Nanny "down time"

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've tried to post some reasonable responses as a parent on this thread and it's obvious to me that some of the nannies that are responding are just on a different wavelength. We'll just have to agree to disagree in this point.

If you want an employer that's ok with you doing homework while working, then just be open about it. I'll continue to search for (and pay for) nannies that don't insist that I'm greeting my kids like a "asset" if I simply expect them to be mostly focusing on their job duties while I'm paying them.

According to the poster above, if someone is paying someone else to do something and the employer expects the employee to be doing that something while being paid, then somehow that makes the employer resentful that they are paying the employee? That makes no sense to me at all.

As a nanny I am paid to care for children.

If child-related work is done (dishes, toys, laundry) during nap time, my JOB as defined by my contract is simply to ensure the safety and well-being of the child. It is a perk that I can read or talk on the phone while simultaneously performing my duties, but make no mistake, I am still "doing my job." If the fire alarm goes off or if the child wakes suddenly, I am immediately present to intervene. If I weren't actually "working" there'd be nothing to stop me from popping over to the coffee shop across the street for a change of scenery and a latte!

I don't understand where this confusion comes from. I am not a housekeeper (though there are "nanny/housekeeper" combos you can hire if that's what you want done during nap time), so I don't do housekeeping work. That doesn't mean I'm not doing my job/working while the kids are asleep.

+100000000000000000000000000000000000000000!!!!



She fails to see this, and I would HATE to ever work with someone like that. Her tone is ridiculously off-putting, and overbearing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've tried to post some reasonable responses as a parent on this thread and it's obvious to me that some of the nannies that are responding are just on a different wavelength. We'll just have to agree to disagree in this point.

If you want an employer that's ok with you doing homework while working, then just be open about it. I'll continue to search for (and pay for) nannies that don't insist that I'm greeting my kids like a "asset" if I simply expect them to be mostly focusing on their job duties while I'm paying them.

According to the poster above, if someone is paying someone else to do something and the employer expects the employee to be doing that something while being paid, then somehow that makes the employer resentful that they are paying the employee? That makes no sense to me at all.

As a nanny I am paid to care for children.

If child-related work is done (dishes, toys, laundry) during nap time, my JOB as defined by my contract is simply to ensure the safety and well-being of the child. It is a perk that I can read or talk on the phone while simultaneously performing my duties, but make no mistake, I am still "doing my job." If the fire alarm goes off or if the child wakes suddenly, I am immediately present to intervene. If I weren't actually "working" there'd be nothing to stop me from popping over to the coffee shop across the street for a change of scenery and a latte!

I don't understand where this confusion comes from. I am not a housekeeper (though there are "nanny/housekeeper" combos you can hire if that's what you want done during nap time), so I don't do housekeeping work. That doesn't mean I'm not doing my job/working while the kids are asleep.

Exactly.
I have never once, in close to 10 years as a nanny, had a parent ask what I do while their child is sleeping, let alone try to dictate what I should do with that time (well false, one WAH MB would usually ask me to have coffee with her and encouraged me to sit down and take a break while the babies were napping).
When my employers come home the house is in order, the laundry is done, the dishwasher is emptied, the kids are well taken care of and every aspect of my job completed...and then some. I manage my time and tasks throughout the day so that I can have a little down time to eat my lunch, work on some homework and take care of personal business. Most people (with the exception of the MBs here) would think that this makes me good at my job, not lazy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've tried to post some reasonable responses as a parent on this thread and it's obvious to me that some of the nannies that are responding are just on a different wavelength. We'll just have to agree to disagree in this point.

If you want an employer that's ok with you doing homework while working, then just be open about it. I'll continue to search for (and pay for) nannies that don't insist that I'm greeting my kids like a "asset" if I simply expect them to be mostly focusing on their job duties while I'm paying them.

According to the poster above, if someone is paying someone else to do something and the employer expects the employee to be doing that something while being paid, then somehow that makes the employer resentful that they are paying the employee? That makes no sense to me at all.

You're missing the point of my post. I pick up resentment from your tone, and that's what I commented on. It's clear that you don't see it, and i'm okay with that. I grew up in a culture of nannies, and had one until the age of 7. I saw how my parents treated all the nannies. Thus, some 20 years later, when my father passed, they came by to pay their condolences, and TRUST and believe, none of that would have occurred if my mother or father were as off-putting as you come across to me. They treated them, with respect, and trusted their judgement . After all, that's the reason why they were hired. You are losing sight of the fact that keeping your child safe, loved, and cared for is the main purpose of them being in your home. if all their "tasks" are done, you would still object to them, reading the newspaper, unless it had to do with kids. You would be great in retail, or a sweatshop.

I wasn't the one you were commenting on. Sorry for not being clear on that. I'm a new poster.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've tried to post some reasonable responses as a parent on this thread and it's obvious to me that some of the nannies that are responding are just on a different wavelength. We'll just have to agree to disagree in this point.

If you want an employer that's ok with you doing homework while working, then just be open about it. I'll continue to search for (and pay for) nannies that don't insist that I'm greeting my kids like a "asset" if I simply expect them to be mostly focusing on their job duties while I'm paying them.

According to the poster above, if someone is paying someone else to do something and the employer expects the employee to be doing that something while being paid, then somehow that makes the employer resentful that they are paying the employee? That makes no sense to me at all.

You're missing the point of my post. I pick up resentment from your tone, and that's what I commented on. It's clear that you don't see it, and i'm okay with that. I grew up in a culture of nannies, and had one until the age of 7. I saw how my parents treated all the nannies. Thus, some 20 years later, when my father passed, they came by to pay their condolences, and TRUST and believe, none of that would have occurred if my mother or father were as off-putting as you come across to me. They treated them, with respect, and trusted their judgement . After all, that's the reason why they were hired. You are losing sight of the fact that keeping your child safe, loved, and cared for is the main purpose of them being in your home. if all their "tasks" are done, you would still object to them, reading the newspaper, unless it had to do with kids. You would be great in retail, or a sweatshop.

I think you're seeing things that aren't there. Nowhere did anyone say that they would object to a nanny taking a break to read a newspaper. We're responding to the nannies who think they should have some guarantee of two hours to do their homework while the baby naps and are getting all bent of shape that someone might not be ok with that. It's tough with an anonymous board, I get that - but you assumed I was someone else that posted and you're combining multiple posters into one and then making up details.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've tried to post some reasonable responses as a parent on this thread and it's obvious to me that some of the nannies that are responding are just on a different wavelength. We'll just have to agree to disagree in this point.

If you want an employer that's ok with you doing homework while working, then just be open about it. I'll continue to search for (and pay for) nannies that don't insist that I'm greeting my kids like a "asset" if I simply expect them to be mostly focusing on their job duties while I'm paying them.

According to the poster above, if someone is paying someone else to do something and the employer expects the employee to be doing that something while being paid, then somehow that makes the employer resentful that they are paying the employee? That makes no sense to me at all.

As a nanny I am paid to care for children.

If child-related work is done (dishes, toys, laundry) during nap time, my JOB as defined by my contract is simply to ensure the safety and well-being of the child. It is a perk that I can read or talk on the phone while simultaneously performing my duties, but make no mistake, I am still "doing my job." If the fire alarm goes off or if the child wakes suddenly, I am immediately present to intervene. If I weren't actually "working" there'd be nothing to stop me from popping over to the coffee shop across the street for a change of scenery and a latte!

I don't understand where this confusion comes from. I am not a housekeeper (though there are "nanny/housekeeper" combos you can hire if that's what you want done during nap time), so I don't do housekeeping work. That doesn't mean I'm not doing my job/working while the kids are asleep.

Exactly.
I have never once, in close to 10 years as a nanny, had a parent ask what I do while their child is sleeping, let alone try to dictate what I should do with that time (well false, one WAH MB would usually ask me to have coffee with her and encouraged me to sit down and take a break while the babies were napping).
When my employers come home the house is in order, the laundry is done, the dishwasher is emptied, the kids are well taken care of and every aspect of my job completed...and then some. I manage my time and tasks throughout the day so that I can have a little down time to eat my lunch, work on some homework and take care of personal business. Most people (with the exception of the MBs here) would think that this makes me good at my job, not lazy.

I really don't think we're saying different things. I wish I could go back and note which posts are mine, because I think some of you are combining posters and have it in your heads that there's just one or two MBs posting on here who wants every single minute tracked and dedicated exclusively to the kids and then somehow you've made up that that MB now wants you to clean her whole house while the kids nap.

I think perhaps you are responding to what you perceived in the past, because I've posted a few times now saying that I don't begrudge my nanny a break at all and that I'm responding ONLY to the posters who are asserting that your MBs don't control your time and that if you want to do homework two hours a day then you'll do what you want. I've said repeatedly that's ok if that's your set-up with your MB. I've repeatedly said that if your do a great job on all your assigned tasks, then I won't care what you do.

I am really and truly not saying what you think I'm saying, but if you want to continue to read everything that way and assume the worst, then have at it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've tried to post some reasonable responses as a parent on this thread and it's obvious to me that some of the nannies that are responding are just on a different wavelength. We'll just have to agree to disagree in this point.

If you want an employer that's ok with you doing homework while working, then just be open about it. I'll continue to search for (and pay for) nannies that don't insist that I'm greeting my kids like a "asset" if I simply expect them to be mostly focusing on their job duties while I'm paying them.

According to the poster above, if someone is paying someone else to do something and the employer expects the employee to be doing that something while being paid, then somehow that makes the employer resentful that they are paying the employee? That makes no sense to me at all.

As a nanny I am paid to care for children.

If child-related work is done (dishes, toys, laundry) during nap time, my JOB as defined by my contract is simply to ensure the safety and well-being of the child. It is a perk that I can read or talk on the phone while simultaneously performing my duties, but make no mistake, I am still "doing my job." If the fire alarm goes off or if the child wakes suddenly, I am immediately present to intervene. If I weren't actually "working" there'd be nothing to stop me from popping over to the coffee shop across the street for a change of scenery and a latte!

I don't understand where this confusion comes from. I am not a housekeeper (though there are "nanny/housekeeper" combos you can hire if that's what you want done during nap time), so I don't do housekeeping work. That doesn't mean I'm not doing my job/working while the kids are asleep.

Exactly.
I have never once, in close to 10 years as a nanny, had a parent ask what I do while their child is sleeping, let alone try to dictate what I should do with that time (well false, one WAH MB would usually ask me to have coffee with her and encouraged me to sit down and take a break while the babies were napping).
When my employers come home the house is in order, the laundry is done, the dishwasher is emptied, the kids are well taken care of and every aspect of my job completed...and then some. I manage my time and tasks throughout the day so that I can have a little down time to eat my lunch, work on some homework and take care of personal business. Most people (with the exception of the MBs here) would think that this makes me good at my job, not lazy.

I really don't think we're saying different things. I wish I could go back and note which posts are mine, because I think some of you are combining posters and have it in your heads that there's just one or two MBs posting on here who wants every single minute tracked and dedicated exclusively to the kids and then somehow you've made up that that MB now wants you to clean her whole house while the kids nap.

I think perhaps you are responding to what you perceived in the past, because I've posted a few times now saying that I don't begrudge my nanny a break at all and that I'm responding ONLY to the posters who are asserting that your MBs don't control your time and that if you want to do homework two hours a day then you'll do what you want. I've said repeatedly that's ok if that's your set-up with your MB. I've repeatedly said that if your do a great job on all your assigned tasks, then I won't care what you do.

I am really and truly not saying what you think I'm saying, but if you want to continue to read everything that way and assume the worst, then have at it.

This problem would only arise, if you do not trust the nanny's judgement.