. I wrote a heartfelt card to them about how much I loved my charge and then felt stupid that they obviously didn't feel the same. Stupidly I am still there |
Anonymous
| I always get the kids a gift. I bake cookies with a card for the whole family. I help kids make something for parents. |