Anonymous
07/02/2013 14:02
Subject: Never had an MB who didn't discuss potential plans with me first
I plan and have always planned every aspect of my charges day from meals, naps to activities. I will give the parents a list of classes, museums or other random activities i think they would enjoy, just as a heads up before I take them. I have never had a MB try to direct my day at all. My job is to provide the children with educational activities, crafts and tons of attention. I plan all meals for the week and give a list of food I would need for them (they wont let me grocery shop). I clean up after the children and do small chores that need to be done outside of my contract.
I'm even involved in selecting the preschool. My employers hired me to take control of daily child related things so they don't have to stress over it while at work. Otherwise they could just stick their child in daycare for about 20k less. I am paid above average because I don't need direction and am trustworthy. I make more than most nannies that have degrees and i don't have any housework, not even children's laundry plus great benefits. Its all about how much you care about the job and if you truly enjoy it. If you like what you do than you want to do more.
I'm even involved in selecting the preschool. My employers hired me to take control of daily child related things so they don't have to stress over it while at work. Otherwise they could just stick their child in daycare for about 20k less. I am paid above average because I don't need direction and am trustworthy. I make more than most nannies that have degrees and i don't have any housework, not even children's laundry plus great benefits. Its all about how much you care about the job and if you truly enjoy it. If you like what you do than you want to do more.
Anonymous
07/02/2013 13:53
Subject: Never had an MB who didn't discuss potential plans with me first
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Sorry. My friend called at 9pm last night saying her toddler kept asking for mine so she wanted to know if they could get together today. I don't see anything wrong with saying sure, my nanny will meet them at the park/zoo/library/whatever at 10am. Rather than disturb my nanny in her off time I just left her a note for when she got in this morning. I didn't think I needed to get her approval or give any warning ahead of time for things like that.
My MB would leave me a note asking me to call the mom to let her know if we'd like to get together that day. It's how we have a mutually respectful relationship.
But if the kids want to get together, isn't it part of your job as a nanny to facilitate that? I am all for framing it politely but truthfully I'd be pretty peeved at a nanny who decided not to take my child to see a friend because she wanted to go somewhere else to hang out with her own nanny friends. I generally let out nanny plan out what she wants for the day but if on occasion I make plans for my kiddo (to see a friend, for a family member to drop by to see kiddo, whatever), I might ask her if she'd mind doing xyz but she'd better have a really good reason if the answer is no.
Anonymous
07/02/2013 13:33
Subject: Re:Never had an MB who didn't discuss potential plans with me first
Nannies need to get over themselves. It isn't "your day". You are working and the parents and kids don't need to get your approval on their interests or who they like for play dates.
Anonymous
07/02/2013 12:54
Subject: Never had an MB who didn't discuss potential plans with me first
Anonymous wrote:Sorry. My friend called at 9pm last night saying her toddler kept asking for mine so she wanted to know if they could get together today. I don't see anything wrong with saying sure, my nanny will meet them at the park/zoo/library/whatever at 10am. Rather than disturb my nanny in her off time I just left her a note for when she got in this morning. I didn't think I needed to get her approval or give any warning ahead of time for things like that.
My MB would leave me a note asking me to call the mom to let her know if we'd like to get together that day. It's how we have a mutually respectful relationship.
Anonymous
07/02/2013 11:06
Subject: Never had an MB who didn't discuss potential plans with me first
Anonymous wrote:Sorry. My friend called at 9pm last night saying her toddler kept asking for mine so she wanted to know if they could get together today. I don't see anything wrong with saying sure, my nanny will meet them at the park/zoo/library/whatever at 10am. Rather than disturb my nanny in her off time I just left her a note for when she got in this morning. I didn't think I needed to get her approval or give any warning ahead of time for things like that.
I wouldn't have an issue with that.
Anonymous
07/02/2013 10:36
Subject: Never had an MB who didn't discuss potential plans with me first
Sorry. My friend called at 9pm last night saying her toddler kept asking for mine so she wanted to know if they could get together today. I don't see anything wrong with saying sure, my nanny will meet them at the park/zoo/library/whatever at 10am. Rather than disturb my nanny in her off time I just left her a note for when she got in this morning. I didn't think I needed to get her approval or give any warning ahead of time for things like that.
Anonymous
07/02/2013 10:35
Subject: Never had an MB who didn't discuss potential plans with me first
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Other than the occasional doctor's appointment, playdate, or a class she wants us to take, I typically plan the day with the children, not the mother. The families I work for know I have a proven track record of being a professional nanny, so there isn't the need to micromanage my day with the kids. I also keep a log of what we do everyday, so the parents know I'm not just putting little John and Suzy in front of the tv all day.
One of the big parts about accepting a job is the chemistry between you and the family. I took a couple of jobs where I took them for other reasons, and they did not last more than a year. But the jobs where I knew we were all on the same page would end up being jobs that lasted several years.
I don't sleep on the job, I don't expect mb to provide my food, I don't complain because I have to take the kids to the pool, I don't bring my laundry to work to wash it, I do more around the house than just what the children use. I also interact with my charges at the playground and have plenty of activities planned for us, I teach them to do chores around the house and how to be respectful to people. Why? Because I am a professional nanny and know I am there to provide the family with awesome service and not the other way around.
Nannies, THIS is what an MB will pay top rates and bend over backwards for. You sound amazing.
Anonymous wrote:
Exactly. A well compensated nanny is more than happy to provide awesome service.
You would think that would be the correlation, but it's frequently not. You would also think that the nannies on this board railing about MBs not paying enough would get that you need to provide a service that is worth a higher compensation. Act like a professional, work your way up, and you will have excellent references for when you really are ready to provide and be compensated for a professional service.
If you've been sleeping on the job, bringing your friends along while you work, doing all your laundry at your employer's house, whining that your MB isn't stocking your prefered lunch, proving yourself incapable of scheduling and pre-planning activities for the children's benefit rather than your own, complaining about having to do any housework at all, sharing your employer's personal business, expecting to be paid illegally, working without a defined contract, and generally adding stress to your employer's life rather than relieving it - then you are not going to get the excellent references and professional reputation that top-paying employers are going to be looking for. On the other hand, if you're totally fine with making $15/hour for the forseeable future and furthering the reputation of nannies as an easy, anyone-can-do-it low-paying job, then by all means...
Anonymous
07/02/2013 10:20
Subject: Never had an MB who didn't discuss potential plans with me first
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Other than the occasional doctor's appointment, playdate, or a class she wants us to take, I typically plan the day with the children, not the mother. The families I work for know I have a proven track record of being a professional nanny, so there isn't the need to micromanage my day with the kids. I also keep a log of what we do everyday, so the parents know I'm not just putting little John and Suzy in front of the tv all day.
One of the big parts about accepting a job is the chemistry between you and the family. I took a couple of jobs where I took them for other reasons, and they did not last more than a year. But the jobs where I knew we were all on the same page would end up being jobs that lasted several years.
I don't sleep on the job, I don't expect mb to provide my food, I don't complain because I have to take the kids to the pool, I don't bring my laundry to work to wash it, I do more around the house than just what the children use. I also interact with my charges at the playground and have plenty of activities planned for us, I teach them to do chores around the house and how to be respectful to people. Why? Because I am a professional nanny and know I am there to provide the family with awesome service and not the other way around.
Exactly. A well compensated nanny is more than happy to provide awesome service.
Nannies, THIS is what an MB will pay top rates and bend over backwards for. You sound amazing.
Anonymous
07/02/2013 10:14
Subject: Never had an MB who didn't discuss potential plans with me first
Anonymous wrote:Other than the occasional doctor's appointment, playdate, or a class she wants us to take, I typically plan the day with the children, not the mother. The families I work for know I have a proven track record of being a professional nanny, so there isn't the need to micromanage my day with the kids. I also keep a log of what we do everyday, so the parents know I'm not just putting little John and Suzy in front of the tv all day.
One of the big parts about accepting a job is the chemistry between you and the family. I took a couple of jobs where I took them for other reasons, and they did not last more than a year. But the jobs where I knew we were all on the same page would end up being jobs that lasted several years.
I don't sleep on the job, I don't expect mb to provide my food, I don't complain because I have to take the kids to the pool, I don't bring my laundry to work to wash it, I do more around the house than just what the children use. I also interact with my charges at the playground and have plenty of activities planned for us, I teach them to do chores around the house and how to be respectful to people. Why? Because I am a professional nanny and know I am there to provide the family with awesome service and not the other way around.
Nannies, THIS is what an MB will pay top rates and bend over backwards for. You sound amazing.
Anonymous
07/02/2013 10:06
Subject: Never had an MB who didn't discuss potential plans with me first
For me, the relationship needs to be mutually respectful. That's what children should be learning to emulate.
Anonymous
07/02/2013 10:00
Subject: Never had an MB who didn't discuss potential plans with me first
Other than the occasional doctor's appointment, playdate, or a class she wants us to take, I typically plan the day with the children, not the mother. The families I work for know I have a proven track record of being a professional nanny, so there isn't the need to micromanage my day with the kids. I also keep a log of what we do everyday, so the parents know I'm not just putting little John and Suzy in front of the tv all day.
One of the big parts about accepting a job is the chemistry between you and the family. I took a couple of jobs where I took them for other reasons, and they did not last more than a year. But the jobs where I knew we were all on the same page would end up being jobs that lasted several years.
I don't sleep on the job, I don't expect mb to provide my food, I don't complain because I have to take the kids to the pool, I don't bring my laundry to work to wash it, I do more around the house than just what the children use. I also interact with my charges at the playground and have plenty of activities planned for us, I teach them to do chores around the house and how to be respectful to people. Why? Because I am a professional nanny and know I am there to provide the family with awesome service and not the other way around.
One of the big parts about accepting a job is the chemistry between you and the family. I took a couple of jobs where I took them for other reasons, and they did not last more than a year. But the jobs where I knew we were all on the same page would end up being jobs that lasted several years.
I don't sleep on the job, I don't expect mb to provide my food, I don't complain because I have to take the kids to the pool, I don't bring my laundry to work to wash it, I do more around the house than just what the children use. I also interact with my charges at the playground and have plenty of activities planned for us, I teach them to do chores around the house and how to be respectful to people. Why? Because I am a professional nanny and know I am there to provide the family with awesome service and not the other way around.
Anonymous
07/02/2013 09:42
Subject: Never had an MB who didn't discuss potential plans with me first
I'm a nanny, and I think it's funny how nannies refer to it as "my entire day." Some parents are uptight about scheduling, and micromanage. But that's their right as parents. It's our right to work for who we choose to accept a job from.
~signed, a nanny who's mb does not plan the entire day.
~signed, a nanny who's mb does not plan the entire day.
Anonymous
07/02/2013 09:31
Subject: Never had an MB who didn't discuss potential plans with me first
I'm not sure what specifically you're reacting to, but sure, there are going to be some parents who have their whole day scheduled. Sounds like you wouldn't be a good fit for that top of employer. Other nannies might. Probably a good question to ask while interviewing, but nothing to get nasty about.
I personally would give my nanny a schedule to follow loosely in the beginning. If she showed me that she had the instincts to generally follow the way I'd like my kids to be raised while making adjustments based on her experience and the kids' day-to-day needs, I'd stop scheduling. If, on the other hand, she was making adjustments that I didn't agree with or that I thought were for her own personal needs rather than for the kids, then I'd have a talk with her and/or go back to strict scheduling.
If you have an MB who you feel is unnecessarily scheduling your day, have a talk with her to see why. She may think it's helpful to you, it may make her feel more comfortable to know exactly where her kids are during the day, or she may just prefer to have the control in which case you may just not be a good fit. But it's also quite possible that she doesn't trust your judgment enough to leave you to your own devices.
I personally would give my nanny a schedule to follow loosely in the beginning. If she showed me that she had the instincts to generally follow the way I'd like my kids to be raised while making adjustments based on her experience and the kids' day-to-day needs, I'd stop scheduling. If, on the other hand, she was making adjustments that I didn't agree with or that I thought were for her own personal needs rather than for the kids, then I'd have a talk with her and/or go back to strict scheduling.
If you have an MB who you feel is unnecessarily scheduling your day, have a talk with her to see why. She may think it's helpful to you, it may make her feel more comfortable to know exactly where her kids are during the day, or she may just prefer to have the control in which case you may just not be a good fit. But it's also quite possible that she doesn't trust your judgment enough to leave you to your own devices.
Anonymous
07/02/2013 09:17
Subject: Never had an MB who didn't discuss potential plans with me first
Ha. Its not even funny but many MBs are like that. I don't mind suggestions and all but planning my entire day is something else!
Anonymous
07/02/2013 07:19
Subject: Never had an MB who didn't discuss potential plans with me first
It's rather shocking to hear about all MBs who suddenly tell the nanny what every day's schedule will be.