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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]I am paying our part time summer nanny $20 an hour to care for one 3 yo girl.  She is a college student.  We also had a regular babysitter during the school year who we paid $20.  The babysitter tried to tell me that was "average," which I thought was laughable.  I think $20 is top dollar.

For the $20 the summer nanny uses downtime to run errands for me, clean up around the house (mostly kid related), make lunches, etc.  I like knowing that because I pay her a generous rate, she is willing to do a little extra for me when I need it.[/quote]

Is this in DC? Because I get well over $20 an hour as a summer nanny and I would never run errands for the family, I never stay late, I only watch the kids and play. I make really basic meals and snacks. I don't think $20 is top dollar. $20 is pretty average.[/quote]

Well then, you and I would not be a good match. My summer nanny is terrific.  You sound like a phone-it-in kind of person.  And yes, I,am in DC.  [/quote]

Why does every discussion always come down to this:  "My nanny is better because she will do non-child related chores?"  I hired our nanny to ONLY play, read and engage our children.  This is exactly what I wanted and what I needed.  I do not want her taking one second away from running their butts off at the park or reading to them to do anything else.  She is an excellent nanny and doesn't "phone it in" because she doesn't run our family errands and I respect her enough to never ask her to stay late (unless planned far in advance and agreed upon).  
Please - I'm getting so tired of this same old argument.  [/quote]

Well, your perspective is narrow-minded in my opinion.  Children don't exist in a vacuum.  My child is a part of a larger household and when everything is running smoothly, she is happier.  My nanny can do the extras AND keep my daughter fully engaged.  It isn't one or the other.  If I need her to pick up dry cleaning, they can ride over there together while singing songs on the radio, she can teach my daughter about the different forms of currency, whatever.  I question the attitude reflected by the statement that "I would never run errands for the family."  it seems to come from a place of defensiveness, like by asking my nanny to get the dry cleaning I am demeaning her or disrespecting her childcare skills.  I certainly am not.  And to suggest that I do not respect her because I ask her to stay late is also too simplistic.  She understands my line of work, that it can be unpredictable, I compensate her very well for extra time, she gets as much notice as I can possibly give, if she says she cannot do it then I accept her response with no further questions asked, and she and I agreed on this at the outset. I see it as a win-win.  My child needs a companion and a role model during the day, and I feel she is getting both.  I don't think she needs someone to cater to her literally non-stop.  That's completely unrealistic.[/quote]
How old is your daughter?[/quote]

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