How much driving is too much for you?
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Anonymous
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I have 3 charges: 5, 3, and 6 months old. Over the last year mb has been making appts, camps and school in other cities than the one we live in. We have been going to therapy 2 afternoons per week a half hour to 45 minutes away, then swimming in a different city ( for a 30 minute lesson) a hour away on Fridays, which gets us back home right at my stop time, 6pm. Now we have camp for the oldest M-F 9-Noon and it’s taking a half hour in summer traffic which will, increase to 45-1 hour once school is in. Same for return trip.
What bothers me is the infant being in the car so much. It interferes with him having any real routine and meals on time. We are in the car a LOT. Time the poor baby goes to sleep and I start activities with the 3 year old I have to stop and wake the baby to make him eat early as to not have him getting hungry and upset while stuck in the car. Now with fall around the corner this means every a.m. we will spend the first 2 hours in the car, then right after lunch another 1.5-2 hours (carpool line wait) then at 3pm another 30-1 hour there and back to afternoon appointments I feel like I need some perspective. I’ve always worked for families that took advantage of things in their area. There are plenty of things near us. We live in a major city and in the heart of it. Is this something other nannies would move on from? I sort of feel like I may as well start driving for Uber at least I wouldn’t have kids to care for at the same time! Lol thanks in advance. |
Anonymous
| So... basically in the morning 1 hour drop off, in the afternoon 1 hour pickup, then 2 hours in the afternoon for extracurricular? That doesn’t sound too bad, but like you mentioned this is summer time and will increase once school starts so I get it. Do you mind if I ask what city op? |
Anonymous
| 1 hour drive for a 30 minute swim lesson? Everywhere I have to take my charges is within 15 minutes, 20 tops and walking is possible |
Anonymous
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I have never driven more than 20 mins anywhere to take my charges. It seems that swimming lessons and other activities can be closer. Therapy might be a thing that can’t be closer since that might be the person they like.
I suggest talking to your MB. I had the same issue for a while where she would send us off to do things and it would mess up my charges schedule, even if we didn’t have to drive far. The driving seems excessive and unnecessary. I hate to say it though, whether or not your drive close by, the youngest charges will sometimes have to suffer because of the older ones. |
Anonymous
That's FOUR HOURS a day for a baby whose nap schedule and eating schedule is being thrown off. I think OP should research things the parents want the kids to do to find options closer to home. |
Anonymous
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Sounds like a miserable schedule for those children. I would hope they could find similar activities nearer to home. We live in the DC area, but we stay as close to home as possible for dance, swimming, even preschool (2 minute-15 minute drives, maximum).
Whose car gets all that mileage? That's another issue of course. |
Anonymous
| I’ve done this in big city and rural areas. In rural areas, there’s just no choice. The only pool in the county may be 45 minutes away, so if the kids are going to learn to swim, you drive it. HOWEVER, I also scheduled our days so that we did other things in town before or after, so that we weren’t doing that drive very much. When we’re in the city, I see no reason to drive more than 30 minutes one way, and it’s so easy to drive under 20. There are certain things that are more difficult (diving, gymnastics, tutoring, OT, and/or counseling), but most activities can be closer. I would definitely pull together a list of things that are roughly the same price, within a much smaller radius. |
Anonymous
| Honestly that sounds unhealthy for the baby. Poor kid - that is five hours in the car. That is how I would approach it OP - it cannot be good for the little one. I would suggest being proactive an propose a new schedule for her and lookup some activities that are nearby. |
Anonymous
| I drive my charges 20-30 min away or 45 min tops. Mine are much older though (elementary and a middle schooler). When they are older they start joining all these club sports like hockey and soccer and the practices are all over the place so you have to expect it. Even if there are some of these things locally the parents want them in the most "elite" clubs sometimes that might be quite a distance. In any event, in your situation I feel really bad for the baby! It must wreak some havoc on feeding and sleeping schedules. There's also the gas mileage and wear and tear on your car. I get reimbursed for the gas but car maintenace and repairs can get expensive and I pay for those. I had a friend quit a nanny job because of it. You could try to sit down with parents and see if they'd let you research some activities closer to home for the kids. Good Luck! |
Anonymous
If you don’t do federal mileage reimbursement, you should tell the parents you need to switch. It’s intended to cover gas, oil changes and wear and tear. |
Anonymous
Sounds typical to me. I’d rather hear how many miles you are going in what traffic than hear 30-45 mins. In rush hour that’s how long it takes to go 5 miles in DC area! Talk w your family, maybe there is a way to pay for early care and be more efficient or beat traffic! Let them know! Or start doing carpools w other families in the activity |
Anonymous
| If one parent could handle morning drops that would be helpful. That’s what we do during school year. Helps cut down on that. But yes, little sister is racking up the car time! |