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[quote=Anonymous]I think one is always well-served by taking the highest road possible when terminating a position - especially if you've lined up another job and are giving the notice you agreed to give.  You want to focus on being courteous, respectful, professional etc... so as to hopefully leave on the best possible terms.  Take the high road when citing your reasons for leaving (I found another position that works better for my needs, versus I've been stuck in the house, father is grumpy, mother lets them do ANYTHING...)

Yes, I would give written notice.  You want to be clear about your final day, day on which you're giving notice, etc... so you know that you're abiding by the terms of your contract and have been clear with them.

Re your next contract - pick your battles.  It is perfectly reasonable to ask for contractual language that specifies that the parents will pay for or reimburse costs for art supplies, food, excursions etc... (assuming within reasonable limits or approved activities).  A contract certainly should specify the terms under which a nanny might be transporting a child - that can include everything from a car being provided, to carseats being installed, to mileage being reimbursed, insurance coverage being documented, etc...   I wouldn't seek to add things into a contract that get into issues about parental behavior (allowing oreos, fingers in butter, etc...) or mood.

If you do not want to work in a household that has any level of corporal punishment (spanking for instance) that is something you should discuss in an interview.  Obviously that would be critical to finding the best fit for you and the family.

My only other piece of advice, which may be totally unnecessary as you would probably speak very differently in an interview than you would in a forum like this, is to be very careful in other interviews about how you talk about your reasons for leaving this position.  From the things you cite there are certainly major breaches (in my opinion) regarding things like reimbursement or the provision of car seats, but there is also a lot of judgment/disapproval of parental behavior.  Those are very different things to talk about with prospective employers.

As an MB, if I sense that you're leaving the position because you disapprove of the parents that will concern me.  I want an ally, not someone who will judge me.  (I'm not saying that's how you would always behave - it's just something I might worry about if my only knowledge of you is through one interview.)

And compensation/taxes/etc... are clearly to be spelled out in advance.  That should be resolved upon offering/accepting a position - not after the fact.

FWIW, it's very possible this family is well-intentioned and simply clueless about how to manage employment of a nanny (things like 1099s or appropriate reimbursement procedures etc...) and if they really love you as you say maybe they would be willing to work with you on resolving some of those issues.  But it also sounds like you actively disapprove of their parenting and that's a different thing all together.

Either way, good luck in finding your next position.  I hope it's a smooth and pleasant transition for you and the families.[/quote]

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