Anonymous wrote:OP, May I ask what is your issue with them driving to the park? Isn't your child going to be out and playing outside anyway?
I can understand a bit of the annoyance of the walk. If it's 20 min one way, plus "packing and loading" time it turns out really being 30 min and that would be 1h roundtrip. It's a waste of playtime that could be used running around playground, or socializing with school friends? Plus I'd always be worried if it's going to rain or if kid has an emergency that I would otherwise quickly get to hospital or home if I had the car.
I don't see the problem of using the car if it is to go to outdoor activity anyway.

Are you serious? Why should ANYONE be driving to a park if they live nearby? Isn't the fact that you are outside going to a park meaning that there is decent weather? No rain, you can deal with the wind etc? Promoting laziness, harming the environment, wasting money (on gas) when they can very easily walk there? Yeah, that's a good idea. Also tell the nanny to drive to the corner later in life when the child has a playdate with a neighbor, drive to the corner store to pickup some milk. Packing and loading should not take that long. You should already have a diaper bag ready before you leave the house (who normally doesn't have one sitting ready to go most days anyways?), and the point is to be getting outside for some fresh air AND play. Walks are great for kids. They also might get bored playing at the park but the walk there and back (especially if you can take different streets each way) is a whole different adventure.

Anonymous wrote:

Not lazy, just inactive. There is a big difference between being lazy and not being particularly fond of physical activity.

Really? Would you prefer slothlike? Yes, everyone wants a non-lazy yet slothlike nanny.

LOL. Actually I would have to agree that physical activity doesn't usually mean 20 minutes of casually WALKING somewhere. No one is asking her to hike anywhere, or move any faster than someone might be walking around inside their house. Physical activity usually refers to someone doing something strenuous or where they might break a sweat. Riding a bike, jogging, lifting weights. Playing soccer or basketball (even just with a toddler). Walking or building a house out of blocks is not physical activity, even though you are physically moving. Unless the walk is for at least 30+ minutes straight at a fair pace, or you are building with blocks that are the size of basket balls and 2 lbs each.

Anonymous wrote:At this time of year I'm switching from wearing mostly boots to flats like Toms. So I might limit walking until they're broken in and my feet are toughened up in the right spots again. We took a 45 minute walk the other day and I ended up with a nasty blister from jogging alongside the new bike rider almost the entire way!

So don't go jogging while wearing new shoes?

Weekends are a great time for breaking in new shoes. It is also good to wear them for a little bit and then go barefoot or wear other shoes that are already comfortable/broken in. This can be done during the week (usual shoes and barefoot) and wear the new shoes around your home in the evenings to get used to them a bit more each day.

Anonymous wrote:OP, May I ask what is your issue with them driving to the park? Isn't your child going to be out and playing outside anyway?
I can understand a bit of the annoyance of the walk. If it's 20 min one way, plus "packing and loading" time it turns out really being 30 min and that would be 1h roundtrip. It's a waste of playtime that could be used running around playground, or socializing with school friends? Plus I'd always be worried if it's going to rain or if kid has an emergency that I would otherwise quickly get to hospital or home if I had the car.
I don't see the problem of using the car if it is to go to outdoor activity anyway.

I'm not the OP, but I live in the city where most things are within walking distance because I believe in that lifestyle for myself and my kids. I don't want my kids to grow up in a culture where every little trip means getting strapped into a carseat to be left staring at a backseat. I want them out in the stroller or walking, seeing the neighbors and the neighborhood, and learning that when you live in a city, being able to walk to your destination is one of life's great pleasures. Basically, I don't want my kids to grow up expecting to be driven everywhere.

I would also be wondering if a nanny like this is going to be sitting on a bench rather than actively playing with my kids once they get to the park. Sounds like she prioritizes cute over functional. How will she handle the perpetual bad hair day known as DC in July and August?

Anonymous wrote:At this time of year I'm switching from wearing mostly boots to flats like Toms. So I might limit walking until they're broken in and my feet are toughened up in the right spots again. We took a 45 minute walk the other day and I ended up with a nasty blister from jogging alongside the new bike rider almost the entire way!

Shouldn't you consider wearing sneakers instead of TOMS then? You can't tell me you don't have any sneakers or can't afford buying one if you are wearing toms.

OP, May I ask what is your issue with them driving to the park? Isn't your child going to be out and playing outside anyway?
I can understand a bit of the annoyance of the walk. If it's 20 min one way, plus "packing and loading" time it turns out really being 30 min and that would be 1h roundtrip. It's a waste of playtime that could be used running around playground, or socializing with school friends? Plus I'd always be worried if it's going to rain or if kid has an emergency that I would otherwise quickly get to hospital or home if I had the car.
I don't see the problem of using the car if it is to go to outdoor activity anyway.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Your nanny is being lazy.

Not lazy, just inactive. There is a big difference between being lazy and not being particularly fond of physical activity.

Nope. Not wanting to go the gym or for a jog is not being particularly fond of physical activity, but here we are talking about 15 min to the park (which is not only a part of nanny's job, but something every person with two legs in solid condition should be able to do regardless). OP's nanny is being lazy.

Not lazy, just inactive. There is a big difference between being lazy and not being particularly fond of physical activity.

Really? Would you prefer slothlike? Yes, everyone wants a non-lazy yet slothlike nanny.