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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Bargain hunting parents often prefer to deny the obvious, and then complain when their bargain deal ends up costing them MORE.[/quote]

Go away.   You're bitter because you are routinely undercut in the marketplace by people who are willing to work harder, for less money.  That's a function of your sense of entitlement and bad attitude, not anyone else's issues.[/quote]

I'm not PP but another nanny who has been following this thread with interest. Honestly, yes, those of us who are educated, experienced American nannies are being undercut by cheap, often uneducated foreign nannies. I disagree with you that we do not work as hard. Honestly, 90% of the foreign nannies I've observed out and about with their charges seem to be the ones who are most likely to be on their phones, zoning out, completely disengaged with their charges. Interestingly enough, most of their charges seem to be under 3 (and therefore less likely to tell mommy and daddy what their nanny does all day).

Many parents seem to think that their foreign nanny will teach DC a new language, but aside from a few words here and there I've never seen that to be the case. One family I currently babysit for who has a 5 year old and a 7 year old told me that the nanny who spent the five years with them from when DC 1 was born until DC 2 was 3, was South American and spoke little English, but neither child can speak a word of Spanish at all. It makes me wonder if their nanny was one of the foreign nannies that I often see who is speaking on her phone instead of engaging with her charges.

I studied Spanish for 6 years in high school and undergrad, and I've had pretty good success teaching children Spanish and English together, because I am constantly speaking with them and engaging with them in both languages. I admit that my Spanish is not as perfect as a native speakers, but I am fluent, and children who I have worked with for a long time have certainly learned a great deal of relevant Spanish vocabulary and sentence structure basics; enough to ask for things or have a simple conversation.

I also work very hard in my duties as a nanny, and yes I am an "entitled American." I am always coming up with new fun classes to take, parks, museums, libraries etc to visit, craft projects, educational games, and I prepare my charges meals, and do the dishes and laundry while they nap. I never speak on my phone during work and I only text during nap time. I also have never taken a vacation longer than two weeks (usually just one week per year of my choosing). My MBs and DBs are great communicators (as I try to be as well), and we have an excellent working relationship.

I find it annoying that at least once every couple of months there is a new thread on here about a foreign nanny taking an extended trip overseas. I think in many ways you get what you pay for, and if you're paying someone less than the general going rate for a qualified professional, you will probably find yourself "paying" in another way. I am sure there are many foreign nannies who are great at what they do, and maybe even some who do not take such long trips, but it's up to the parents to do their homework on these issues (thoroughly check references, maybe set up nanny cams or something, and definitely confirm their travel plans in writing before hiring), and many parents do not.[/quote]

Well said, PP.

And having been raised in Beverly Hills, CA where everyone had a Spanish-speaking nanny as a child, I can guarantee you that not one of us could speak Spanish or anything close to it by the time we were in high school.  [/quote]

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