Anonymous wrote:I've run into the attitude fairly often that a nanny is paid to care for a child, including doing things for them like cleaning up after playing, making their bed, etc. As a former child who had everything done for her, I am now a nanny who firmly believes in the importance of instilling independence as early as possible. I know firsthand how it feels to begrudgingly step into adulthood, no longer enabled to be lazy, and would have chosen to instead grow up knowing self-reliance as a normal part of life.

I can't abide enabling my charges to be lazy with what they are actually capable of doing themselves and I find it outrageous that any parent who hires me would insist on it. I'm talking anything from a 6 year old clearing his own plate from the table to a 2 year old putting away their own toys (with prompting). The attitude seems to be so pervasive and I'm honestly curious to hear other opinions on this.

Parents, do you insist your nanny do things for your child that he/she would be capable of on their own?
Nannies, how often have you come across this attitude and do you go along with/support it?

Anonymous wrote:I am a nanny who cares for 11 year old plus occasionally 13 and 15 year old siblings. I say occasional care because MB has me do everything for them, against what DB has said, including make 15 year old an after school snack, put their dirty laundry in the hamper two feet away from where they throw it on the floor, take their dishes to the sink. They have no responsibility, chores, anything to make them not just the little shits they are being raised to be. They don't even say please and thank you. Its literally "I'm hungry. Where's my snack?" Me: say "can I have a snack please?" Them: blank stares until their mom comes in and tells me to make them a snack. It sucks. But she's the boss its upsetting because previous family had 2 year old bringing her dish to the sink and having manners so there's no excuse for new family.