Another devil's advocate here. I took care of two children in a previous position that were just genuinely spoiled, disrespectful, aggressive brats. I worked for the family for 18 months, and I tried so HARD to instill gratefulness and respect and kindness and gentleness and patience in these kids, and the moment that I'd feel like I'd actually gotten somewhere, I'd leave for the weekend and return to the same spoiled, disrespectful, aggressive brats first thing on Monday. Did I ever call the children "spoiled little shits" (or other names) to their faces? No. Did I ever tell the parents what I thought about them and their kids? No. Did I talk shit about how much I hated everything about my job to my family and friends? Probably every night. And I looked for a job actively the moment I knew I couldn't take anymore, but I obviously wasn't going to up and quit until I found something else. I'm still a nanny, and I work for a family who respects me and who teaches their children to respect me. I work for a family that I can communicate concerns with, and have discussions about how to handle those concerns. I still think the kids are spoiled, but they're definitely not "little shits" who I can't bear to be around, and I actually quite enjoy my job now, just like I had in the past before I got the job with that one unfortunate family. This isn't about the career itself, this is about the family you work for--and not all of them are the same.

Anonymous wrote:To the pp above...I am the pp you responded to....thanks, good point....you spent a lot of time with them

How old were those kids you worked with?

They were 2 and 4. I didn't really have many problems with the 2 year old, it was primarily the 4 year old.

To the pp above...I am the pp you responded to....thanks, good point....you spent a lot of time with them

How old were those kids you worked with?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:why is she a bad nanny? cant we all just admit that some kids are in fact.... SPOILED. Truth hurts.

Very true....and sometimes the parents are spoiled and selfish too, so they are raising their kids that way (not always). Until 5 years ago, I would have been so shocked and disturbed by the OP's post. As a nanny, I would have told her she shouldn't be in the biz anymore due to her attitude. I worked for great families, great kids (kids that tried normal misbehaviors, but the parents actually parented well and we all worked on it - overall good families). Now, after 20 years in the biz, I work for both parents and children who are selfish, self-absorbed, no empathy, impolite, over the top consumerism (including buying way too much for kids all the time), too focused on appearance, uncaring about lying, cheating, stealing, bratty behavior....

You get the idea. And guess what? Even I have become angry and bitter dealing with a family such as this. The problem is, when you bang your head against the wall so hard trying to teach the kids good behavior and decent values (like kindness, basic respect, not lying/cheating/sneaking, etc.) and you get nowhere....you realize that children copy their parents, PERIOD. Nothing you do as a nanny really makes that much of a difference when their parents are modeling - on a daily basis - self-absorption, materialism, impoliteness, lack of empathy, outright mean-ness (to each other), dishonesty, etc. You can't compete with that and actually teach them anything different. They don't care. You are just some person not in their family talking about concepts they have never heard about nor seen their family do.

While I understand that this may be your experience with such a case, please do not make blanket statements that are simply not true. I worked for a horrible family where the parents didn't seem to care for the children at all. They spent no quality time with them, only time in front of the TV stuffing their faces with candy. They spoiled the children and allowed them to be disrespectful. There were no rules in the house. I started nannying for them 50 hours per week and after a month and a half I had those children behaving and acting like a little gentleman and a little lady. It was all pleases and thank yous from then on out. I am not saying that it is possible in every situation, but in some cases a good nanny can save children from being little terrors, despite what the parents may do. I spent more time with those children than their parents did and while they still acted up when mom and dad got home, when nanny was there they knew it meant business. We had lots of fun and I really don't feel like I am overly strict, children just need consistency and boundaries and I know how to give them those things.

Truth is, some people are just not nice people. They raise their kids to be the same.

Anonymous wrote:why is she a bad nanny? cant we all just admit that some kids are in fact.... SPOILED. Truth hurts.

Very true....and sometimes the parents are spoiled and selfish too, so they are raising their kids that way (not always). Until 5 years ago, I would have been so shocked and disturbed by the OP's post. As a nanny, I would have told her she shouldn't be in the biz anymore due to her attitude. I worked for great families, great kids (kids that tried normal misbehaviors, but the parents actually parented well and we all worked on it - overall good families). Now, after 20 years in the biz, I work for both parents and children who are selfish, self-absorbed, no empathy, impolite, over the top consumerism (including buying way too much for kids all the time), too focused on appearance, uncaring about lying, cheating, stealing, bratty behavior....

You get the idea. And guess what? Even I have become angry and bitter dealing with a family such as this. The problem is, when you bang your head against the wall so hard trying to teach the kids good behavior and decent values (like kindness, basic respect, not lying/cheating/sneaking, etc.) and you get nowhere....you realize that children copy their parents, PERIOD. Nothing you do as a nanny really makes that much of a difference when their parents are modeling - on a daily basis - self-absorption, materialism, impoliteness, lack of empathy, outright mean-ness (to each other), dishonesty, etc. You can't compete with that and actually teach them anything different. They don't care. You are just some person not in their family talking about concepts they have never heard about nor seen their family do.

Your attitude is awful.

Time for a new line of work, OP.

Anonymous wrote:why is she a bad nanny? cant we all just admit that some kids are in fact.... SPOILED. Truth hurts.

And as a nanny your job is to take care of the kids - even if they are spoiled. And you can establish boundaries and limits and not let the kids get away with acting spoiled with you.

If OP can't do that or handle it, she's in the wrong line of work.

Anonymous wrote:So sue me, I am 7 1/2 months pregnant and uncomfortable and not exactly little miss sunshine these days, especially when spoiled kids push my buttons.

Pregnancy does not excuse your mental instability. I recommend you seek out help for the sake of your child.

No,when you work with kids it doesn't mean you have to like them all. But, most good nannies wouldn't have such hatred for them.

Anonymous wrote:why is she a bad nanny? cant we all just admit that some kids are in fact.... SPOILED. Truth hurts.

Yes! It's true. some kids (& adults) are just rotten. I would never say it to their faces but to friends or family or an Anon forum - hell yea.

Oh and my sisters kids are spoiled rotten brats!!! She says it's cause she's going thru a divorce but they have always been brats.

Just cause I work with kids doesn't mean I have to like all of them

why is she a bad nanny? cant we all just admit that some kids are in fact.... SPOILED. Truth hurts.

Anonymous wrote:There's nothing scary about it you weirdos. Who says you have to worship every brat out there otherwise you don't like children? That's bull.

I feel so bad for your unborn child.

Instead of griping and calling them spoiled little shits and letting resentment and hate brew - why not work with them to change their attitude and behavior?

You're a nanny. That's your job. Don't like it? Get another job and let someone else who actually wants your job take it.