Here is what employers of nanny's do not seem to understand...

[Anonymous]

General housework is easier than engaging and teaching your child. Narration for an infant is fricking exhausting - I would much rather wash the kitchen floor. Reading to a child and playing with a child are all more taxing than vacuuming.

I have always believed that a good nanny will handle all child-related laundry, food prep and clean up. And I generally welcome the quiet of just folding my charges laundry.

[Anonymous]

Perhaps you would do better if you worked as a housekeeper instead.

There are many people who would also prefer to care for someone’s home instead of their young children.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Perhaps you would do better if you worked as a housekeeper instead.

There are many people who would also prefer to care for someone’s home instead of their young children.

No, I understand what OP is saying. Anyone who truly engages a child knows how exhausting it is even if it is what you enjoy doing. No one with a triple digit IQ likes playing the same made up game over and over and over again or doing the same "bit" over and over again because it makes the child laugh. Reading the same book over three times in a row is tedious but good nannies do it. Narration is beyond exhausting.

Yes, I do look forward to the pure quiet and solitude of laundry sometimes, too. This is probably something that only truly good nannies will understand.

[Anonymous]

I don't get tired of the same book over again. I talk to my charges about different things in the pictures, change the voices and do other things to make each time different from the last couple times. Eventually, I repeat some things, probably verbatim after reading the book for the 200th time during a month. But my charges like knowing the stories while getting something different each time.

I have 8 different tunes for the alphabet song, and three different chants. I have an unlimited number of ways to incorporate letter sounds into our normal routine, and every time we look around, there's an opportunity to explore counting, letters, shapes, colors and patterns.

My charges may choose the same made-up game, but I always do something at least a little different from last time. We may go to the same park everyday, but we don't do the same things in the same order, and we don't talk to just the same 3 or 4 people.

I don't work with young infants because I find the exhausting. However, once they are trying to do things, I love it! My sweet spot is just darting to be verbal up to kindergarten, and no, it's not exhausting for me, at least not every day. If it was, I would do something else!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't get tired of the same book over again. I talk to my charges about different things in the pictures, change the voices and do other things to make each time different from the last couple times. Eventually, I repeat some things, probably verbatim after reading the book for the 200th time during a month. But my charges like knowing the stories while getting something different each time.

I have 8 different tunes for the alphabet song, and three different chants. I have an unlimited number of ways to incorporate letter sounds into our normal routine, and every time we look around, there's an opportunity to explore counting, letters, shapes, colors and patterns.

My charges may choose the same made-up game, but I always do something at least a little different from last time. We may go to the same park everyday, but we don't do the same things in the same order, and we don't talk to just the same 3 or 4 people.

I don't work with young infants because I find the exhausting. However, once they are trying to do things, I love it! My sweet spot is just darting to be verbal up to kindergarten, and no, it's not exhausting for me, at least not every day. If it was, I would do something else!

Off topic, but where does a family find a nanny like yourself?? You sound amazing!

[Anonymous]

If you are doing the nanny-thing right, it is exhausting! I agree, OP. Doing dishes is infinitely easier.

[Anonymous]

Yes, being a great nanny is exhausting. Too bad some parents think of it as an easy job that is worth less than slinging fast food.

[Anonymous]

Maybe find a different profession. Parents seem to be able to clean and care for kids just fine.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Maybe find a different profession. Parents seem to be able to clean and care for kids just fine.

Do they?

[Anonymous]

I know what you mean, OP. I absolutely adore my charges (6, 4, 18mo) and engage them to the best of my ability, but the ten minutes I straighten up the kitchen at the end of the day while they all do something in a different room is the best. Sometimes it's just so nice not to talk!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes, being a great nanny is exhausting. Too bad some parents think of it as an easy job that is worth less than slinging fast food.

How much do you think fast food workers are getting paid? Most nanny's make well over minimum wage.

[Anonymous]

But you'd never be interested in a housekeeper/nanny position, and the "easier" work should pay a lot more. That's what I've learned from this board over the years.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes, being a great nanny is exhausting. Too bad some parents think of it as an easy job that is worth less than slinging fast food.

How much do you think fast food workers are getting paid? Most nanny's make well over minimum wage.

That would be the point. Many parents feel minimum wage or slightly more is great pay for a nanny. They find no true value in childcare.

[Anonymous]

Yes, engaging and teaching a child is INFINITELY harder than doing dishes or folding laundry - there is no question about that. I love being a nanny but I feel the same as when I was a preschool teacher -- exhausted at the end of the day.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes, being a great nanny is exhausting. Too bad some parents think of it as an easy job that is worth less than slinging fast food.

How much do you think fast food workers are getting paid? Most nanny's make well over minimum wage.

That would be the point. Many parents feel minimum wage or slightly more is great pay for a nanny. They find no true value in childcare.

That’s not true. I think what parents offer is usually related to their budget. We’d all love to pay you $50/hr, but at that point it would make no sense for me to work at all.