My main point in my first post was that it's harder at times to know what to do in certain situations because of how personal and this job can be. What may be fine with one MB is a firing offence to another.

Anonymous wrote:

I'm 13:56 and I fully agree with you 100%. I think I'm just lacking the word to describe what I meant when I used the term "professional job". Like I said before, I do consider myself a professional. I was talking more about the image of a "professional job" (getting all dressed up, altering your personality, and having clear(er) expectations on how to go about your job). My fiance works in this type of environment and there is a drastic difference to how we both go about fulfilling our roles at work. The day he accepted the position he knew how to act and how to handle almost every situation that would come up, whereas I use my common sense and experience to deal with what comes up.

My main point in my first post was that it's harder at times to know what to do in certain situations because of how personal and this job can be. What may be fine with one MB is a firing offence to another. So while I fully agree that :::some::: nannies need to strive to better present themselves as a "professional nanny", I also understand where nannies just starting out may have questions that the answers seem obvious to the rest of us.

Anonymous wrote:Professionalism isn't just about whether you love what you do or want to continue it. Its about how you present yourself in your work environment and to your employers. There is far too much rationalization for doing things that are unprofessional. It doesn't matter that you are not going into an office. It doesn't matter if your friend got to do it. It doesn't matter whether a checked out SAHM would do it. Whenever you start rationalizing something which is for your own entertainment and think that you will not hurt your reputation, you are fooling yourself. You can't have it both ways but many young nannies fail to see this.

Anonymous wrote:

Yes, some of those questions can make you seem less professional, but let's be honest, Nannying isn't a very "professional" job.

This is why nannies are not treated not respect. Nannies themselves don't see nannying as a professional career.

Yes, some of those questions can make you seem less professional, but let's be honest, Nannying isn't a very "professional" job.

Anonymous wrote:Nannies do themselves a disservice by not acting professional and then wondering why people see them as overpaid babysitters. If you need to ask the following questions, you are embarrassing to other nannies.

1. Can I lay out at the pool instead of watching the kids who are 6 and 10? Rationale: I'm bored and a SAHM might do this.
2. Can I bring my friend along with me to work? Rationale: Why not, being a nanny is not a real job.
3. Can I bring my child to work? Rationale: Why not, childcare isn't a real job and extra kid is no more work.
4. Can I do my laundry at my employers house? Rationale: The machine in my building requires coins, MB's machine does not.

I'm sure there is more but if you are in your 20s and thinking "Gee, I wonder if I should...." the answer is no. Its entirely inappropriate and the baseline shouldn't be can I get away with it. Others see this as profession even if you aren't mature enough to realize it.

Anonymous wrote:I don't think you're giving enough people credit OP. I think people ask these questions not to see what they can "get away with" but rather to make sure they are doing the best job they can. So many nannies on here love and care about their charges. They wonder if they are doing everything exactly right and that is why they ask this forum, not for judgement but for sound, reasonable advice.