Anonymous wrote:So any chance she was possibly busy during the weekend, single parent and all, and didn't get to put all the groceries away and what not. Plus the dog could've pooped that morning and she didn't notice? Sheesh cut MB a break OP.

OP here.
I've been there for two years.
This happens 95% of the time.

Anonymous wrote:So any chance she was possibly busy during the weekend, single parent and all, and didn't get to put all the groceries away and what not. Plus the dog could've pooped that morning and she didn't notice? Sheesh cut MB a break OP.

You must be as filthy as the MB. When a dog poops in the house IT STINKS.

So any chance she was possibly busy during the weekend, single parent and all, and didn't get to put all the groceries away and what not. Plus the dog could've pooped that morning and she didn't notice? Sheesh cut MB a break OP.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP - I'm curious. Your post title makes is sound as though your MB is a single parent. Is that the case? You also said "Ahh.. if I could change ONE thing, it would be for them to pick up after themselves more.." If she's not the only adult in the house, why would you place all the responsibility for tidiness on her?

If the children aren't infants, there is no reason that they can't be helping to clean up. I've worked for a single parent before, but the kids had chores. It's not that the parent should clean everything, but she should definitely figure out how to have everything cleaned without leaving it for the nanny.

OP here.

Yes, she is the single parent.
The kids are 11 and 13 and never been taught to pick up after themselves.

I've been working with the kids on that and it has gotten better. When I'm there, they do (for the most part) what they are supposed to do. They often need reminders, but they will do it.
The problem is when I'm not there - they just drop everything wherever they feel like and MB never tells them to pick it up and put it away.
She is the main problem - out of all the things not put away, 80% is her stuff - whatever she bought the night before and didn't put away, dishes that didn't get washed, random things that she put on the kitchen island..
I organized kids' rooms and I make sure they stay clean. I remind the kids to make their beds and every other day I tell them to pick up a few things that are out of place, so it doesn't get to the point where it takes hours to clean it.
MB's bedroom looks like a tornado went through it. It NEVER gets cleaned. Stuff on the floor, clean clothes all over the hampers that she never put away, "eaten" tissues and toilet paper under the bed because their 2 year old dog never got trained.. he chews on everything and pees and poops everywhere. He usually stays downstairs, but escapes sometimes.

To be clear, I don't care what my MB's bedroom looks like, however it became a problem a few times when she "lost" her things and then took mine and lost them as well.
A few examples - I have a few phone chargers. I keep 2 in my house, one in the car and one at work in the kitchen, always plugged in in the same place. We all have iPhones (me, MB and both kids) so we all use it as needed. One of the kids' chargers was there as well. MB took it, lost it, then took mine and when I asked her, she "found it" in her bedroom.
Another example - I got the kids cocoa butter (one jar for each) because their skin was really dry. They kept them in their rooms. One kid said he couldn't find it. We looked for it everywhere, until something told me to look in MB's bathroom. Yes, it was there.
Another example - I noticed her DS's hair still smelled like it wasn't washed after he took a shower. I asked him if he washed his hair. Turns out he didn't have shampoo, because his mom ran out of hers and took his. And he didn't say anything until I noticed about a week after.
Oh, another one - the boy left for school one day and I went upstairs to wake up the girl. MB was still upstairs getting ready for work. I made sure the girl was out of bed so she wasn't tempted to fall back asleep. 15 min later MB came downstairs, left for work and the girl was still upstairs. I went to check on her. Turns out, she told her mom that she didn't feel well and MB told her to go back to sleep.

I could honestly write a book about it.

The bottom line is that they are such good kids, they just haven't been taught to put things away and clean up after themselves.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP - I'm curious. Your post title makes is sound as though your MB is a single parent. Is that the case? You also said "Ahh.. if I could change ONE thing, it would be for them to pick up after themselves more.." If she's not the only adult in the house, why would you place all the responsibility for tidiness on her?

If the children aren't infants, there is no reason that they can't be helping to clean up. I've worked for a single parent before, but the kids had chores. It's not that the parent should clean everything, but she should definitely figure out how to have everything cleaned without leaving it for the nanny.

Here is something I don't get. If the nanny is the "primary caregiver" as I have been told again and again on this forum, then why isn't the nanny responsible for teaching the kids how to do their chores and getting them to do them?

Haha because no one showed the parents to clean up after themselves.

It's not just the kids toys it the crap the parents leave out.

I know let's teach the kids to clean up after their lazy ass parents.

I have no problem teaching the kids to clean up after themselves. But not all parents allow the nanny to do that.

Anyone who's looking to the parents to "allow" her to teach the children to clean up after themselves, isn't a nanny.

I'd immediately depart from a family who complained about that. Why bother wasting your time with them? They're hopeless.

I did leave, less than 2 weeks after I was reprimanded for asking their elementary aged sons to pick up the dirty clothes on their bedroom floor before we left for school. However, I know that they got another nanny. Lesson learned, I now ask what chores the kids have, and whether I'm allowed to have them do any tidying. You wouldn't believe the excuses parents give as to why their precious children aren't old enough, mature enough or don't have time.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP - I'm curious. Your post title makes is sound as though your MB is a single parent. Is that the case? You also said "Ahh.. if I could change ONE thing, it would be for them to pick up after themselves more.." If she's not the only adult in the house, why would you place all the responsibility for tidiness on her?

If the children aren't infants, there is no reason that they can't be helping to clean up. I've worked for a single parent before, but the kids had chores. It's not that the parent should clean everything, but she should definitely figure out how to have everything cleaned without leaving it for the nanny.

Here is something I don't get. If the nanny is the "primary caregiver" as I have been told again and again on this forum, then why isn't the nanny responsible for teaching the kids how to do their chores and getting them to do them?

Haha because no one showed the parents to clean up after themselves.

It's not just the kids toys it the crap the parents leave out.

I know let's teach the kids to clean up after their lazy ass parents.

I have no problem teaching the kids to clean up after themselves. But not all parents allow the nanny to do that.

Anyone who's looking to the parents to "allow" her to teach the children to clean up after themselves, isn't a nanny.

I'd immediately depart from a family who complained about that. Why bother wasting your time with them? They're hopeless.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP - I'm curious. Your post title makes is sound as though your MB is a single parent. Is that the case? You also said "Ahh.. if I could change ONE thing, it would be for them to pick up after themselves more.." If she's not the only adult in the house, why would you place all the responsibility for tidiness on her?

If the children aren't infants, there is no reason that they can't be helping to clean up. I've worked for a single parent before, but the kids had chores. It's not that the parent should clean everything, but she should definitely figure out how to have everything cleaned without leaving it for the nanny.

Here is something I don't get. If the nanny is the "primary caregiver" as I have been told again and again on this forum, then why isn't the nanny responsible for teaching the kids how to do their chores and getting them to do them?

Haha because no one showed the parents to clean up after themselves.

It's not just the kids toys it the crap the parents leave out.

I know let's teach the kids to clean up after their lazy ass parents.

I have no problem teaching the kids to clean up after themselves. But not all parents allow the nanny to do that.

Anonymous wrote:OP - I'm curious. Your post title makes is sound as though your MB is a single parent. Is that the case? You also said "Ahh.. if I could change ONE thing, it would be for them to pick up after themselves more.." If she's not the only adult in the house, why would you place all the responsibility for tidiness on her?

This is a really good point. We're so conditioned to think woman must do house management that it didn't even cross my mind when I read the post. But you're right, we think if the house is messy, the mother is to blame because she has to clean it, not the father. What bs! I will have to watch what I think of this from now on. Thank you, pp.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP - I'm curious. Your post title makes is sound as though your MB is a single parent. Is that the case? You also said "Ahh.. if I could change ONE thing, it would be for them to pick up after themselves more.." If she's not the only adult in the house, why would you place all the responsibility for tidiness on her?

If the children aren't infants, there is no reason that they can't be helping to clean up. I've worked for a single parent before, but the kids had chores. It's not that the parent should clean everything, but she should definitely figure out how to have everything cleaned without leaving it for the nanny.

Here is something I don't get. If the nanny is the "primary caregiver" as I have been told again and again on this forum, then why isn't the nanny responsible for teaching the kids how to do their chores and getting them to do them?

Haha because no one showed the parents to clean up after themselves.

It's not just the kids toys it the crap the parents leave out.

I know let's teach the kids to clean up after their lazy ass parents.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP - I'm curious. Your post title makes is sound as though your MB is a single parent. Is that the case? You also said "Ahh.. if I could change ONE thing, it would be for them to pick up after themselves more.." If she's not the only adult in the house, why would you place all the responsibility for tidiness on her?

If the children aren't infants, there is no reason that they can't be helping to clean up. I've worked for a single parent before, but the kids had chores. It's not that the parent should clean everything, but she should definitely figure out how to have everything cleaned without leaving it for the nanny.

Here is something I don't get. If the nanny is the "primary caregiver" as I have been told again and again on this forum, then why isn't the nanny responsible for teaching the kids how to do their chores and getting them to do them?

Anonymous wrote:OP - I'm curious. Your post title makes is sound as though your MB is a single parent. Is that the case? You also said "Ahh.. if I could change ONE thing, it would be for them to pick up after themselves more.." If she's not the only adult in the house, why would you place all the responsibility for tidiness on her?

Omg, who cares which parent is leaving the most mess?
Here it is: The parentS are slobs.

Anonymous wrote:OP - I'm curious. Your post title makes is sound as though your MB is a single parent. Is that the case? You also said "Ahh.. if I could change ONE thing, it would be for them to pick up after themselves more.." If she's not the only adult in the house, why would you place all the responsibility for tidiness on her?

If the children aren't infants, there is no reason that they can't be helping to clean up. I've worked for a single parent before, but the kids had chores. It's not that the parent should clean everything, but she should definitely figure out how to have everything cleaned without leaving it for the nanny.

OP - I'm curious. Your post title makes is sound as though your MB is a single parent. Is that the case? You also said "Ahh.. if I could change ONE thing, it would be for them to pick up after themselves more.." If she's not the only adult in the house, why would you place all the responsibility for tidiness on her?

I had a disgusting family that I worked for during summer vacation one year. I worked Tuesdays and Thursdays. Those are the only days an housework was done. I would leave to the sink clean and dishwasher empty on Thursday only to come back on Tuesday to the counters covered in sticky, dirty plates with smelly food and ants. That was just the beginning of the filth, and I declined their offer of a permanent position during the school year.

I worked for a family like this as well but in my case I signed up to do the cleaning. I keep the house clean all week but upon my return Monday morning the place would be upside down. She always looked so classy going out….hair, nail, makeup, perfume all in check but she sucked at cleaning after herself.

On the flip side, one weekend job I had, the mom was a neat freak….had a cleaning lady but was so nagging when it came to taking care of the kids. brush teeth three times, wash hair twice per day…..change bed covers every night. And wants you to clean hand and sanitize it before touching kid's food, drink…..I quit after only 2 months. Missed that money though lol.