Anonymous wrote:I would have fired her immediately for letting a 8 year old in the front passenger seat. Don't you know that is the deadliest spot in any car?

-- survivor of a roll-over in the passenger seat.

This! I can't believe that this isn't the big issue here. The money made you fire her but not this!?!?

youre horrible OP

OP, if I were you, I would sleep well at night. God willing, that nanny woman isn't.

Anonymous wrote:Why would she only return 1/2 of the money if they are satisfied with the work? It is very common not to use the manufacture glass and go with another company. I've had my windshield replaced twice through my insurance company. Neither time was it manufacture glass and it has been fine. I would have checked with the insurance first and if they pay, give her a little something for the trouble or even better use a company that comes to her/your home so its done on work time and no big deal. I can't imagine this is the first time your kid had a tantrum so I would be concerned at the lack of communication. It is also very hard to break glass in that setting and a kick probably should not have smashed it. Was your child hurt by the glass? If they kicked it, humm... this doesn't sound right. I have never called anyone a troll online, but I have to question you. I would have paid for the glass at a reasonable price and fired her for letting my child in the front seat. If your kid is such a terror, you may want to harness the kid in a good car seat.

OP here. Little DC is a gymnast and competitive swimmer, and apparently has good leg strength. According to the nanny, DC had slumped down in the seat for back leverage and so that DC's legs were pointed up, and then started to kick at the front windshield. DC did not break the windshield, but rather cracked it. According to the auto glass companies I contacted, if the crack is bigger than a dollar bill (and this one radiated out slightly bigger than a $1 bill), then you have to replace the entire windshield.

I did pay for the glass at a reasonable price, but the nanny said that this was not good enough for her or her spouse, who had bought the car new in 1999, and would now have an after-market windshield. With her $1,200 estimate to get the job done with manufacturer's glass (which I confirmed with the dealership), I felt the right thing to do was to reimburse her the $1,200 so that she could have the job done to her complete satisfaction. Of course, she was just angling for additional cash and she got it.

Why would she only return 1/2 of the money if they are satisfied with the work? It is very common not to use the manufacture glass and go with another company. I've had my windshield replaced twice through my insurance company. Neither time was it manufacture glass and it has been fine. I would have checked with the insurance first and if they pay, give her a little something for the trouble or even better use a company that comes to her/your home so its done on work time and no big deal. I can't imagine this is the first time your kid had a tantrum so I would be concerned at the lack of communication. It is also very hard to break glass in that setting and a kick probably should not have smashed it. Was your child hurt by the glass? If they kicked it, humm... this doesn't sound right. I have never called anyone a troll online, but I have to question you. I would have paid for the glass at a reasonable price and fired her for letting my child in the front seat. If your kid is such a terror, you may want to harness the kid in a good car seat.

Anonymous wrote:I would have fired her immediately for letting a 8 year old in the front passenger seat. Don't you know that is the deadliest spot in any car?

-- survivor of a roll-over in the passenger seat.

exactly!! Kids aren't supposed to be in the front until 12 yrs and 120 pounds if I remember right. Check your owners manual for specific guidelines for your car.

Thanks everyone for the responses. It is helpful to get your views on the matter, and informative to think about issues like passenger safety and child discipline.

Anonymous wrote:I would have fired her immediately for letting a 8 year old in the front passenger seat. Don't you know that is the deadliest spot in any car?

-- survivor of a roll-over in the passenger seat.

At what age would you put a child in the passenger seat?

I would have fired her immediately for letting a 8 year old in the front passenger seat. Don't you know that is the deadliest spot in any car?

-- survivor of a roll-over in the passenger seat.

Do not hire her back.

OP, you have been more than fair. I can see why your previous nanny stayed with you for ten years.

And no, I do not permit any of my children, except my 15-year old, to ride in the front, passenger seat of my vehicle. Some friends mentioned that DC might have been injured themselves, but at no point did it occur to me to push the blame on the nanny or castigate her for permitting DC to drive around in the front seat of the vehicle.

Anonymous wrote:Op, do you let your child ride in the front seat while he is with you? If so, I really don't think she was at fault for having him in the front seat of her car. Also, as far as giving her the extra money, maybe she figured you would get it fixed correctly the first time instead of looking for a cheap way out. My DH would have done the same thing, although he probably would have wanted to talk with you in person. Finally, ever think the reason your child is so violent is because you hit him?

PP, I discussed the repair with the nanny, informed her which auto repair agency was going to do it, discussed the cost of $300 with her, and asked her to think about whether she wanted me to make an appointment to have the work done.

Nanny came back and asked me to set up the repair, which I did for the very next day. The next day she came over before the repair work to collect the cash payment for the window replacement, and I informed her that she would also be paid her regular rate for any hours spent at the repair shop.

Only after the repair was finished, about a half hour afterwards, did she first broach the subject of after-market versus maufacturer's glass for her 1999 automobile. She even had an estimate of $1,200 handy for such work. I have never replaced a car window, and was not even aware that they use different auto glass at this premier national company -- in fact they asked me the details of the vehicle beforehand.

I am a person of good faith, and wish only that the nanny had made her specific interests know to me at any of the several points we discussed the repair. Since she had the $1,200 estimate handy, and I gave her $300 for the repair before the appointment, that might have been one good point (before the work) to make her preference known.

In any case, I subsequently paid her the $1,200 to have the repair done to her satisfaction. The nanny has since informed me that her spouse is actually satified with the repair as it was done, and so she would like to refund me $600 if she can return to work for us.

I actually never spank my DC, but I think that if you break your nanny's windshield while throwing a tantrum -- then you deserve one swift spank across the bottom (fully clothed) for having done such a bad thing. DC is also suspended from their favorite activity for the rest of spring/summer.

Op, do you let your child ride in the front seat while he is with you? If so, I really don't think she was at fault for having him in the front seat of her car. Also, as far as giving her the extra money, maybe she figured you would get it fixed correctly the first time instead of looking for a cheap way out. My DH would have done the same thing, although he probably would have wanted to talk with you in person. Finally, ever think the reason your child is so violent is because you hit him?

Anonymous wrote:When Parents can do their own parenting, that's usually the best possible thing for most families. It gives children the stability that so many are lacking.

You're saying this on a Nanny forum?