Anonymous
Post 09/28/2015 10:41     Subject: Fabulous nanny- school aged child. What should she do with her days?
Anonymous wrote:I am approaching this point. Something we have discussed with our nanny is her looking for a part time position doing other things that interest her in hours compatible with our needs. She lives with us as well. This would reduce our costs but not hurt her pay.


Wow. So, you want to reduce your costs and make her work hours that wouldn't conflict with your hours... Well, that would be weekends and nights, right? Because you need before/after school, and she needs to be available for school hours for when kids are sick or off school. When exactly is your nanny supposed to do anything not related to work, like sleep?!

I do live-ins exclusively, and I would hang up the phone while laughing if you suggested this to me while we were interviewing.
Anonymous
Post 09/27/2015 23:39     Subject: Fabulous nanny- school aged child. What should she do with her days?
Nanny's are Nanny's not housekeepers.
Anonymous
Post 09/27/2015 17:18     Subject: Fabulous nanny- school aged child. What should she do with her days?
I am approaching this point. Something we have discussed with our nanny is her looking for a part time position doing other things that interest her in hours compatible with our needs. She lives with us as well. This would reduce our costs but not hurt her pay.
Anonymous
Post 09/22/2015 08:28     Subject: Fabulous nanny- school aged child. What should she do with her days?
You are paying her for the convenience of having a caregiver when your children are ill, need to be picked up from school early, have snow days or no school. This is why I have kept my nanny full time.

Our nanny (of school aged children) will babysit infants and preschoolers of SAHMs in the neighborhood for 2 hours so they can go to dr appoint, volunteers at school, etc. I like that she is able to help out other families in the neighborhood and that she gets additional income too. (Not to mention be around babies again!)
Anonymous
Post 09/13/2015 06:11     Subject: Fabulous nanny- school aged child. What should she do with her days?
Just get a housekeeper. Why not?
Anonymous
Post 09/13/2015 00:57     Subject: Fabulous nanny- school aged child. What should she do with her days?
[quote=Anonymous

I'm not paying her to sit around on her ass all day for that rare time I need her to watch my son when he's sick. All I'm asking for is ideas of things to make her do to justify paying her.


So you're a troll then? No MB with a great nanny talks about MAKING their employee do anything.
Anonymous
Post 09/12/2015 23:24     Subject: Fabulous nanny- school aged child. What should she do with her days?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Did she tell you she's bored?


I'm not paying her to sit around on her ass all day for that rare time I need her to watch my son when he's sick. All I'm asking for is ideas of things to make her do to justify paying her.


You are paying for on call.


Even neurosurgeons are not paid their full rate for being "on call."
Anonymous
Post 09/11/2015 16:08     Subject: Fabulous nanny- school aged child. What should she do with her days?
nannydebsays wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Did she tell you she's bored?


I'm not paying her to sit around on her ass all day for that rare time I need her to watch my son when he's sick. All I'm asking for is ideas of things to make her do to justify paying her.


So your child never has school holidays or summer break time? Because THAT is what you are paying her for - to be available to either drop everything and come to care for a sick child, or to work full day(s) when your kid(s) have no school.

If you are concerned about money, consider this: You decide to only pay her for before and after school hours. Therefore, she is able to do much less for you wrt to household stuff than she does now. In addition, she will likely get a second job, and will no longer be able to work full days when you need her. So if a kid is sick, or when there is no school, you will be paying for a temp nanny to cover the times your current nanny is not available. Temporary care agencies charge application and placement fees, and cannot usually guarantee you'll get the same sitter every time, so you'll be doing a lot more "managing" of your childcare.

Yep, you'll save money, but your life will become more complicated and busy. You have to decide if that's worth the lower cost.

Good advice. On another thread today, someone said White House temp agency will charge you double, because the nanny gets only half of what you will pay them. Hope your child stays healthy!
nannydebsays
Post 09/11/2015 16:02     Subject: Fabulous nanny- school aged child. What should she do with her days?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Did she tell you she's bored?


I'm not paying her to sit around on her ass all day for that rare time I need her to watch my son when he's sick. All I'm asking for is ideas of things to make her do to justify paying her.


So your child never has school holidays or summer break time? Because THAT is what you are paying her for - to be available to either drop everything and come to care for a sick child, or to work full day(s) when your kid(s) have no school.

If you are concerned about money, consider this: You decide to only pay her for before and after school hours. Therefore, she is able to do much less for you wrt to household stuff than she does now. In addition, she will likely get a second job, and will no longer be able to work full days when you need her. So if a kid is sick, or when there is no school, you will be paying for a temp nanny to cover the times your current nanny is not available. Temporary care agencies charge application and placement fees, and cannot usually guarantee you'll get the same sitter every time, so you'll be doing a lot more "managing" of your childcare.

Yep, you'll save money, but your life will become more complicated and busy. You have to decide if that's worth the lower cost.
Anonymous
Post 09/10/2015 14:20     Subject: Fabulous nanny- school aged child. What should she do with her days?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Yes, talk to her.

I know a nanny who's been with the same family for over 12 years; both children are now in middle or high-school. She does the basic housekeeping and food prep and is then invited to lounge by the pool, watch tv, etc. Now, that isn't standard, but it is the reason she's stayed so long. She wants to nanny, not garden, so if they didn't need her to do household management she'd just switch to a family with younger kids. Your nanny might have something in mind she'd enjoy doing to help out but you'll have to ask her. Please don't try to compile a list of chores for her, sit down, have a discussion about your needs and her preferences, take some time reflect, then chat again to go over what you'd like her days to look like.


This is about your needs, not hers. Figure out what you need the person in her position to do now that your kids are getting older, write up a new job description, tell her you love her and would like her to stay if she is interested. If she's not, you've outgrown each other and it's time for you both to move on. But no, she doesn't get to select her duties. This is a job, not a country club.



Yes, this is a job but OP also wants the stability of her nanny for her children. She needs the nanny to do pick up and drop off as well as be available for holidays, vacation days as well as sick days at a moment's notice. This is a nanny job - and you cannot ask your nanny to wash your car or mow your lawn just because she has a few hours free.

Exactly. As a nanny, I will not morph into a housekeeper any more than my doctor will morph into my chauffeur.


You might not, but many do. We have 4 children. My oldest is 16 and my youngest is 5. She's been with us for 16 years and has always done an amazing job keeping the house organized and as the kids have gotten older has done more housekeeping duties. We have plans to keep her employed for another 10 years. And yes, she is a high end nanny. She does no heavy cleaning, we have other people who do that.

Just my guess, but most nannies would not walk away from her kind of set up. We're a 7 figure family and could nor have accomplished what we have without her and she's rewarded.

You sound like a brilliant business woman. No wonder you're so wealthy. You're the successful mom that certain other moms here hate, because you know how to keep a good nanny happy.
Anonymous
Post 09/10/2015 14:02     Subject: Fabulous nanny- school aged child. What should she do with her days?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Yes, talk to her.

I know a nanny who's been with the same family for over 12 years; both children are now in middle or high-school. She does the basic housekeeping and food prep and is then invited to lounge by the pool, watch tv, etc. Now, that isn't standard, but it is the reason she's stayed so long. She wants to nanny, not garden, so if they didn't need her to do household management she'd just switch to a family with younger kids. Your nanny might have something in mind she'd enjoy doing to help out but you'll have to ask her. Please don't try to compile a list of chores for her, sit down, have a discussion about your needs and her preferences, take some time reflect, then chat again to go over what you'd like her days to look like.


This is about your needs, not hers. Figure out what you need the person in her position to do now that your kids are getting older, write up a new job description, tell her you love her and would like her to stay if she is interested. If she's not, you've outgrown each other and it's time for you both to move on. But no, she doesn't get to select her duties. This is a job, not a country club.



Yes, this is a job but OP also wants the stability of her nanny for her children. She needs the nanny to do pick up and drop off as well as be available for holidays, vacation days as well as sick days at a moment's notice. This is a nanny job - and you cannot ask your nanny to wash your car or mow your lawn just because she has a few hours free.

Exactly. As a nanny, I will not morph into a housekeeper any more than my doctor will morph into my chauffeur.


You might not, but many do. We have 4 children. My oldest is 16 and my youngest is 5. She's been with us for 16 years and has always done an amazing job keeping the house organized and as the kids have gotten older has done more housekeeping duties. We have plans to keep her employed for another 10 years. And yes, she is a high end nanny. She does no heavy cleaning, we have other people who do that.

Just my guess, but most nannies would not walk away from her kind of set up. We're a 7 figure family and could nor have accomplished what we have without her and she's rewarded.


If you started her at a fair DC wage then she is making at LEAST $36/hr right now, and in another 10 years you will be paying her $46 an hour? You are the definition of a chump! If I was your nanny I would stay too, with a clueless MB like you!

What was the fair wage in DC 16 years ago?
Anonymous
Post 09/10/2015 11:14     Subject: Fabulous nanny- school aged child. What should she do with her days?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Yes, talk to her.

I know a nanny who's been with the same family for over 12 years; both children are now in middle or high-school. She does the basic housekeeping and food prep and is then invited to lounge by the pool, watch tv, etc. Now, that isn't standard, but it is the reason she's stayed so long. She wants to nanny, not garden, so if they didn't need her to do household management she'd just switch to a family with younger kids. Your nanny might have something in mind she'd enjoy doing to help out but you'll have to ask her. Please don't try to compile a list of chores for her, sit down, have a discussion about your needs and her preferences, take some time reflect, then chat again to go over what you'd like her days to look like.


This is about your needs, not hers. Figure out what you need the person in her position to do now that your kids are getting older, write up a new job description, tell her you love her and would like her to stay if she is interested. If she's not, you've outgrown each other and it's time for you both to move on. But no, she doesn't get to select her duties. This is a job, not a country club.



Yes, this is a job but OP also wants the stability of her nanny for her children. She needs the nanny to do pick up and drop off as well as be available for holidays, vacation days as well as sick days at a moment's notice. This is a nanny job - and you cannot ask your nanny to wash your car or mow your lawn just because she has a few hours free.

Exactly. As a nanny, I will not morph into a housekeeper any more than my doctor will morph into my chauffeur.


You might not, but many do. We have 4 children. My oldest is 16 and my youngest is 5. She's been with us for 16 years and has always done an amazing job keeping the house organized and as the kids have gotten older has done more housekeeping duties. We have plans to keep her employed for another 10 years. And yes, she is a high end nanny. She does no heavy cleaning, we have other people who do that.

Just my guess, but most nannies would not walk away from her kind of set up. We're a 7 figure family and could nor have accomplished what we have without her and she's rewarded.


If you started her at a fair DC wage then she is making at LEAST $36/hr right now, and in another 10 years you will be paying her $46 an hour? You are the definition of a chump! If I was your nanny I would stay too, with a clueless MB like you!


Many nannies will agree to top out at a certain wage once kids start school, as long as the parents aren't requiring tons of other things to "fill up the day."
Anonymous
Post 09/10/2015 11:13     Subject: Fabulous nanny- school aged child. What should she do with her days?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Did she tell you she's bored?


I'm not paying her to sit around on her ass all day for that rare time I need her to watch my son when he's sick. All I'm asking for is ideas of things to make her do to justify paying her.


You are paying for on call.
Anonymous
Post 09/08/2015 18:54     Subject: Fabulous nanny- school aged child. What should she do with her days?
Anonymous wrote:Just get a housekeeper if you want the help to stay in constant motion.
Anonymous
Post 09/08/2015 18:10     Subject: Fabulous nanny- school aged child. What should she do with her days?
Anonymous wrote:I don't see how she has any spare time, considering everything she's already doing.


Laundry and a few errands would take up your entire afternoon? Are you walking everywhere? Doing laundry every day for a family of 8? Or maybe you just suck at time management...or are lazy.