Anonymous
10/09/2013 04:25
Subject: Advice needed on messes made while parents are with kids
Clarify the conditions of your contract.
We were pretty clear in our contract that we wanted the nanny to do... everything. She was to be "me" as if I were at home, and as a SAHM I ran a pretty tight ship.
Not perfect, tho. And I don't expect anyone to have every single thing dusted and put away "just so" at the end of the day while also attending to two kids. But close. So laundry, vacuuming the high-traffic areas, dishes, monitoring kids' toy pickup, and discipline. I needed a nanny with very, very good discipline and motivational skills. Clean up is a big part of that. Putting toys "on vacation" because the children didn't clean up is fine with me... we back her up.
What I'm saying is: What is in your contract?
We were pretty clear in our contract that we wanted the nanny to do... everything. She was to be "me" as if I were at home, and as a SAHM I ran a pretty tight ship.
Not perfect, tho. And I don't expect anyone to have every single thing dusted and put away "just so" at the end of the day while also attending to two kids. But close. So laundry, vacuuming the high-traffic areas, dishes, monitoring kids' toy pickup, and discipline. I needed a nanny with very, very good discipline and motivational skills. Clean up is a big part of that. Putting toys "on vacation" because the children didn't clean up is fine with me... we back her up.
What I'm saying is: What is in your contract?
Anonymous
10/08/2013 12:43
Subject: Re:Advice needed on messes made while parents are with kids
Anonymous wrote:OP make a responsibility chart with the kids. Get crafty with it and get some stickers. Identify things that they need to clean (put my clothes in the hamper, picked up my toys before bed, etc) and they get a sticker either from their parents at night or from you in the morning. Offer them a special outing or fun activity if they get stickers for all 5 days.
This could work but make it that they have to earn all 7 days so they're motivated to keep on top of things over the weekend when you aren't there!