FT Nanny with kids in school - household work

[Anonymous]

Our oldest will be in K next year, and we'd like to start the 3yo in a 2-3 day a week morning preschool program. We absolutely adore our nanny, she's WONDERFUL in every way so we'd like to try and keep her FT. Financially it will be hard on us but I'd like to try and make it work. Is it insulting to ask her to help out around the house with cleaning and laundry on the 3 mornings neither kid will be home?

[Anonymous]

Our nanny routinely does household work while our baby naps. Cleans and organizes the children's areas, does the kids' laundry, cleans the kitchen up, even vacuums. These duties were part of the contract we agreed on. She is amazing and we appreciate her so much. I think it's fine to ask your nanny how she would feel about a new arrangement. She may welcome the opportunity to keep the position. It can't hurt to ask! I'd broach it like "We love you so much we want to keep you and find a way to make this work; how would you feel about..."

[Anonymous]

I wouldn’t do housework but ask your nanny. I’d rather find another job.

[Anonymous]

I assume you’ve had your oldest in a morning program while your nanny has been home with the baby, so how is it different financially now. Wouldn’t it be the same, only now your paying for the youngest to be in preschool.

[Anonymous]

I think u can ask for kid stuff but not house stuff tnat she hasnt had to do before. You pay for the price of knowing u have sick days covered early release days, snow days etc.

[Anonymous]

I'd write down a list of any chores/tasks you would appreciate help with:
laundry, meal prep, errands, cleaning, etc.

Sit down with her one on one if possible, and explain that you want to keep her full time, but you're hoping you can mutually agree on some tasks she can do to help out around the house when your children are both in school.

First, see if she offers anything. I personally love to cook, and would jump at the chance to do tasks like meal prep, put together casseroles/soups/marinades for meat.
If she has no idea for what she'd be open to, you could then offer up the list of suggestions.

I would NOT expect her to do everything on the list (depending upon how long it is), and you'd need to be understanding if one week the tasks didn't get finished because of outside circumstances - snow days, sick days, etc.

[Anonymous]

So financially it won’t be hard anymore if she’s gonna do your laundry?!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our oldest will be in K next year, and we'd like to start the 3yo in a 2-3 day a week morning preschool program. We absolutely adore our nanny, she's WONDERFUL in every way so we'd like to try and keep her FT. Financially it will be hard on us but I'd like to try and make it work. Is it insulting to ask her to help out around the house with cleaning and laundry on the 3 mornings neither kid will be home?

How would you like it if your workload was less and you were asked to empty trashcans, clean toilets, and vacuum office. Of course, it is insulting. How many times does it have to be said that nannies ARE NOT MAIDS!

You no longer need her and it is time to tell her so she can find a new job where she can be a nanny not a maid

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our nanny routinely does household work while our baby naps. Cleans and organizes the children's areas, does the kids' laundry, cleans the kitchen up, even vacuums. These duties were part of the contract we agreed on. She is amazing and we appreciate her so much. I think it's fine to ask your nanny how she would feel about a new arrangement. She may welcome the opportunity to keep the position. It can't hurt to ask! I'd broach it like "We love you so much we want to keep you and find a way to make this work; how would you feel about..."

"We love you so much but we want every moment you are here to be working. When kids are not here, we expect you to clean house, do our laundry, cook all meals." Frankly, I do not know why a nanny would not fall down and kiss your feet for such an opportunity, particularly as you are not paying more!

[Anonymous]

I would ask her, it wouldn’t hurt to.
The worst that can happen is she gracefully declines your offer.

I personally cannot boil water, do laundry w/out inadvertently bleaching something that is not supposed to be, or clean to professional standards.
Just the mere thought of making a married couple’s bed & scrubbing their shower makes me gag.

I would rather get another job.
But that is me.
She may be an exquisite cook and bonus if she can iron.

Good luck!

[Anonymous]

OP, does she currently help around the house?

Your thinking is correct in that you should expect her to pick up some additional duties. While it will only be for 9 hours per week at first, the number of weekly hours of downtime will continue to increase if you hope to keep her long-term.

Does your nanny currently pick up any duties aside from childcare? I like the PP's suggestion of having a conversation with your nanny and getting her input, adding your input, and coming up with a final list.

Now, it's quite possible that she may only want to do childcare, which is fine. The duties of your position are changing, and she is free to adjust, or not. There are lots of great nannies out there with the work ethic and flexibility to accommodate changing needs in order to stay with a good employer long-term.

In our case, our nanny voluntarily took on extra duties from the get-go that we never requested during nap times and other down times. She helps with laundry for the whole family, washes towels and bath mats, cuts up whole melons/other fruits and vegetables, is happy to start some rice other meal prep if I request it. She vacuums, sweeps, organizes, empties the small waste baskets.

Once our youngest started a morning preschool program, I didn't request anything of her very frequently because I already knew she was the type to keep busy and find ways to be helpful. A couple of times, I did ask for her help in organizing/sorting upcoming sizes of kids clothes/hand-me-downs.

At the same time, we made it clear that she should feel free to use the time for doctor's appointments and things that need to be scheduled during the day. She always went out of her way to try to schedule her appointments so they would be the least disruptive to our schedules, so we wanted her to have more flexibility there.

[Anonymous]

I would suggest proposing more house manager type of tasks than just specifically house cleaning. Many nannies enjoy graduating to house manager once the children are school age.

If this is a nanny you would like to keep, having an open ended discussion about how she views her changing role would be a good start. Most career nannies have given thought to what they’d like to do with the time as the kids grow up. Good luck, OP.

[Anonymous]

I am nanny that was with a family for over five years. When the twins went to school five mornings a week. I was happy to help out in other ways. To keep my position as long as possible. As I loved the children & enjoyed working with that family. I think you need to talk to your nanny. As every nanny feels differently about what to do as children grow & familys needs change.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am nanny that was with a family for over five years. When the twins went to school five mornings a week. I was happy to help out in other ways. To keep my position as long as possible. As I loved the children & enjoyed working with that family. I think you need to talk to your nanny. As every nanny feels differently about what to do as children grow & familys needs change.

Aren't you just too wonderful for words!