Anyone [Nanny] work with a SAHM?

[Anonymous]

I was offered a position with a very wealthy, high-profile family who has a nanny for each child and a SAHM. While part of me things it would be great to work in a household with no additional household chores (they have a full-time housekeeper) and a chef to make not just the baby's eventual meals but also the staff's lunch. I would be the nanny for the second child.

Pros and cons of a position like this? TIA

[Anonymous]

Can you talk to the other nanny who works there? Seems like she would be a great source.

[Anonymous]

Hi ,
Yes that great idea to talk with the other nanny who work there. Btw, I am with a family almost three years . Both parents don’t work. They are mostly home.

[Anonymous]

OP here. I feel uncomfortable talking to the older child’s nanny. She seems happy and only had great things to say about the family - but she was working and in the house at the time so I doubt she would say anything else.

[Anonymous]

While I have never worked a job exactly like that, I’m currently in a similar position (kind of) as the mother works from home. I can tell you, in my opinion, it’s not the greatest. 100% would not recommend.

The main reason I don’t really like it is that because my charge’s mom is always home (and always willing to stop what she’s doing to come see him) he’s always wanting to see her or “ask her something.” He’ll run up the stairs or just shout for her if I stop him from going up. Then, she comes down and stays for a few minutes, during which time they just cuddle and I stand there awkwardly. It’s great, really ...She must not have very much work to do, and I can only imagine this would be worse with a SAHM.

The biggest issue is nap time. She enables his procrastination by letting him run into her office and play on her work computer. If I try and say that he needs to get ready for his nap, I either get completely ignored or she makes some half-assed attempt to remove him and then caves when he asks to do “one more thing.” It’s incredibly frustrating.

When I finally do get him to sleep (if she’s hasn’t managed to throw off our schedule too badly) she sometimes has to take calls from work (totally understandable, but her office is five feet away from his room...not ideal) which wakes him up. Also, when I’m trying to get him to sleep, she starts walking around right outside his door. I don’t get it.

So there’s my piece. It depends on the family, but in my case, having a mom at home is a huge hindrance. I would never do it again.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:While I have never worked a job exactly like that, I’m currently in a similar position (kind of) as the mother works from home. I can tell you, in my opinion, it’s not the greatest. 100% would not recommend.

The main reason I don’t really like it is that because my charge’s mom is always home (and always willing to stop what she’s doing to come see him) he’s always wanting to see her or “ask her something.” He’ll run up the stairs or just shout for her if I stop him from going up. Then, she comes down and stays for a few minutes, during which time they just cuddle and I stand there awkwardly. It’s great, really ...She must not have very much work to do, and I can only imagine this would be worse with a SAHM.

The biggest issue is nap time. She enables his procrastination by letting him run into her office and play on her work computer. If I try and say that he needs to get ready for his nap, I either get completely ignored or she makes some half-assed attempt to remove him and then caves when he asks to do “one more thing.” It’s incredibly frustrating.

When I finally do get him to sleep (if she’s hasn’t managed to throw off our schedule too badly) she sometimes has to take calls from work (totally understandable, but her office is five feet away from his room...not ideal) which wakes him up. Also, when I’m trying to get him to sleep, she starts walking around right outside his door. I don’t get it.

So there’s my piece. It depends on the family, but in my case, having a mom at home is a huge hindrance. I would never do it again.

This is a wealthy, fully-staffed family. It could go either way, and probably requires a nanny who will be flexible with plans. OP needs more information. OP, what did the MB say about what your days would look like? Did you ask how she saw the relationship between nanny and mom? These are questions you get to ask.

I am a part-time WAHM with a full time nanny. She's been here almost 4 years, so I know she likes the job. She also likes having co-workers to talk to (me, and our part-time housekeeper). Other nannies hate having their schedules messed with or their boss likely to pop her head in at any minute. You have to figure out if this is the job for you. There's no hard and fast rule that working with a parent around is great or terrible.

[Anonymous]

Oh yeah, OP, please definitely ask of outings will be allowed! That’s something I wish I had done.

Anonymous wrote:
I am a part-time WAHM with a full time nanny. She's been here almost 4 years, so I know she likes the job. She also likes having co-workers to talk to (me, and our part-time housekeeper). Other nannies hate having their schedules messed with or their boss likely to pop her head in at any minute. You have to figure out if this is the job for you. There's no hard and fast rule that working with a parent around is great or terrible.

I am the pp you quoted =]

Of course there’s no “hard and fast rule,” that’s why I said things like “in my opinion...” and “in my case...” so OP knows this is not universal. I totally agree with you.

Also, I don’t want to alarm you, but there are many people who stay with their jobs for many years (for one reason or another) and are unhappy. I am actually one of them. I’ve been with my nanny family for over three years and I’ve really grown to dislike the position. I’m perfectly cheery and normal during the workday, though, and nobody has any idea.

[Anonymous]

As long as you get along with the mother, it sounds like a great opportunity. Fully-staffed homes allow nannies to focus on the children without the responsibility of preparing meals and child laundry.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Oh yeah, OP, please definitely ask of outings will be allowed! That’s something I wish I had done.

Anonymous wrote:
I am a part-time WAHM with a full time nanny. She's been here almost 4 years, so I know she likes the job. She also likes having co-workers to talk to (me, and our part-time housekeeper). Other nannies hate having their schedules messed with or their boss likely to pop her head in at any minute. You have to figure out if this is the job for you. There's no hard and fast rule that working with a parent around is great or terrible.

I am the pp you quoted =]

Of course there’s no “hard and fast rule,” that’s why I said things like “in my opinion...” and “in my case...” so OP knows this is not universal. I totally agree with you.

Also, I don’t want to alarm you, but there are many people who stay with their jobs for many years (for one reason or another) and are unhappy. I am actually one of them. I’ve been with my nanny family for over three years and I’ve really grown to dislike the position. I’m perfectly cheery and normal during the workday, though, and nobody has any idea. [/quote

Well, given that she's asked if we'd consider taking her with us when we move this summer, I think I'll believe her. She also recently earned her Masters in Psychology, so she has other options for decent pay.]

[Anonymous]

Fully staffed homes with a nanny per child are intriguing, but I haven’t taken such a position yet because a lot depends not only on the other parents but also on the other nanny or nannies. On one hand, it allows you to devote all your time and attention to just one child. On the other hand, the children don’t bond with siblings as easily (I would think), and other benefits from multi-kid households (teaching sharing, empathy and other social skills naturally) wouldn’t be present unless the nannies made a point to schedule time together, but that seems more like a play date (at least to me).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Oh yeah, OP, please definitely ask of outings will be allowed! That’s something I wish I had done.

Anonymous wrote:
I am a part-time WAHM with a full time nanny. She's been here almost 4 years, so I know she likes the job. She also likes having co-workers to talk to (me, and our part-time housekeeper). Other nannies hate having their schedules messed with or their boss likely to pop her head in at any minute. You have to figure out if this is the job for you. There's no hard and fast rule that working with a parent around is great or terrible.

I am the pp you quoted =]

Of course there’s no “hard and fast rule,” that’s why I said things like “in my opinion...” and “in my case...” so OP knows this is not universal. I totally agree with you.

Also, I don’t want to alarm you, but there are many people who stay with their jobs for many years (for one reason or another) and are unhappy. I am actually one of them. I’ve been with my nanny family for over three years and I’ve really grown to dislike the position. I’m perfectly cheery and normal during the workday, though, and nobody has any idea.

Well, given that she's asked if we'd consider taking her with us when we move this summer, I think I'll believe her. She also recently earned her Masters in Psychology, so she has other options for decent pay.]

That’s great for you guys! I’m a little jealous =p

Hopefully this family works out for you, too, Op! Just ask questions and try your best to see how well you’d suit the position. I’d make a list.

[Anonymous]

My first nanny position was a SAHM. I personally don’t like it because I feel like I’m under more pressure and scrutiny while a parent is home. However, we would always go out and I would never really get “bored”. When I was at their house I would always feel pressure to be doing something with the kids. My current family, both parents work from home and let me tell ya it sucks. Older kids always tries to bother dad and mom while they’re on work calls etc so I have to be on watch out and make sure he’s not bothering them. I didn’t know they worked from home when I applied if I did I wouldn’t have worked with them

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Fully staffed homes with a nanny per child are intriguing, but I haven’t taken such a position yet because a lot depends not only on the other parents but also on the other nanny or nannies. On one hand, it allows you to devote all your time and attention to just one child. On the other hand, the children don’t bond with siblings as easily (I would think), and other benefits from multi-kid households (teaching sharing, empathy and other social skills naturally) wouldn’t be present unless the nannies made a point to schedule time together, but that seems more like a play date (at least to me).

This is a really good point, and another reason to talk to the other nanny. It would be great if the two of you got along, and the kids got to benefit from that.

[Anonymous]

Try it. Good pay, less work.

But you will become the pseudo mother for that child, which could be ok. Mom will probably be busy with social events, party planning, charity, etc, instead of being home.

You may be on call almost all the time (ask about that), but get paid very well for it.