Anonymous wrote:I have said it before in response to similar postings, and I will say it again.

I honestly think that it is difficult to ask a college student/graduate or graduate student to undertake any sort of housework -- cleaning, laundry, dishes -- because in most cases they will consider this sort of work beneath them.

Many families are not so much looking for a "nanny" (though that is what they will call the job) as for a "SAHP-substitute". Please ask any stay-at-home parent whether his/her work is limited to watching, driving, feeding, and caring for the kids; or whether SAHP also cooks, cleans, does the dishes and laundry for the entire family.

Many immigrant nannies (ours have always been legal) consider parenthood/nannying and household work to be hand-in-hand sisters, because in reality they are.

I think that it is very important when hiring the nanny to ask them specifically which duties they consider a part of their job. In addition, I always make sure to hire a weekly maid service -- separate from the nanny -- so that the nanny does not feel burdened by heavy-duty cleaning and housekeeping.

Anonymous wrote:I agree with the MB and the previous poster-- a nanny that can keep a great job has an attitude of helpfulness. No- I don't usually leave a big mess for her to clean on Monday morning but I also appreciate that she understands that the weekend is for ALL of us to take a break. I am not going to skip the park or pool with my kids on a Sunday afternoon to stay home and clean up for Monday. My nanny of 4 years has never once complained about this and that is part of the reason she keeps getting raises, gets 4 weeks of paid vacation and will continue to be appreciated. MBs just remember that there are wonderful, helpful, happy nannies out there-- look for them and you will have a happy long relationship. Someone who interviewed and told me she only wanted to assist with messes made during her hours had a list of things she refused to do would never get a call back!!!

Anonymous wrote:Our nanny of ten years did everything. She routinely did light cleaning up and putting away of things, she folded and put away our laundry, she assisted with the dinner preparation, she put away dishes, and she drove the kids to activities as needed.

When I asked for help, she would assist me in organizing closets and drawers, sorting through toys and clothes for donations or the trash, packing clothes and gear for trips, unpacking the same upon our return.

Most importantly she truly loved my children and they love her in return. She is like a third grandmother or a second mother, and she will always be part of our family though we moved away and she no longer works with us.

In return for her helpful attitude and love, we paid her well, gave her 3-4 weeks of paid vacation, gave her a two-weeks salary as Christmas bonus, and helped over the years to pay for her house repairs and doctor's bills.

Anonymous wrote:Now I truly have seen it all! Thank you PP MB! I do the kids laundry 1-2 times per week as needed, and of course I don't filter out clothing that was worn on the weekend, but as for anything else, you wouldn't have to fire me-I'd quit if you expected me to come in Monday morning and clean all the toys played with over the weekend and whatever else you think you're too good to do because you pay a nanny during the week. Are you one of those moms from the other thread leaving the children in the same outfit Friday through Monday morning, because, you know, that's what you pay your nanny to do?

Anonymous wrote:Imagine if you were the parents, running around all weekend but the whole time worrying about having the house in pristine condition before your nanny arrives Monday morning. That's a miserable prospect! You're supposed to make their lives easier, not harder.

Imagine if you were the parents, running around all weekend but the whole time worrying about having the house in pristine condition before your nanny arrives Monday morning. That's a miserable prospect! You're supposed to make their lives easier, not harder.

Anonymous wrote:

Imagine if you were the parents, running around all weekend but the whole time worrying about having the house in pristine condition before your nanny arrives Monday morning. That's a miserable prospect! You're supposed to make their lives easier, not harder.

I made this mistake with my first nanny. I stupidly hired someone with no housekeeping tasks. I would get up at 5 am every morning to make sure that the dishwasher was unloaded for her and organize the toys every weekend. She would sit on the couch reading for 3 hours everyday. We let her go and hired a nanny/housekeeper who is a 100% better nanny and does light housekeeping.

While we never leave a sink full of dirty dishes, it makes such a difference having someone unload clean dishes and load in rinsed dishes. It also makes a huge difference having someone who does all laundry and grocery shopping. She still gets more than an hour break everyday but she doesn't feel entitled to sit around doing nothing for 3 hours a day.