Anonymous
Post 04/26/2013 17:19     Subject: personal errands on the job
Malls, book stores, and coffee shops should not be nanny/child destinations. There are libraries, parks and Rec centers all over the country that offer activities that are age appropriate and stimulating for young children. This coming from a veteran nanny, the only stores I go to with charges are grocery (for family), hardwear & garden centers, and pet stores. I do pick up things for myself if I'm already there by parents request. Please find more stimulating things to do with your charges than malls & coffee shops!
Anonymous
Post 04/26/2013 15:41     Subject: Re:personal errands on the job
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:This is one of the distinctions between a professional nanny and a babysitter. The posters horrified that a nanny shouldn't take kids to the mall while she shops are babysitters not professional nannies. A mall may not be the worst place but it is not a place that a professional nanny would go with the children.


I totally disagree. Not necessarily on the actual place (mall), but with the tone and implication n your post. I'd be curious to see what others think about this....





I have been a professional nanny for 25 years and I have taken my charges to malls on several occasions. I have taken them shopping and movies, lunch, etc. My bosses have known before and after when we were going to those places. They never had objections. We did not over due it. It was either out of necessity as I have always worked 55+ hours a week or just for fun. People need to lighten up. If you feel strongly then maybe you should have made it CRYSTAL clear that you did not want any personal business done during working hours!
Anonymous
Post 04/26/2013 15:19     Subject: Re:personal errands on the job
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:The mall is the worst place on the planet for a kid. Guarantee that your nanny will be shopping while your kid is being drug along. Those play yards are disgusting!


Really? The worst place?

-Prison
-Jungle
-Public restroom
-Possibly restroom at home
-Any house on Hoarders
-Elephant graveyard
-Third world country
-Living on a street
-The daycare I went to for my first ever job interview
-The home of an abusive parent
-Event Horizon

Just to name a few. There was proof that she just picked these clothes up, not picked them out, while working, and there was also proof that she did take the child to the play area. What else do you need? Ask her to either not use working hours for personal errands or ask her to call you first for permission if it bothers you. If I were you, though, I would take a step back and decide if her 5-10 minute detour in the mall is worth the process of hiring a new nanny.


ROFL @ "elephant graveyard"!!!


Lol true nanny there...was that a Disney reference?! Lion king anyone?


Of course!

Although I'm sure a bunch of people will jump on here now and say I'm a crappy nanny because I've seen a movie and *gasp* have even shown it to my charges on our movie day (they are older and on a point system where if they go above and beyond in some way, they get "nanny bucks," and they can use them for rewards. Movie day is a very "expensive" reward).


Pp here. Hey I'm a nanny as well, and I just think having seen kids movies comes with the territory of working in "childcare"
Fwiw, my "nanny" kids get to watch tv on occasion and occasional movies and I even took them to see the lion king when it was reintroduced in theaters a year or two ago (per MB's request!)

I don't think I've ever worked for a strict screen time family, actually. That doesn't mean I'm lazy or plop them in front of it all day, but after coming in from playing outside all afternoon to watch a show or movie while resting is not going to harm anyone.
Anonymous
Post 04/26/2013 15:16     Subject: Re:personal errands on the job
Anonymous wrote:This is one of the distinctions between a professional nanny and a babysitter. The posters horrified that a nanny shouldn't take kids to the mall while she shops are babysitters not professional na
nnies. A mall may not be the worst place but it is not a place that a professional nanny would go with the children.

Common sense, once you think about it. Thank you for sharing this piece of wisdom.
Anonymous
Post 04/26/2013 15:11     Subject: Re:personal errands on the job
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:The mall is the worst place on the planet for a kid. Guarantee that your nanny will be shopping while your kid is being drug along. Those play yards are disgusting!


Really? The worst place?

-Prison
-Jungle
-Public restroom
-Possibly restroom at home
-Any house on Hoarders
-Elephant graveyard
-Third world country
-Living on a street
-The daycare I went to for my first ever job interview
-The home of an abusive parent
-Event Horizon

Just to name a few. There was proof that she just picked these clothes up, not picked them out, while working, and there was also proof that she did take the child to the play area. What else do you need? Ask her to either not use working hours for personal errands or ask her to call you first for permission if it bothers you. If I were you, though, I would take a step back and decide if her 5-10 minute detour in the mall is worth the process of hiring a new nanny.


ROFL @ "elephant graveyard"!!!


Lol true nanny there...was that a Disney reference?! Lion king anyone?


Of course!

Although I'm sure a bunch of people will jump on here now and say I'm a crappy nanny because I've seen a movie and *gasp* have even shown it to my charges on our movie day (they are older and on a point system where if they go above and beyond in some way, they get "nanny bucks," and they can use them for rewards. Movie day is a very "expensive" reward).
Anonymous
Post 04/26/2013 15:06     Subject: Re:personal errands on the job
Anonymous wrote:This is one of the distinctions between a professional nanny and a babysitter. The posters horrified that a nanny shouldn't take kids to the mall while she shops are babysitters not professional nannies. A mall may not be the worst place but it is not a place that a professional nanny would go with the children.


A professional nanny takes their charge where the parent wants. If the parent wants the child to play on the playground at the mall, that's where the nanny should take him/her. Park and playground equipment can be pretty dirty whether it is outside or in a mall. Do you not take your child/charge to any playgrounds ever that you don't know for a fact have been disinfected? I do, and then we all wash our hands. We're all still alive, and no one's skin has dissolved yet.
Anonymous
Post 04/26/2013 14:45     Subject: Re:personal errands on the job
Anonymous wrote:This is one of the distinctions between a professional nanny and a babysitter. The posters horrified that a nanny shouldn't take kids to the mall while she shops are babysitters not professional nannies. A mall may not be the worst place but it is not a place that a professional nanny would go with the children.


I totally disagree. Not necessarily on the actual place (mall), but with the tone and implication n your post. I'd be curious to see what others think about this....
Anonymous
Post 04/26/2013 14:02     Subject: Re:personal errands on the job
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:The mall is the worst place on the planet for a kid. Guarantee that your nanny will be shopping while your kid is being drug along. Those play yards are disgusting!


Really? The worst place?

-Prison
-Jungle
-Public restroom
-Possibly restroom at home
-Any house on Hoarders
-Elephant graveyard
-Third world country
-Living on a street
-The daycare I went to for my first ever job interview
-The home of an abusive parent
-Event Horizon

Just to name a few. There was proof that she just picked these clothes up, not picked them out, while working, and there was also proof that she did take the child to the play area. What else do you need? Ask her to either not use working hours for personal errands or ask her to call you first for permission if it bothers you. If I were you, though, I would take a step back and decide if her 5-10 minute detour in the mall is worth the process of hiring a new nanny.


ROFL @ "elephant graveyard"!!!


Lol true nanny there...was that a Disney reference?! Lion king anyone?
Anonymous
Post 04/26/2013 13:36     Subject: Re:personal errands on the job
This is one of the distinctions between a professional nanny and a babysitter. The posters horrified that a nanny shouldn't take kids to the mall while she shops are babysitters not professional nannies. A mall may not be the worst place but it is not a place that a professional nanny would go with the children.
Anonymous
Post 04/26/2013 01:21     Subject: Re:personal errands on the job
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:The mall is the worst place on the planet for a kid. Guarantee that your nanny will be shopping while your kid is being drug along. Those play yards are disgusting!


Really? The worst place?

-Prison
-Jungle
-Public restroom
-Possibly restroom at home
-Any house on Hoarders
-Elephant graveyard
-Third world country
-Living on a street
-The daycare I went to for my first ever job interview
-The home of an abusive parent
-Event Horizon

Just to name a few. There was proof that she just picked these clothes up, not picked them out, while working, and there was also proof that she did take the child to the play area. What else do you need? Ask her to either not use working hours for personal errands or ask her to call you first for permission if it bothers you. If I were you, though, I would take a step back and decide if her 5-10 minute detour in the mall is worth the process of hiring a new nanny.


ROFL @ "elephant graveyard"!!!
Anonymous
Post 04/25/2013 21:44     Subject: personal errands on the job
Ignore the PP who has a list of banned places for her nanny. She's just trying to make trouble.

If my nanny has errands to run, she runs them, with my DD in tow. Doesn't hurt my kid, and makes our nanny less stressed and happy.
Anonymous
Post 04/25/2013 19:27     Subject: personal errands on the job
I wish you parents would follow the same rule and leave your unruly, noisy, brats home on weekends. Some of you are so anal retentive, you probably had a.BM for over a year.
Anonymous
Post 04/25/2013 16:16     Subject: personal errands on the job
I run a couple errands here and there. If we go to the pet store to look at the animals I pick up dog food. If we are on our way to music class I might stop at the bank Across the street. It's really not a big deal in my opinion seeing as I work 50 hours a week. Parents don't mind either because they're sane. Op you sound like a whack job and if you pulled that stunt with me I'd quickly give you my notice. Poor girl is probably still too young to stick up for herself and realize how much you are disrespecting her by not trusting what she said. Is it so bad to go to target for 20 minutes while on a walk and let the kids look around at people and see how to socially interact and how the process works?
Anonymous
Post 04/25/2013 16:09     Subject: personal errands on the job
OP, what hours does the nanny work?
When I worked 50 hours/week and left their house at 7p.m., I had to run errands with the kids. The parents were very understanding. Now that I only work 35 hours/week and leave at 3:30 p.m., I don't run errands when I'm at work. Post office, bank, etc. are still open.
Anonymous
Post 04/25/2013 15:36     Subject: Re:personal errands on the job
Customary, for sure. I try not to, but do sometimes and it it okay with my bosses. Even a last minute urgent doctor visit (for me), or same scenario for my pet to the vet. That doesn't happen often at all, but my bosses would rather me still work and take the kids with me, than them have to find a last minute replacement. The occasional bank visit, pick something up quickly, etc. What is the problem?