I need a day of silence

[Anonymous]

I am a nanny for a 2.5 year old and a 4.5 year old - and both are very into pretend games of "You be the evil step-mother..." and "let's be lions - you are the Mommy lion...". I am exhausted by Friday! I love them and know how important these pretend games are for them but (OMG) I just want to spend today in my apartment with the AC on and the blinds drawn speaking to no one and doing nothing!

[Anonymous]

Totally understandable. I will say that at that age they are more than old enough to be working on some independent play during the day. They can play together or alone but it’s totally reasonable to insist that they go do their own thing for at least a 20 minute stretch once a day.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Totally understandable. I will say that at that age they are more than old enough to be working on some independent play during the day. They can play together or alone but it’s totally reasonable to insist that they go do their own thing for at least a 20 minute stretch once a day.

OP here. I don't have them together! One is Monday thru Thursday and the other, the 4.5 yr old, is Friday. If I have them together I am sure they would play together!

[Anonymous]

My charge is 4 and also very in to playing pretend. I understand your pain, op. Is it terrible that I am a nanny and I hate those games more than any other kind of play?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My charge is 4 and also very in to playing pretend. I understand your pain, op. Is it terrible that I am a nanny and I hate those games more than any other kind of play?

+1. Me, too! I beg to do puzzles or read books. Even at the playground my 2.5 year old charge wants me to "be" someone or something. I had to be the professor from Letter Factory all last week. I cannot imagine one adult with even a minimum IQ who likes playing the same imaginary character all day. Exhausting. But good for my charge so I do it.

[Anonymous]

Oh, the pretend games are the worst! After the second hour of playing the store customer, the dump truck, Moana's grandmother, a peacock owner... I want to beg for the housekeeping chores I have never been asked to do! I would happily scrub the floor instead of being Mummy Pig.

Enjoy the dark, cool silence of Saturday, OP!

[Anonymous]

you don't have to play with them all the time. you are going to burn out quickly. i don't mind playing pretend for an hour but no way would i do it all day. they should play with each other or make friends with other kids at the park/arrange playdates. when you're out and about and there are other adults around sitting and chatting while they watch the kids it gets really old being the only adult running around playing. the kids who aren't your charges inevitably try to join your game. i've had other parents come up to me at the park and be like "hey, my kids want you to chase them to" ... no thanks, i'm not the activity coordinator for the whole playground.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:you don't have to play with them all the time. you are going to burn out quickly. i don't mind playing pretend for an hour but no way would i do it all day. they should play with each other or make friends with other kids at the park/arrange playdates. when you're out and about and there are other adults around sitting and chatting while they watch the kids it gets really old being the only adult running around playing. the kids who aren't your charges inevitably try to join your game. i've had other parents come up to me at the park and be like "hey, my kids want you to chase them to" ... no thanks, i'm not the activity coordinator for the whole playground.

Please learn to use capitol letters at the beginning of sentences.

[Anonymous]

I always feel like I need a day of silence after a full week of being a nanny. The constant chatter and "why?" questions even if the charge is not into imaginary games!

Perfect silence today. No one in my world today need to know why the ceiling is on the top of the walls or why girls wear dresses but boys don't.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I always feel like I need a day of silence after a full week of being a nanny. The constant chatter and "why?" questions even if the charge is not into imaginary games!

Perfect silence today. No one in my world today need to know why the ceiling is on the top of the walls or why girls wear dresses but boys don't.

Yes! The why questions are also high up on the list of things that wear me right out.

The weekend is truly bliss!

[Anonymous]

Even if you only have one kid at a time, they should atill be playing independently for some stretches. The kids who are most attention-seeking actually need the forced alone time the most IME.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Even if you only have one kid at a time, they should atill be playing independently for some stretches. The kids who are most attention-seeking actually need the forced alone time the most IME.

Even with their solo play, it is important to engage and play with a child. Imaginative play is a really important educational and developmental step. Little humans want to play with adults and that is one of the reasons parents choose nannies. I encourage independent play - and my charge does - but she also wants HOURS of "you be the baby giraffe and I be the mommy giraffe" or "you be the child and I be the teacher".

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Even if you only have one kid at a time, they should atill be playing independently for some stretches. The kids who are most attention-seeking actually need the forced alone time the most IME.

Even with their solo play, it is important to engage and play with a child. Imaginative play is a really important educational and developmental step. Little humans want to play with adults and that is one of the reasons parents choose nannies. I encourage independent play - and my charge does - but she also wants HOURS of "you be the baby giraffe and I be the mommy giraffe" or "you be the child and I be the teacher".

I never said that she shouldn’t play with her charge. I said that the weekends shouldn’t be the only time she isn’t having a conversation with a charge. In my first post I literally suggested 20-minute stretches. If your charge can’t think for and entertain him/herself for a 20-minute stretch twice a day then you are robbing him/her of a developmentally crucial skill.

[Anonymous]

I need two days of silence. I LOVE Nothing-Weekends of just me and my own thoughts! Adult conversations at night and quiet, quiet, quiet during the days.

[Anonymous]

I don't think I could be a good nanny if I didn't center my weekends around calm and quiet. And taking care of my own life. I work 50+ hours a week M-F and even when I come home, my mind is still full of my charge and my charge's needs.

Quiet is essential. Re-centering my thoughts to me and my life is essential. Not having to ask anyone if they can use the potty for two full days is blissful!!