The kids probably wouldn't know if you were also getting a bonus. It sounds like the parents let them take the lead on the actual "gift" part, so they were excited to tell you about the card they wrote and chocolates they picked for you. Never give more than you are comfortable giving, but the only way the kids will be embarrassed is if you seem disappointed by their gift/card.

It wasn't crazy expensive. Just a lot more expensive then the candy I think I am getting.

Won't you also get a cash bonus? Kids get toys; employees get cash and a cheaper token gift. Everyone ends up with what they like best.

+1. Yes, this is so standard that it is practically the rule.

Anonymous wrote:It wasn't crazy expensive. Just a lot more expensive then the candy I think I am getting.

Won't you also get a cash bonus? Kids get toys; employees get cash and a cheaper token gift. Everyone ends up with what they like best.

It wasn't crazy expensive. Just a lot more expensive then the candy I think I am getting.

Why did you feel the need to get them an expensive gift? You don't need to match a gift an employer gets you.

The kids you take care of are going to be getting lots of gifts and lots of nice gifts from their parents and likely family and maybe close friends.

Return the expensive gift. Buy them a reasonably priced gift that you really think they will enjoy.

This happened to me but at Valentines Day. Someone I babysat for on an occasional basis always got me a babysitter card and a small gift. When I started Nannying i got the kids a gift each and a card. The parents said' you didnt need to do that" I was so hurt they didnt even get me a card.....its silly now, 15 years later, but at the time I felt unappreciated.

Us nannies buy gifts for your children as we care about them and want to express that. Don't feel bad about it, feel glad they want to as it must mean they think a lot of your kid.

Anonymous wrote:Return one game and just give one. Never give more than you'd feel ok about if you got nothing in return. Odds are you'd be mad-sad-annoyed-disappointment or some other emotion if you gave two expensive games and got candy in return. One game and you might not feel so bad.

This. In general, it makes me feel weird when our nanny and mother's helper buy gifts for the kids -- I know how much they make, and I know they need the money for their own families! I get that it's my problem, though.

Return one game and just give one. Never give more than you'd feel ok about if you got nothing in return. Odds are you'd be mad-sad-annoyed-disappointment or some other emotion if you gave two expensive games and got candy in return. One game and you might not feel so bad.

Not at all. I just feel it will cause awkwardness on their part to be honest.

So was your gift not genuine? Only conditional that you receive something expensive in return? You more than likely will be getting something more but don't buy gifts to impress or that are conditional. If you get something for a child or anyone, only get it because you really want to and feel good about and it wouldn't even matter if you received nothing in return

Just give the gifts . We should give without the though of getting. Give to give

You might be getting chocolates from your charges and a bonus from the parents, so it will even out. If you think they'll like the gifts, give them to the kids.

So, I bought my charges 2 fairly expensive games for Christmas and wrote them a nice card. (Card was to parents as well).
Today, one of my charges showed me the Christmas card he had been writing for me (Just signed by boys and not parents) and said they had a box of chocolates for me. I now feel embarrassed that I have gone overboard with the gifts and sentimental card. Please don't think me ungrateful, i just feel embarrassed and feel it could be awkward. Anyone else been in this situation? I work for them four afternoons/evenings a week.