My nanny is a little like this. Also older, fewer questions but serious obsession and commentary on proper food (soup every day) and no bread and no sugar of any kind and she judges me for buying non non-gmo stuff and overdresses so dd doesn’t get cold (it’s 80 out!) It’s an Eastern European thing so I get it. But since she is amazing in every other way and dd adores her and she’s third grandma I let it go and don’t engage. Or say something like “well that’s interesting, I’m just going to try it this way for now” and she moves on for a bit. She’s going on vacation for a couple weeks and I’m already dreading having to now do all the things she does for us and dd will miss her.

This person would make me insane. She sounds like a lovely and caring person as a human being in general, but no way could I hire someone who requires me using that much mental energy to interact with them. Nannies are supposed to help with our load, not add to it.

Did you not catch this during your interview, or is it only just starting to get under your skin over time?

Wow, your nanny would drive me crazy. Absolutely crazy. I literally can't think of anything I'd complain about with our nanny. If she drives you nuts, maybe look for someone else.

I hear you! I will say though that there was a time I went through many because they all annoyed me. I have kids ranging 5yrs-25yrs. I’m so much happier now that I’ve had the same one for 7 years. We I can depend on her and have a bond with her. We make it work. I wonder what she says about you.

This kind of person will never change even if you let them know they bug you. They'll be better for a few days and then back themselves.

I would go nuts having someone like this around on a daily basis.

(I'm a nanny)

Anonymous wrote:Every response to why you do things a certain way should involve a memory of a dearly departed grandparent lovingly showing you how to do it that way.

Perfect!

Every response to why you do things a certain way should involve a memory of a dearly departed grandparent lovingly showing you how to do it that way.

Anonymous wrote:Eww......
If your child has HFM you should let the Nanny stay home because it is EXTREMELY contagious.

I caught it from my charge once & wanted to die of misery.
Fever, bumps in my mouth (eating was uncomfortable!) and lost a few fingernails.
Plus it lasted three entire weeks.

We alreadyknowhowypufeel.

OP, maybe you should be a little more direct with her. When she asks why you did something; “because hat is how I like the closet but I do not like being questioned about how I do things in my home.” I would have to be more direct or eventually I would snap.

Eww......
If your child has HFM you should let the Nanny stay home because it is EXTREMELY contagious.

I caught it from my charge once & wanted to die of misery.
Fever, bumps in my mouth (eating was uncomfortable!) and lost a few fingernails.
Plus it lasted three entire weeks.

That would drive me nuts. I really like quiet (don't ask why I have kids).

Haha! We have a very educated nanny who has corrected me on the old world Jewish stuff! She will smile and calmly say that DD did not get the flu from the flu shot or that wet hair isn’t bad for her. I have so much of that crap in my head from my mother who still spouts it!

The dishwasher-correction stuff would drive me insane however.

Anonymous wrote:OMG! I am your nanny! Seriously! BTW how did you find the time to write this; you’ve been so busy and stressed out. Can I make you some soup? What kind of soup would you like? Should I purée it or do want chunks. Because I can do either. Whatever works best for you. Hot soup? Cold soup? Or should I just make some potato salad? Do we have potatoes? I can go get some after work tonight. You just let me know.

Hahaha this cracked me up! Though if you were my nanny it would include many more boldly started declaratives - a convo we have actually had is:

-nanny: I will make soup today. Chunky soup is the best for this weather because it’s hardy - do you want chunky soup!?
- me: actually i prefer puréed soups, but both can be good, make whatever we have the ingredients for
-nanny: puréed soup is much better for Dd! Why didn’t you buy squash for me to make it when you went shopping this weekend!
- me: ?!?!

OMG! I am your nanny! Seriously! BTW how did you find the time to write this; you’ve been so busy and stressed out. Can I make you some soup? What kind of soup would you like? Should I purée it or do want chunks. Because I can do either. Whatever works best for you. Hot soup? Cold soup? Or should I just make some potato salad? Do we have potatoes? I can go get some after work tonight. You just let me know.

Overall our nanny is great and DD loves her very much - I'm just venting about this here b/c I need an outlet.

Our nanny is like the typical movie character of a Jewish grandma - from the minute she comes in in the morning it's an onslaught of questions of "Why is this blanket here? Why didn't you run the dish washer last night? Why are you dressed so nicely today?" etc etc etc wanting info on every action and decision. It's not in a bossy way, more just wanting to know EVERYTHING. If she disagrees with someone like how I organized the closet, she won't say it directly, she will just ask me 1000 times why I did it a particular way

Anytime DD is sick its because the weather is changing or her hair was wet outside- no DD has hand foot and mouth because her friend just had it, not because it was 90 degrees yesterday and only 80 today

Any extended convo I have with her involves lamenting the tragedies of the world, the friend of a friend that died in a bizarre way 20 years ago, the cousin that was sick all the time as a child, the latest political corruption

She constantly worries she isn't doing enough for us so if I ever come home early she refuses to leave even when I pretty directly tell her to

She's overall a great fit for the needs of our family, a kind and caring person, and I would never complain about this things to her - I just needed an outlet after a morning of getting asked for the 100th time why I load the dishwasher a particular way, told judgmental gossip about a neighbor, and had to pretend I agreed my kid is sick b/c "winter is coming"