Reply to FTM seeking advice on hiring a nanny

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[quote=Anonymous]Hmmmm, interesting topic.

Ok, bit of background: live-in nanny, 30.

One 24/7 job: nope, food was part of the job.  I'm responsible for helping your kids learn what foods taste good to them, what is nutritious, what vegetables need to be cooked for all the nutrients to be available and which should be eaten raw.  I model good eating habits, table manners and help a child learn that food is a form of communication.  If you have an infant, sure, I can provide my own food.  If your child is eating solids (not pureed baby food), nope, I'm eating with the child.  Cell phone use during my off time, well, that's hard to find.  I worked 24/7, from 7am to 10 pm kids were up, but my day started before that and ended after.  I got the 3 year old up at 10pm and 12-1am to potty, kids crawled in bed with me due to nightmares or not sleeping, kids were sick at night, etc.  I call my grandmother once a day, should I not be allowed to do so for 5+ days because my employer is gone?  No, I don't have long conversations while kids are awake and aware.  Yes, I do take pictures of kids to send to parents, I schedule appointments for myself AND them while the office is open, and I respond to other parents' calls and texts during reasonable hours (ie. before 8pm).  When you work with children that don't nap, that don't go to school, you don't have any other options.  Interesting note: no landline, so my employer provided the cell phone and I purchased it from him when the position ended.

Two other positions involved "breaks" while the children were in school, but I was a household manager, not just a nanny, so that time wasn't mine either, I was doing housework.  When would you like me to schedule your son's playdate?  Oh, school is calling because your daughter is sick, well, they know to call you and you'll call me, right?

I'm fully in favor of not using the phone for inordinate amounts of time when attention should be on the child.  But reasonable people set reasonable limits for myself.  Personally, I thought it was amusing every time my employer called while I was driving and one of the older children answered with "Miss ... is driving, she can't talk to you now, can I take a message?  Wait, I need to find a pen and paper, who has the pens again?  Someone hid the paper!"  He didn't see an issue with it, he knew what my priorities are for children's safety, but he would consistently ask to talk to me anyway. :P[/quote]

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