MB put a tracker on the stroller

[Anonymous]

I take my charge for a 1.5hr walk everyday and let him play at the park (as long as there’s no other kids there). I noticed my MB will text me at the one hour mark to "check in and see if everything is ok."

My MB is a single mom and my charge is 2. It’s her only child. I pulled an umbrella out of the lower basket of the stroller and noticed a small, black magnet/device that was flashing blue.

I asked MB about it. She looked at me and confirmed it is a tracker. She said if something were to happen, I.e we get hit by a car, she will know where I am if I don’t respond. She then added "or, god forbid, he gets kidnapped or you are doing something you’re not supposed to be doing."

I asked her what she feels I could possibly be doing wrong and she said "I don’t know, but I do need to know where my son is still all times."

Is she a psycho? I feel like she doesn’t trust me. For example, she will give me a code to the door but won’t give me a key or alarm code so I can never really fully leave. She’s WFH from the most part and keeps her boundaries but I think it’s creepy that she’s following me! I don’t know why she doesn’t fully trust me.

[Anonymous]

How long have you been working for her?

[Anonymous]

OP here -

About 6 weeks.

[Anonymous]

It's weird but these things are so easily available now, I can see the temptation. I do think she's deluding herself though, if she can't trust you, a tracker is the least of her issues!

How is everything else? Are you OK in principle with the tracker? He own boss may be tracking her or even logging screen time and logging keyboard use... I'm not saying it's right, but it's getting to be very common unfortunately.

[Anonymous]

Yes, she is a weirdo! I would probably look for a new position (there are a ton right now). The lack of trust is what gets me. I would probably be fine with it if she gave you a heads up. Like “hey just wanted to let you know I put a gps device in the stroller in case something happens to you guys or the stroller gets stolen, etc, please don’t take it personally!” But it’s the secretive lack of transparency, red flag!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I take my charge for a 1.5hr walk everyday and let him play at the park (as long as there’s no other kids there). I noticed my MB will text me at the one hour mark to "check in and see if everything is ok."

My MB is a single mom and my charge is 2. It’s her only child. I pulled an umbrella out of the lower basket of the stroller and noticed a small, black magnet/device that was flashing blue.

I asked MB about it. She looked at me and confirmed it is a tracker. She said if something were to happen, I.e we get hit by a car, she will know where I am if I don’t respond. She then added "or, god forbid, he gets kidnapped or you are doing something you’re not supposed to be doing."

I asked her what she feels I could possibly be doing wrong and she said "I don’t know, but I do need to know where my son is still all times."

Is she a psycho? I feel like she doesn’t trust me. For example, she will give me a code to the door but won’t give me a key or alarm code so I can never really fully leave. She’s WFH from the most part and keeps her boundaries but I think it’s creepy that she’s following me! I don’t know why she doesn’t fully trust me.

I would find a new job and quit ASAP. Things will only get worse.

[Anonymous]

It's only 6 weeks and it's her only child.
-do you tell her where you're going?
-have you ever offered to text when you arrive at the playground/before you leave?
-do you send pictures to her while you're out?

These things can help ease her mind. You're a stranger taking care of her child.

[Anonymous]

I would be insulted and hurt. You hired me to take care of your child but you don't trust me taking care of your child? Why did you hire me?
I would look for another job where I was trusted and not tracked.

[Anonymous]

If someone was about to kidnap the child I doubt they would carry stroller with them. Would grab the kid and ran away. She is totally tracking you!

[Anonymous]

I’m crystal clear during my interviews that I recommend cameras and trackers, BUT if I find cameras or trackers without being notified, I quit on the spot. I explain that I’m comfortable with the decrease in privacy as long as everything is above board, that way they have an idea of what their children do any given day, but hiding either device lets me know that they don’t trust me, so I don’t belong there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's only 6 weeks and it's her only child.
-do you tell her where you're going?
-have you ever offered to text when you arrive at the playground/before you leave?
-do you send pictures to her while you're out?

These things can help ease her mind. You're a stranger taking care of her child.

Then she should stay home and take care of her own kid. If she can't afford to do so, then she should not have had a child. Zero sympathy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m crystal clear during my interviews that I recommend cameras and trackers, BUT if I find cameras or trackers without being notified, I quit on the spot. I explain that I’m comfortable with the decrease in privacy as long as everything is above board, that way they have an idea of what their children do any given day, but hiding either device lets me know that they don’t trust me, so I don’t belong there.

+1. I’m exactly the same. I encourage cameras and trackers in fact. But if you lie actively or by omission about having either, I would quit on the spot. The big deal here isn’t the tracker, OP, it’s that she didn’t tell you about it. This speaks to a problem that will not get better in time. She’s the type to just happen to go through your phone, too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I take my charge for a 1.5hr walk everyday and let him play at the park (as long as there’s no other kids there). I noticed my MB will text me at the one hour mark to "check in and see if everything is ok."

My MB is a single mom and my charge is 2. It’s her only child. I pulled an umbrella out of the lower basket of the stroller and noticed a small, black magnet/device that was flashing blue.

I asked MB about it. She looked at me and confirmed it is a tracker. She said if something were to happen, I.e we get hit by a car, she will know where I am if I don’t respond. She then added "or, god forbid, he gets kidnapped or you are doing something you’re not supposed to be doing."

I asked her what she feels I could possibly be doing wrong and she said "I don’t know, but I do need to know where my son is still all times."

Is she a psycho? I feel like she doesn’t trust me. For example, she will give me a code to the door but won’t give me a key or alarm code so I can never really fully leave. She’s WFH from the most part and keeps her boundaries but I think it’s creepy that she’s following me! I don’t know why she doesn’t fully trust me.

I would find a new job and quit ASAP. Things will only get worse.

This. Things will absolutely get worse. Get a new job pronto.

[Anonymous]

Good for her.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I take my charge for a 1.5hr walk everyday and let him play at the park (as long as there’s no other kids there). I noticed my MB will text me at the one hour mark to "check in and see if everything is ok."

My MB is a single mom and my charge is 2. It’s her only child. I pulled an umbrella out of the lower basket of the stroller and noticed a small, black magnet/device that was flashing blue.

I asked MB about it. She looked at me and confirmed it is a tracker. She said if something were to happen, I.e we get hit by a car, she will know where I am if I don’t respond. She then added "or, god forbid, he gets kidnapped or you are doing something you’re not supposed to be doing."

I asked her what she feels I could possibly be doing wrong and she said "I don’t know, but I do need to know where my son is still all times."

Is she a psycho? I feel like she doesn’t trust me. For example, she will give me a code to the door but won’t give me a key or alarm code so I can never really fully leave. She’s WFH from the most part and keeps her boundaries but I think it’s creepy that she’s following me! I don’t know why she doesn’t fully trust me.

I would find a new job and quit ASAP. Things will only get worse.

This. Things will absolutely get worse. Get a new job pronto.

Agree. I’d quit that day.