Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sorry, i would not hire you. One of my major requirements is for you to get out of the house daily with the kids and to arrange playdates with other kids from preschool. This would involve the nanny to take initiative in a social setting with adults ans to be warm and friendly. My kids are happiest when socializing.

I know there are tons and tons of paranoid mothers out there who don't want their kids to leave the house. You need to find them.

You are insufferable. Glad your kids don't have to deal with you during the day.

What's insufferable about her? I think it's great that the parents make socializing a priority. As a nanny, I'd much rather this kind of employer. Kids do want to be out at the park, seeing their friends, having friends over...not staring at me all day while I entertain them.

And yes, there are lots of parents out there who don't let the nanny and kid stray more than a block from the house, afraid of the world. Those people are insufferable to me and maybe a dream for the OP.

Anonymous wrote:Sorry, i would not hire you. One of my major requirements is for you to get out of the house daily with the kids and to arrange playdates with other kids from preschool. This would involve the nanny to take initiative in a social setting with adults ans to be warm and friendly. My kids are happiest when socializing.

I know there are tons and tons of paranoid mothers out there who don't want their kids to leave the house. You need to find them.

You are insufferable. Glad your kids don't have to deal with you during the day.

Sorry, i would not hire you. One of my major requirements is for you to get out of the house daily with the kids and to arrange playdates with other kids from preschool. This would involve the nanny to take initiative in a social setting with adults ans to be warm and friendly. My kids are happiest when socializing.

I know there are tons and tons of paranoid mothers out there who don't want their kids to leave the house. You need to find them.

MB here. Honestly, I've noticed that the most fantastic caregivers we've had have all been socially awkward. It doesn't bother me a bit, personally. My priority is how well you care for my child.

I apologize for bringing up such an old topic, but this is a really great thread and I'm hoping by some miracle the OP will see this and tell us how she's doing now.

I feel like I could have written everything the OP said, from the social anxiety to the aversion to psych meds (which I have tried to death), oddly even to the intense sugar cravings.
I struggle with talking to my bosses every single day, I can't help but feel terrified by it even though I know it sounds ridiculous. It also doesn't help that every other week DB is off work and around all the time. I absolutely love my charges though and am like a different person around them. It's just adults I have trouble with, but it makes for painfully awkward and uncomfortable days for me due to the parents. I'm honestly surprised they've put up with me and my social anxiety for this long (3 years), because they're smart people and I'm sure my condition is pretty obvious when I talk to them. I think the PP who said this field draws those with social anxiety is correct.

OP here: A lot of great replies, I appreciate everyone who has been helpful and positive. It's good to hear from those who have found medication that works for them as well as those who, like me, choose to go the natural route. I'm very glad the choice exists for all of us.

To the poster who mentioned exercise and eating right, that's what I'm trying to focus on now. I know sugar makes my nerves even tighter, so trying to reduce that (but I have such a sweet tooth!!)... exercising definitely helps me a lot. I also tend to 'fake it til I make it' so acting confident in public even when I feel anything but- and it actually does seem to work.

I don't disclose to my bosses during interview, as (aside from seeming quirky and possibly awkward when speaking with them) it doesn't affect my job of caring for their children at all.. though during an interview, I've found it helpful to light-heartedly mention that I'm a bit nervous. Seems to reduce the tension by getting it out there, and actually makes me more relatable I feel.