What to do about NF's new offer

[Anonymous]

I have recently come into a situation with my NF where I'm not sure what to do. I recently graduated from college, in early June, and have been working for the past year as a part-time nanny for a local family. My job hours were usually just after school hours between about 3 and 6. After I graduated, I agreed to stay on with them through July and possibly August while I looked for a job locally.

Now they are asking me if I want to stay permanently as their full-time live-in nanny. I'm having a lot of trouble with the decision for a few reasons. I had never really thought about being a full-time nanny before, so this idea is something to get used to. I also have no idea what to think about being a live-in or what this will be like. Finally, MB said that they'd like me to take on housekeeping responsibilities as well when the kids go back to school in the fall, in place of the cleaning service they're using now. I do really like the family and like working them, but I guess I'm just not sure what to expect from all of this.

I also need to decide soon because my lease ends on August 15.

So, for people who have had positions like this before, what can I expect? Would you recommend it?

[Anonymous]

What was your field of study? Do you have a job offer in that field? Are you looking? It can be fun to be a nanny for a year or two between college and the next thing and I know a lot of people who did that, but I wouldn’t want to be the childcare and the housekeeper and live with them unless they are paying VERY well.

[Anonymous]

I would only agree if you are going to do it to get your master's as cheap housing. Otherwise, get a job in the field you have your degree in. Its reasonable to ask you to do housekeeping if they are hiring your full time and they don't need full time hours.

[Anonymous]

Absolutely say no to any household task that doesn’t involve the children. And understand that with a college degree, you should be commanding between $25 to $30 an hour as a nanny.

[Anonymous]

Say no. As a nanny, especially with a degree, you should not do any housework. If you want to be a nanny, live out and find another position.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Say no. As a nanny, especially with a degree, you should not do any housework. If you want to be a nanny, live out and find another position.

I don't see why people are so dogmatic about the no housework thing. I'm a college educated nanny and I do housework. And, I actually don't mind. It's a nice change of pace for a couple hours a day.

I don't view it as beneath me and it doesn't make my job low status. I actually make more money than a lot of my friends with office jobs and a lot of the childcare only nannies I know. If housework isn't your thing that's totally legitimate but I think it's kind of elitist to cast it as automatically "beneath" anyone with a college degree.

[Anonymous]

OP, it all depends.

For example, I detest cleaning.
Yes even my own home!

I would hate to clean someone else’s home.
Especially in this heat.

I also wouldn’t want to be a live-in.
I would just feel uncomfortable living in the same place where I work.
Plus, I would feel like I would have zero privacy as the family would be privy to everything that I did off the clock.

Etc.
But if none of this would be an issue for you, then by all means go for it.
But think about everything very thoroughly before you decide.

What was your college major?
Is there any way that you could look for a position related to your area of study?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Say no. As a nanny, especially with a degree, you should not do any housework. If you want to be a nanny, live out and find another position.

I don't see why people are so dogmatic about the no housework thing. I'm a college educated nanny and I do housework. And, I actually don't mind. It's a nice change of pace for a couple hours a day.

I don't view it as beneath me and it doesn't make my job low status. I actually make more money than a lot of my friends with office jobs and a lot of the childcare only nannies I know. If housework isn't your thing that's totally legitimate but I think it's kind of elitist to cast it as automatically "beneath" anyone with a college degree.

It is beneath you, PP, and it does make a nanny job low status. In fact, it is not part of a nanny position at all. Call it what you will but you are being a fool for cleaning up someone else’s home when you have better options.

[Anonymous]

Don’t become a nanny if you don’t have a passion for it and never clean someone else’s house. You are better than having to wash your employer’s dirty sheets and cleaning out their fridge. Do. Not. Take. This. Job.

[Anonymous]

No. You are young woman with an education. NO housekeeping! Look for a job in your field and continue to nanny part-time if necessary.

Minimum $20/hour if for some reason you take this job. But please don't. You are young and they will take advantage of you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No. You are young woman with an education. NO housekeeping! Look for a job in your field and continue to nanny part-time if necessary.

Minimum $20/hour if for some reason you take this job. But please don't. You are young and they will take advantage of you.

+1. Except a minimum of $25 and absolutely do not live in. Please don’t take this offer- the fact that the employer already asked you to take over the cleaning company’s chores proves she has no respect for you.

[Anonymous]

Right. Housekeeping is only for SAHMs. It’s beneath you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Right. Housekeeping is only for SAHMs. It’s beneath you.

SAHMs clean their own homes. Nannies clean their own home. Nannies do not clean other people’s homes.

Understand now, Dear?

[Anonymous]

Hi everyone, OP here again.

In answer to the questions about my degree, I did psych with a math minor. I've actually been thinking about getting a teaching credential at some point which is part of what makes me wonder if working as a nanny for a while wouldn't be a bad idea. Has anyone here gone from being a nanny to a teacher. Was it helpful experience?

It seems that most people are pretty down on the idea of living-in and doing housekeeping. Can I ask, specifically, what the issues are with living in? Besides the obvious, I guess, of having less privacy. Not having a monthly rent payment to worry about actually seems kind of tempting, especially since I'd like to save up money of the next year or two. I'm fine with doing some housekeeping, I guess, since I wouldn't have much else to do while the kids are at school, but I certainly wouldn't want to make a career of it.

The details of the job are the following:
They're offering $500 per week. They're a little sketchy about specific hours and say they'd like me to be "flexible" but that it should usually be "around 40 hours" and that they'll pay extra for weekend babysitting. For the rest of the summer it would entail looking after the kids, taking them to their activities, and running occasional errands with them. Once they're all in school I'd help get them ready for school, then do housework for a few hours while they are at school (MB says she thinks I'll have a lot of downtime during the day, still) and then caring for the kids until MB and DB get home for dinner.

Does this seem reasonable? Is it sketchy or normal to not be paid by the hour? The job also includes room and board (food). The room is a basement bedroom with its own bathroom, its own small living room area, and its own door to the outside.

[Anonymous]

OMG. They clearly want to take advantage of you.
You need to listen to your gut here and move on. Or you’ll be very sorry. Believe me.