Anonymous wrote:For nannies who work in a home with nanny came, how are you coping?
My NF has extensive camera coverage- living room, dining room, kitchen, stairways and hallways, all bedrooms, the office, front porch, and the back yard. They also monitor internet usage on their wifi network.
In theory, I think nanny cams are reasonable. In my interview they mentioned they have a camera in the nursery which I agreed was fine. After I started working though, I learned that the entire home was wired. At first I rationalized it - I am doing nothing wrong so let them watch. Or, maybe their is a nanny out there in the Internet porn business. Hey,big we can imagine it then it has to be plausible, right?
Over time it's become more difficult to make peace with the surveillance. For example, they have made comments about things I said in private phone calls I made while the kids are napping. They comment on what I watch on tv, again when the kids are asleep. One day I almost fell trying to pull the double stroller up the rent steps. They made jokes about it.
I feel hyper aware all the time, like they are monitoring everything I do rather then simply ensuring the safety of their children. Sometimes I turn on the washing machine and make my calls in the laundry room. Some days I stay out all day at the museums or zoo because the cameras make me uncomfortable. It's a feeling like there's a spider creeping up the back of your neck. The worst is when I am having a great time with the kids playing around then I remember they are watching, that I am on stage and the cameras are rolling. I completely shut down. Suddenly my movements feel awkward and unnatural.
For nannies who work in a home with nanny cams, even if the cameras make sense on a rational level, how has it affected you on a personal level? How do you cope?
As a MB, I wonder why they are watching you on the camera all the time too. It takes time to monitor so much and catch everything and why don't they just watch their own kids if they have time to do that? Do you work for a SAHM?