Reply to Grandparent visits

Forum Index » General Discussion

Reply to "Grandparent visits"

Subject:

Emoticons





More smilies

Text Color: Font: Close Marks

[quote=Anonymous]I've been a nanny for fourteen years, and the only position I was ever "let go" from was due to a grandparent visit that went south. I was caring for three children; a 7 year old who was on the autism spectrum (low functioning), and 3 year old twins. I had told MB that it was difficult for me and the twins, because I couldn't take them out to the park or anything, because their brother was constantly trying to run away (this was a known issue; the doors of their home had an elaborate locking system to prevent him from escaping). I worked with them 50 hours per week and it honestly wasn't fair to me or the twins that we couldn't go outside at all (we tried a couple times, but every time he would bolt, and I had to physically restrain him from running into the street, etc, which caused him to scream and cry and flail; it was never a good experience trying to bring him to the park).

So, MB told me that grandma and grandpa would come have a play date with him so I could take the twins out. She very clearly said that they would take care of him all afternoon, so I could take the twins out "and not have to worry about him." I let the grandparents in, and made sure to secure all the locks behind them. They went and sat down with him, and I went back to the kitchen to finish packing the twins snacks, and help them go potty, get their shoes on, and head out the door. Not even five minutes after their arrival, grandma came in the room, looking panicked. It turned out that grandpa had gone out to the car to get something, and when he came back in the house they couldn't find big brother, who had clearly bolted as soon as he realized the front door was unlocked. We searched the entire neighborhood for him, and eventually we had to call MB who came home early from work, and the police, who spent 3 hours searching before finding him hiding in someone's backyard a block and a half away. And the twins, who had been so excited to go to the playground with me, instead had to spend all day inside with me, again.

Grandma kept saying to me "don't worry, it wasn't your fault" (and yeah, it really wasn't; I was told very specifically that I only needed to watch the twins that day and that big brother was going to be taken care of by grandma and grandpa, who were very aware of the running away and door lock situation). But, that afternoon MB told me that my "irresponsibility" had caused her to miss a very important meeting and she felt that she "couldn't trust [me] with the kids anymore." Obviously it was very upsetting for me the way that all unfolded; in the years before that happened, and since, I have had a completely unblemished record of 100% safe children and 100% happy parents.

I realize that that was a very specific situation with a special needs child, but I think it's important to share my story. If grandparents are tagging along and understand that nanny is in charge that is fine. And maybe, in the case of having many children, and grandparents who are physically and mentally capable, if the care of those children is divided up (like PP 17:07 said, having grandparents caring for some kids while she tends to baby, etc), that is okay, but only if MB and DB understand that anything that happens to those children while under the grandparents care is not the nanny's fault!![/quote]

Options

	Disable HTML in this message
	Disable BB Code in this message
	Disable smilies in this message

Review message

Search Recent Topics Hottest Topics