Received Monday, November 6, 2006
Overheard an interesting conversation today between two nannies today. A headset obviously cast the erroneous impression that I was unable to hear their conversation which largely centered around mocking their respective employers. The white nanny may have been named April and she wore a red jacket with black jeans and black boots. The African American Nanny wore a suede jacket with brown pants and brown boots. The white nanny was talking about an air purifier which she claims is the second nanny camera she found in the house. The African American nanny was complaining that her employer checked her vehicle's odometer every evening. More was said. Much had to do with your inability to grasp your children's needs. These nannies made me think, what kind of employer is so careful with his vehicle that he checks the odometer everyday? If the employer doesn't trust the nanny with the vehicle, what is she doing with your child/children? The white nanny who claims she had found the second nanny camera raises the same concern. What are nanny cameras good for? You use a nanny camera if you don't trust the nanny, correct? So there are two question, first-why are you leaving your child with someone you don't trust? And second, when you have a trustworthy nanny, what do you think that does to her relationship with you when she finds the nanny camera? What are you people thinking?
Signed,
A parent who would never leave her child with a nanny she didn't trust
18 comments:
I whole heartedly agree with you. Do not leave your child with a nanny you do not trust. I myself have been a nanny for years and tell all employers upfront that if they do not trust me, I will not work for their family. It has nothing to do with nanny cams or checking of the podometer, it comes down to, if you don't trust your nanny to care for your children the same as you would, then don't bother with them. Hince, double check references, ask the right questions, run those background checks. I am the type of person to write down any differeneces of opinions or concerns my current employers come to be about and document it so that when if I do move on to a different position, I can address those concerns with my new employers.
If my employers don't trust me, I'd rather they just let me go than that they spy on me. If you feel the need to spy on your nanny, you shouldn't be taking the chance of leaving your children with them. The safety of your children should come first.
Here's a great idea! Get your consumerism in check and have either mom or dad watch the child instead of a stranger! Raising your own kids can be fun!
Nannies will always gossip and I don't see why these two nannies had to be evesdropped on. However once a parent feels a nny cam is necessary for her own comfort she should not hire that nanny. It means there is not good cchemistry although the nanny might be great.
First of all, it's not helpful to judge people who have to work to pay the bills.
Secondly, a nanny cam doesn't necessarily mean you don't trust someone - it can be reassurance that they are doing a good job. How are you to know for sure what goes on when you're not around and your kids are too young to tell you? My kids are too important to take any chances. We love our nanny but the bottom line is that she is still a stranger and my kids are too important to trust someone just becasue you say 'you can trust me' or because a former employer didn't find a problem.
And if you think a nanny is the only job where you're monitored at work you're sadly mistaken.
How do you know that your nanny is trustworthy unless you spy on her initially? Of course, after a few days of monitoring and there seems to be no suspicious behavior, the parents should stop spying.
as a nanny i feel it is completely ok to have a nanny cam as long as you are upfront about it. the last family i worked for had cameras installed around the house because 1) the father was a total techie 2) so that they could moniter their children from the tv while doing things such as laundry or cooking and 3) so that if they wanted to they could look in on us while at work.
i don't begrudge a parent the right to double check that everything is ok and just because they leave their child w/a nanny doesn't mean they don't want to be involved w/their child and see them learn and grow. this is why so may daycare centers have an open door policy, not so that the parents can pop in and see if anything is wrong but so that if they have a spare minute they can stop by to observe their child playing and sometimes participate. i have worked in daycare settings as well and there was one mom who stopped by every day and would just watch her daughter through the window. at first we would wave to her and ask her to come in and join us but she said she just wanted to see her baby play/nap/eat w/out having to upset her by leaving after a short time.
i don't mind a nanny cam because i have nothing to hide. i would still feel a little betrayed if i found out on my own that my family was using one just because i would feel that they didn't trust me. still, every family is different and i don't think anyone is really in a place to critisize a family's decision on such a matter.
If a parent is going to advertise the fact that they have a nanny cam; then what is the point. I know of a nanny that was great with the children in the house but she would take them out to release any frustration she may have with their parents. Unless you can view your nanny in/out of the house you just could never know.
Nanny cams are just smart business. Let me tell you, there are SOO many nannies who could have been Academy Award winning actresses. They are all smiles and laughs when you meet them, and when you're at home. As soon as you leave, they turn on the TV, put their feet up, get on the phone, nap, eat and neglect their charges...or worse. I had a nanny who I thought was AMAZING. I would tell anyone how great she was, and I trusted her 100%. Until the one day I came home and found my baby in her crib in a soiled diaper, wet sheets with remnants of her lunch AND breakfast in the crib. The nanny had left her in there all day and I guess would clean her up, change the sheets and play with her to get her in a good mood before I came home. I can't tell you the guilt I feel that I LET this happen to my baby. And I am a widow, so before you judge me, know that I HAVE TO WORK. I hired this woman through an agency, did a very expensive background check, drug testing, even personality testing!! She had me fooled but good! I will ALWAYS use a nanny cam from now on. Unless it's your mother or your sister or your best friend taking care of your kids, you just never know.
First of all, nannies talking to other nannies about their jobs and employers is nothing new. They are going to do it because it is their way to vent. As long as it is not gossip about private family matters such as a husband cheating on the wife, or somebody's medical issues, I see nothing wrong with it. You don't think parents talk to other parents about their nannies?
Secondly, nanny cams are not a bad, but sometimes people use them in ways that make it a bad idea. If you are hiring a nanny and you tell her that you do plan on either installing a camera or you currently have one, it can not only prevent any potential problems in the future because the nanny knowns there is a camera, but it also stops the nanny from finding one on her own and a problem developing from that. It's understanable to never have 100% trust with a stranger taking care of your children, but if you start off trusting her (or him) and then you feel like you've lost it and THEN install a camera, it's probably time to hire a new nanny. If you have any suspicions of anything there is never any reason a camera should be installed instead of a conversation taking place between the parent and nanny.
How would all of you spying parents feel if you found out that a few of us nannies got together and planted a few "parent cams "in your homes so that we can make sure the children that we too have come to love are being treated well by all of YOU!!!! Some of us felt the same way about you that you obviously feel about us!Some of us had doubts too. Now you will see how it feels to be spied on. Oh, but this is ok..it is for the sake of the children!By the way..some of you have disgusting habits!
that would be illegal. NUT JOB!
Yes, but a nutjob watching the children that I take care of on a daily basis being treated abusivley by thier parents!! The local CPS feels a bit differently than you and now, 3 more children are safe!
I am not a nanny, but I babysit pretty regularily for a little boy, who I am madly in love with! I love his family and dog and feel very comfortable in their home. I believe that the family trusts me...but if they have a nanny cam that is ok with me. They have several babysitters who come in/out every now and again because we are all part-time, so I can understand if they just want to see that their child is being taken care of properly. I don't see the big problem with nanny cams- it is THEIR home, THEIR child, and THEIR decision. If you're not comfortable with it, SAY SOMETHING. If you cannot be trusted, then that's your own problem!
Parents just want to make sure their children are in good hands, and there's nothing wrong with that! If a nanny is searching for one, she obviously has bigger problems and has something to hide!!!
I do not believe nanny cams are a big deal. It is THEIR home, THEIR child, and THEIR decision. It is up to them to do what they want with their home and their child, and if a nanny cam is what makes them comfortable, then so be it!
I am a babysitter for the most wonderful little boy, and I would not feel offended if the parents had a camera. I know they trust me and feel very comfortable with me, but maybe a nanny cam would just reassure them that their son was enjoying me as much as I enjoy him. Maybe it allows them to see what we do all day so they don't miss anything!
I'm not sure if they do have a camera because I have no reason to look. I have nothing to hide...I feel that nannies who snoop around looking for the cameras have something to hide and may have trust issues of their own...
To the above poster..De ja vu..sounds like something I just read!!!!!!!!!!
if you don't trust your nanny, you shouldn't leave your child alone with that nanny.
to the nanny who wrote the sugar coated comment about how she would be okay with a camera and blahbity blabbity booo. UHHHHHHHCHHHH!
so what if they have a spy camera,if you dont have anything to hide,you should'nt be worried about it.It's good for both of you the nanny and the parents.the nanny,at least they'll see you how great and loving you are when there not around,like all of the nanny would say in thier interview.but if your not,then the parents have all the right to install the spy camera.then they have a reason to get rid of the nanny.
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