Anonymous
Post 04/11/2013 18:41     Subject: Grandmas
So far I've thoroughly enjoyed all of my charges grandparents. Previous family the MBs family would come stay all the time and one twin and ODD favored grandparents while youngest twin turned into my shadow. It was never awkward at all. We all got along great. DBs parents too but they didnt come as often.
Current family one set lives 5min up the road, I see grandpa all the time. Love him! The other set is an overbearing and pushy gramma and when she's in town MB pawns her off on me. This gramma and I actually get along great. She doesn't really involve herself in care of the kids, just wants someone to listen, so I do. I actually like her rather well. :-/
Anonymous
Post 04/11/2013 14:03     Subject: Grandmas
One set of grandparents is great. We chatted all through nap time, and it was a lovely visit. The other set, I am not so fond of. The grandmother is insecure in her place in the family so has control issues, and I think the grandfather is used to tons of household help so while he was polite he was also a bit dismissive and we didn't chat at all.
Anonymous
Post 04/11/2013 13:31     Subject: Grandmas
Over the years I have had mostly wonderful experiences with grandmothers. Most have been helpful, respectful, and kind. In one of my positions I spent more time with Grandma than I did with MB...good thing I liked Gma.

In my current position I adore one of the grandmothers. She and I get along really well. I look forward to her visits and wish she was able to come into town more often during the week. I despise the other grandmother though so I don't see her anymore. (We actually have a rule that she is not allowed over at all during my work hours.)
Anonymous
Post 04/11/2013 11:54     Subject: Grandmas
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I am actually meeting Grandma for the first time this afternoon! She is coming in for 10 days and I was kind of dreading it! This makes me feel better! I have not had the best grandma experiences with my last 3 families.... My charge is only 3 months old so this should be interesting MB is awesome and I know she will make sure I can keep up with our routine and go about my day with baby


Good luck, I hope it goes great! One thing I find that helps when you're first meeting grandparents is to kind of defer to them when possible? Obviously you have spent more time with the child, have a routine, and so on, but they will be the more important person in the child's life overall. So for example if grandma suggests we go to the park, I will say, "Oh, LO usually goes down for a nap around 10am, but we could adjust his schedule today if you like!" and 9/10 times she says "oh no no, let's keep him on his schedule - you let me know when would be best to go out." I also approach every grandparent visit with the cheerful acceptance that schedules, routines, and dietary structures are going out the window while she's here and it is my job to enjoy the time and then get him back on track after she leaves.


So true! That's totally how I am going to go into it, knowing our schedule will just have to be out on pause for a week I was actually just told I could take half days for the whole week which is awesome! I'll get to help out and show grandma around then go home by noon everyday )
Anonymous
Post 04/11/2013 11:39     Subject: Grandmas
Anonymous wrote:I am actually meeting Grandma for the first time this afternoon! She is coming in for 10 days and I was kind of dreading it! This makes me feel better! I have not had the best grandma experiences with my last 3 families.... My charge is only 3 months old so this should be interesting MB is awesome and I know she will make sure I can keep up with our routine and go about my day with baby


Good luck, I hope it goes great! One thing I find that helps when you're first meeting grandparents is to kind of defer to them when possible? Obviously you have spent more time with the child, have a routine, and so on, but they will be the more important person in the child's life overall. So for example if grandma suggests we go to the park, I will say, "Oh, LO usually goes down for a nap around 10am, but we could adjust his schedule today if you like!" and 9/10 times she says "oh no no, let's keep him on his schedule - you let me know when would be best to go out." I also approach every grandparent visit with the cheerful acceptance that schedules, routines, and dietary structures are going out the window while she's here and it is my job to enjoy the time and then get him back on track after she leaves.
Anonymous
Post 04/11/2013 11:38     Subject: Grandmas
OP here-I have also only had to work half days because grandma sends me home, I love it! I think my boss also appreciates me showing her mom around town and being accommodating to her. She acted surprised when I mentioned how well we get along! Pretty funny
Anonymous
Post 04/11/2013 11:38     Subject: Grandmas
Anonymous wrote:I am with my 4th family as a nanny and work for wonderful parents with a 9 month old baby. I have usually dreaded the grandparents coming into town...more of entertaining, power struggles and awkwardness. When the grandparent of my new charge arrived we immediately bonded. She is here for 2 weeks and both parents work and travel weekly. It's so nice to have her around to chat with! She is so respectful of my position and makes me feel like I am in charge. She is very hands on and loves to help. I feel like she is almost my nanny with all the help I am getting! We go on walks, lunch and around town together! Do any other nannies love their charges grandparents? I realize I got very luck here


OP I too had much luck with all the grandparents I've met.

One time MB warned me that grandma was really high class and a pain in the butt. But she turned out to be amazing with me she was very respectful of me and would tell all about her life and listen about mine growing up etc as we walked around the neighborhood.

Another family would always pop up on Fridays and weekends early to let me go home. As in MB is due at 8pm they will pop up around 2pm and tell me go ahead we got it! They were really young grandparents and loads of fun!
Anonymous
Post 04/11/2013 11:34     Subject: Grandmas
I am actually meeting Grandma for the first time this afternoon! She is coming in for 10 days and I was kind of dreading it! This makes me feel better! I have not had the best grandma experiences with my last 3 families.... My charge is only 3 months old so this should be interesting MB is awesome and I know she will make sure I can keep up with our routine and go about my day with baby
Anonymous
Post 04/11/2013 11:33     Subject: Grandmas
I do as well. One set of grandparents live about 45 min out of the city and come in on weekends, or just to spend the night on a random Wednesday. If she is there in the morning, we have coffee together, talk about the news, just enjoy being in the same room with the kids but not on top of them! When they come for dinner, I stay around to chat for 20-30 minutes but then I always get to leave early! I love when MB tells me her parents will be coming over later.
Anonymous
Post 04/11/2013 11:29     Subject: Re:Grandmas
YES!

I also love when either grandma comes to town - they are very different from one another but both are so sweet to me, really appreciative of the work I do and the bond I've built with their grandson, and it is such a refreshing change of pace to have an adult to chat with as we go about our day.
Anonymous
Post 04/11/2013 11:28     Subject: Grandmas
I am with my 4th family as a nanny and work for wonderful parents with a 9 month old baby. I have usually dreaded the grandparents coming into town...more of entertaining, power struggles and awkwardness. When the grandparent of my new charge arrived we immediately bonded. She is here for 2 weeks and both parents work and travel weekly. It's so nice to have her around to chat with! She is so respectful of my position and makes me feel like I am in charge. She is very hands on and loves to help. I feel like she is almost my nanny with all the help I am getting! We go on walks, lunch and around town together! Do any other nannies love their charges grandparents? I realize I got very luck here