Anonymous wrote:In my experience, your first nanny was an unusual gem. I cannot imagine her having lost her husband and still arriving on time every day with a smile and cheerful greeting for your baby! I don't know that I could have done that and I am certain my nanny would never be able to do that!!!

The nanny's cell phone use is the most common complaint I have heard (and experienced) from other mothers.

If you are happy with your new nanny aside from those issues, I would talk to her about being late and not greeting your baby with a smile (even a fake smile). The rest I doubt there is much you can do about.

I lost both my parents within a few months of each other while I was working, and I was/am still able to go to work in a great mood. It's sad and I grieve but life goes on and I know they would want me to enjoy every minute. If you are that depressed and can't smile at all after a loss you need to speak with a professional and get treatment. You see people every day who have lost someone close to them and you don't even know it

I lost my husband when our baby was a few weeks old. It's been terribly hard on me but my employers would never know considering I show up to work with a smile on my face everyday. They want someone who's happy to see their baby. Yes, I'm still sad but who doesn't feel like smiling when they see a baby?

Your first nanny was extraordinary, OP. And your new nanny sounds like a dud. The "mood thing" and not smiling at your child in the morning is a deal-breaker for me.

OP I get it - we've been wrestling with some of these same issues with attitude with our current nanny (who happens to be 60).

We are making a change for a variety of reason, of which attitude is one but not the primary driver. But in seeking a new nanny I am absolutely interviewing for general disposition/demeanor.

I have two kids under 5 and I think a happy, upbeat, energetic environment is what they need. I consider it part of the job requirements to be a source of fun, stability, calm, positive attention, and supportive interaction. It comes right behind non-negotiables of safety, honesty and reliability.

I pay good rates with good benefits and we treat our nanny with great respect and professionalism. I'm only going to hire someone who will enjoy the job, and my kids, and be an upbeat positive addition to the household.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You're as full of it as a Christmas goose, OP.

I have no clue what you are referring to, PP.

NP here and neither do I, PP. Are you saying that OP's former nanny was too good to be true or that her current nanny is too bad to be true?

Another NP here and I don't know what "You're as full of it as a Christmas goose" means! Full of stuffing? Full of shit?


Anyway, OP, your current nanny sounds exactly like my current nanny. I am hesitant to fire her as I don't know what else is out there.

You are spoiled, OP. Your Old Nanny was very unusually good, professional and dedicated. You are not likely to find anyone like her again.

Provided that all else about your new nanny is good (kid loves her, she isn't neglectful, etc) I would try to work on the issues you have with the new nanny and see if you can improve the situation.

Anonymous wrote:Being late is unacceptable. Once, okay. Once a week, not okay.

Worse than being late (in my book) is your new nanny's inability to greet your child with a smile! To me that is the very, very least a nanny can do!

Your old nanny was fantastic, OP, and she will be impossible to replace. But your new nanny sucks.

Being late is unacceptable. Once, okay. Once a week, not okay.

Anonymous wrote:Was your "old nanny" an older woman and your "new nanny" a younger woman, OP?

Yes, I suppose. "Old Nanny" is 58 now and "New Nanny" is 31. However I am only 34 and have never been late to work, don't bring my moods with me to work, don't use my cell phone at work and don't talk much about my personal life beyond answering the basic type of "how was your weekend?" type questions. Thus, I don't think age has anything to do with the differences between "Old Nanny" and "New Nanny".

Was your "old nanny" an older woman and your "new nanny" a younger woman, OP?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You're as full of it as a Christmas goose, OP.

I have no clue what you are referring to, PP.

NP here and neither do I, PP. Are you saying that OP's former nanny was too good to be true or that her current nanny is too bad to be true?

Anonymous wrote:You're as full of it as a Christmas goose, OP.

I have no clue what you are referring to, PP.

You're as full of it as a Christmas goose, OP.

In my experience, your first nanny was an unusual gem. I cannot imagine her having lost her husband and still arriving on time every day with a smile and cheerful greeting for your baby! I don't know that I could have done that and I am certain my nanny would never be able to do that!!!

The nanny's cell phone use is the most common complaint I have heard (and experienced) from other mothers.

If you are happy with your new nanny aside from those issues, I would talk to her about being late and not greeting your baby with a smile (even a fake smile). The rest I doubt there is much you can do about.

We have only had two nannies in the last 2.5 years(the length of our parenting lives).

Our old nanny was never once even one minute late (generally arrived five minutes early) in two years, always seemed to be in a great mood when she arrived and greeted DC cheerfully, was NEVER on her cell phone that I ever saw (and in fact her cell phone never rang when DH and I came home unexpectedly which was often) and always arrived in fresh, laundered clothes.

We moved here and our new nanny is generally late by a few minutes, is often sour or unexpressive when she arrives, does use her cell phone and receive calls occasionally, and has had the same stain on her jeans all week.

Our old nanny also never spoke about her private life even though we knew she lost her husband (he was only 55) during the time she was working for us. Our new nanny does share a bit too much.

Our old nanny was our first nanny so maybe we were spoiled. Are we judging this new nanny too harshly?

Both were/are paid in the $18 to $20 range and good benefits.

TIA