Anonymous wrote:I’m a nanny who also manages the house and I am having issues dealing with the new housekeeper who comes three times a week.

Previous housekeepers have always done their work based on the children’s schedules. This new housekeeper either doesn’t understand or simply doesn’t care and is often cleaning the baby’s room when it’s time for her nap or vacuums outside her door during nap. She also speaks loudly on her phone when the baby is napping.

She tells me the day before that she’s out of a cleaning supply so I don’t have time to order it and have to run out on my own time to get it.

She gets angry if I have to walk across a wet floor to change a poo diaper.

The worst is that she clearly favors the baby to the three-year-old despite his attempts to show her something or tell her something. She looks right past him when he’s talking to her to coo over the baby.

I need to handle this on my own and not involve my employers. She really is the best housekeeper they’ve ever had in terms of cleaning so letting her go is not an option. Her English isn’t good and I depend on translating apps to communicate.

Please advise!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why are you waiting for her to tell you when she's run out of cleaning supplies? If ordering them is your job then be proactive and always do a check to see what's running low and since they don't expire, when they're on sale order two.

Learn some of whatever her language she speaks and teach the 3 yr old. That will go a long way in creating goodwill.

If you see she's about to mop the floors, go run and grab the diaper bag so you can change a diaper if needed.

OP here. No, I’d have no idea if she was low on cleaning supplies as she keeps them in her cabinet. Good idea on teaching a few Spanish words to the 3 yr old.

And no, I’m not going to walk around the house with a diaper bag in case my charge poops and in case she might be mopping the floors.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I hear you, OP, and it’s a tale as old as time. Housekeepers resent playing second fiddle to nannies. The posters spouting off accusations have no clue what it’s like in wealthier homes. My current employers has a full time housekeeper who I luckily love! But it’s not always the way it goes.

Write a schedule every week of when the baby naps and when the housekeeper needs to be in another part of the house. Translate it. Also write out that you need her to tell you when she’s low on supplies.

As for her looking past your 3 yr old and cooing over the baby, keep both away from the housekeeper. Explain to the three year old that she’s busy and doesn’t speak English well.

Bottom line: you don’t have to like each other but she has to know that the children come first. You know this is what your employers want and it’s what’s best for the children.

OP here. Yes, I’ve heard stories from other nannies about difficult relationships with housekeepers but never experienced it.

I will definitely write out the baby’s nap schedule and translate it.

Thanks!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I hear you, OP, and it’s a tale as old as time. Housekeepers resent playing second fiddle to nannies. The posters spouting off accusations have no clue what it’s like in wealthier homes. My current employers has a full time housekeeper who I luckily love! But it’s not always the way it goes.

Write a schedule every week of when the baby naps and when the housekeeper needs to be in another part of the house. Translate it. Also write out that you need her to tell you when she’s low on supplies.

As for her looking past your 3 yr old and cooing over the baby, keep both away from the housekeeper. Explain to the three year old that she’s busy and doesn’t speak English well.

Bottom line: you don’t have to like each other but she has to know that the children come first. You know this is what your employers want and it’s what’s best for the children.

This is a wise woman above, OP. Listen to her.

-MB

Anonymous wrote:I hear you, OP, and it’s a tale as old as time. Housekeepers resent playing second fiddle to nannies. The posters spouting off accusations have no clue what it’s like in wealthier homes. My current employers has a full time housekeeper who I luckily love! But it’s not always the way it goes.

Write a schedule every week of when the baby naps and when the housekeeper needs to be in another part of the house. Translate it. Also write out that you need her to tell you when she’s low on supplies.

As for her looking past your 3 yr old and cooing over the baby, keep both away from the housekeeper. Explain to the three year old that she’s busy and doesn’t speak English well.

Bottom line: you don’t have to like each other but she has to know that the children come first. You know this is what your employers want and it’s what’s best for the children.