Anonymous
Post 11/06/2013 20:25     Subject: I'm in a total rut
Or could you go fun swimming
Anonymous
Post 11/06/2013 20:25     Subject: I'm in a total rut
Didn't read everything. But try making a bucket list of all the things you want to accomplish this winter. Then take pictures of you and charge doing those things and print them out. It will help
Anonymous
Post 11/06/2013 12:19     Subject: I'm in a total rut
OP here: thanks everyone who chimed in. I assure you I am not depressed, just feeling a bit bored by the monotony of the job. I am not a career nanny - I'm halfway through a 2 year break from school. I'll be going back to finish my bachelors degree (in an unrelated field) sept 2014.

I do not drive/take the bus with my charge as per her parents wishes. Luckily there are many cafés/stores/a toy store within walking distance, which are part of our daily walks. Other than swimming and story time, there are not any other feasible activities in the area (either because of cost or location)

For now, I am going to focus on scheduling our days more and finding some new indoor activities. I also found out this morning that I may temporarily be taking care of another 2yo for a few months, which would certainly liven things up thanks everyone!
Anonymous
Post 11/06/2013 11:45     Subject: I'm in a total rut
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:At my last nanny job, we had classes 4 days a week. In the winter. In the snow. On Wednesdays, we even had a story time after our class that we had to hustle for. And then on the day we didn't have class, we had an arts and crafts day. It was a blast.

Anyone who says they have nothing to do with their charges is lazy.

I'm a teacher now, and I miss my nannying job like crazy.


You had classes that were, presumably, scheduled and paid for by your bosses. OP may not. This does not make her lazy. Every situation is different and you should know better than to judge so quickly.


Actually, no. Mb didn't schedule our classes. I did. I picked a few that were decently priced, and she gave me the to ahead and the money to do it. Most of our activities were free. We had story times, library classes, nature walks, free museum days, etc. the op is very uncreative and unmotivated. She seems to take no initiative. Nannying is probably not the best career choice for her.

You are very lucky to have access to all of those free activities and to have an MB who will pay for classes you suggest. Yes, it took a lot of initiative on your part, but the resources were available. Not everyone has access to these resources. Not everyone works for bosses who want their toddlers going on outings everyday. Not everyone can drive their charges. The possibilities are endless. This does not make someone a lazy nanny, they are just working in a restricted situation and it becomes harder to find new, creative ways to fill the days.


If an mb doesn't want children to go on outings, there is art. Sensory activities. Creative play. I had a job before where we weren't able to go out. So each week, I'd have a theme. We'd do crafts out of every day items at the house.

By the way, the not being able to dive thing is NOT an excuse. I don't drive either. I've never driven a charge, and I've still been able to be a good nanny to my charge.

And don't say the op isn't a lazy nanny. She's even said it herself by saying they watch tv and do independent play more and more because she just doesn't feel like doing anything else.

I am not commenting of OPs laziness one way or the other. I was responding to your initial post stating that you were never bored or pressed for things to do because you had an activity scheduled every day. The reality is that many nannies aren't able to be in that kind of situation, and YES, in some areas not being able to drive greatly limits the nature of available activities. Of course there are a million things to do inside every day and in a previous post I made a long list.
"At my last nanny job, we had classes 4 days a week. In the winter. In the snow. On Wednesdays, we even had a story time after our class that we had to hustle for. And then on the day we didn't have class, we had an arts and crafts day. It was a blast.

Anyone who says they have nothing to do with their charges is lazy."
This was your initial argument, and I was simply pointing out that it is flawed. You were busy because you had activities that you could GO TO almost everyday, obviously OP and many other nannies do not have this kind of situation.
Anonymous
Post 11/06/2013 11:39     Subject: I'm in a total rut
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:At my last nanny job, we had classes 4 days a week. In the winter. In the snow. On Wednesdays, we even had a story time after our class that we had to hustle for. And then on the day we didn't have class, we had an arts and crafts day. It was a blast.

Anyone who says they have nothing to do with their charges is lazy.

I'm a teacher now, and I miss my nannying job like crazy.


You had classes that were, presumably, scheduled and paid for by your bosses. OP may not. This does not make her lazy. Every situation is different and you should know better than to judge so quickly.


Actually, no. Mb didn't schedule our classes. I did. I picked a few that were decently priced, and she gave me the to ahead and the money to do it. Most of our activities were free. We had story times, library classes, nature walks, free museum days, etc. the op is very uncreative and unmotivated. She seems to take no initiative. Nannying is probably not the best career choice for her.

You are very lucky to have access to all of those free activities and to have an MB who will pay for classes you suggest. Yes, it took a lot of initiative on your part, but the resources were available. Not everyone has access to these resources. Not everyone works for bosses who want their toddlers going on outings everyday. Not everyone can drive their charges. The possibilities are endless. This does not make someone a lazy nanny, they are just working in a restricted situation and it becomes harder to find new, creative ways to fill the days.


If an mb doesn't want children to go on outings, there is art. Sensory activities. Creative play. I had a job before where we weren't able to go out. So each week, I'd have a theme. We'd do crafts out of every day items at the house.

By the way, the not being able to dive thing is NOT an excuse. I don't drive either. I've never driven a charge, and I've still been able to be a good nanny to my charge.

And don't say the op isn't a lazy nanny. She's even said it herself by saying they watch tv and do independent play more and more because she just doesn't feel like doing anything else.


You're a pill OP acknowledged that she hasn't been doing a great job, and was looking for ideas. It seems as though you have good ones, and I promise you everyone would be more receptive if you were a little less self righteous, and a little more compassionate. You are apparently perfect, but the rest of are not. We get tired, unmotivated, and burnt out. At least OP would like to do better. That alone shows that she is not the awful nanny you'd like to paint her as.
Anonymous
Post 11/06/2013 11:04     Subject: I'm in a total rut
Anonymous wrote:Nannies, what do you do when you feel bored and unmotivated at work? The house is always tidy when I leave and I'm trying to make each day fun and engaging for my almost 2yo charge, but I feel tired, lazy, and have been relying on "free play" and TV way more than I'm comfortable with lately. Nap time is a god send each day. I need a way to motivate myself to be a better nanny! We do lots of books, colouring and play dough, she has lots of great open ended toys and we go on lots of walks. There are playgrounds nearby but they are all wet and freezing and will be for the next 5 months. We also have swimming lessons and library story time 1x per week.
Anonymous
Post 11/06/2013 11:02     Subject: I'm in a total rut
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:At my last nanny job, we had classes 4 days a week. In the winter. In the snow. On Wednesdays, we even had a story time after our class that we had to hustle for. And then on the day we didn't have class, we had an arts and crafts day. It was a blast.

Anyone who says they have nothing to do with their charges is lazy.

I'm a teacher now, and I miss my nannying job like crazy.


You had classes that were, presumably, scheduled and paid for by your bosses. OP may not. This does not make her lazy. Every situation is different and you should know better than to judge so quickly.


Actually, no. Mb didn't schedule our classes. I did. I picked a few that were decently priced, and she gave me the to ahead and the money to do it. Most of our activities were free. We had story times, library classes, nature walks, free museum days, etc. the op is very uncreative and unmotivated. She seems to take no initiative. Nannying is probably not the best career choice for her.

You are very lucky to have access to all of those free activities and to have an MB who will pay for classes you suggest. Yes, it took a lot of initiative on your part, but the resources were available. Not everyone has access to these resources. Not everyone works for bosses who want their toddlers going on outings everyday. Not everyone can drive their charges. The possibilities are endless. This does not make someone a lazy nanny, they are just working in a restricted situation and it becomes harder to find new, creative ways to fill the days.


If an mb doesn't want children to go on outings, there is art. Sensory activities. Creative play. I had a job before where we weren't able to go out. So each week, I'd have a theme. We'd do crafts out of every day items at the house.

By the way, the not being able to dive thing is NOT an excuse. I don't drive either. I've never driven a charge, and I've still been able to be a good nanny to my charge.

And don't say the op isn't a lazy nanny. She's even said it herself by saying they watch tv and do independent play more and more because she just doesn't feel like doing anything else.