Received Saturday, February 3, 2007
This past Tuesday I took my charge to Brandon's playground located at Gates Canyon Park in Calabasas, CA to play between the rains. Your son seemed large for his age, beautiful blond hair, wearing a striped sweater, jeans, and those teva type sandals (which seemed inappropriate for the cooler weather). He said his name and it started with a W and I pegged him for around 3 or 4. Your nanny was a five foot in stature, middle aged Latino woman who had a cell phone attached to her ear the ENTIRE time they were on the playground. If you're familiar with this playground then you'd know that there are some areas that need a little more supervision than others. Your son W followed my charge up a ladder. If I hadn't been there to catch him, he would have bashed his chin on the metal bars of the ladder when he fell. Your nanny of course graciously thanked me for being there, but then seemed to jump back into her conversation, completely ignoring W. She and W later left the park after I pointed out that W was holding himself because he needed to use the restroom.
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ReplyDeleteI'm afraid of ladders.
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like the nanny was at least near the child, just engaged in conversation. Maybe it was her 85th hour of the work for the week while she is on salary for 60 hours per week. Maybe she was talking about something serious. Give the nanny a break, she didn't put this child in a dangerous situation. She kept her eye on him. So what if he would have bumped his chin....it happens, kids get hurt...at least kids who have caregivers who actually let them live life, and not be sheltered in a bubble.
ReplyDelete85 hours? Can that really happen? Isn't that sweatshop labor hours?
ReplyDelete9:37...yes, my last job (which I quit 2 weeks ago!!) had me to the point where I was working 85 hours per week, while I was on salary for 55 hours per week. I kept asking them why I was not being properly compensated and they would look at me and say "no". They were crazy. She's a VP and he owns a zillion things and is a surgeon for celebrities. I stayed 10 months b/c I felt bad for the kids...but finally my personal life won out. I am now in a new nanny position that I LOVE!!
ReplyDeleteSo my advice to the OP is that she doesn't know all the details here...in my last position there were days I was about to lose my mind. I woke those kids up and put them to bed everyday. I never had a moment to just talk on the phone, etc.
I'm not a nanny, but, I am a mother. These things happen. That's how they grow. I've been told that I can be a little anal as far as my kids are concerned and even I allow them to climb freely. Of course I'm screaming a squinching the whole time. But, they have to grow. You think that's bad. Wait until they get to the school playground!
ReplyDeleteI agree she could have paid a "little" more attention.
Actually, I'm the nanny who posted it, and the boys nanny was a good 100 ft. away from him at the time. He wasn't even technically in her eyesite from the angle she was standing. There is no excuse for anyone to neglect a child like that, not a parent, not a care giver. As for 85th hour, stay at home parents work non-stop, 24/7. Many without down time. Considering it was a Tuesday I seriously doubt it was her 85th hour. Please don't use a red herring to try to and give this negligent nanny a pass.
ReplyDeleteso true! Who is this possie going around looking to excuse nanny misconduct.
ReplyDeleteEmployee + job to do = Job done right
OR ESLE, you're gone!
in most professions, but certainly more diligence is required when dealing with those trusted to ensure children's well being!
Hey, I'm no Possie. All I was saying was that I allowed my son to play (at about age 4 or 5) freely at the playground. I'm not trying to excuse any misconduct. I'm only saying that he's a boy. I would want my nanny close by and attentive, but, the benches at our playgrounds are usually within an accepable distance.
ReplyDeleteHey, wait! You might not have been talking about me. huh?
Either way, my son would be better off with that nanny than my husband. "He's a boy!" It drives me crazy when he says that!
But, my girls. They wouldn't be anywhere near a park with anyone but me. (With the exception of the school playground.)
4:40 why does your son get different treatment that your girls? I don't get it... because he is a boy he can play on the playground with people other than you. But your girls can only go to the playground with you? People who have your mentality raise girls that think they are entitled to certain things just because they are girls. RIDICULOUS!!!!! And I guess you probably think boys should just tought it out and not cry. You will end up raising an insensitive child who bottles up all of his emotions because you wouldn't let him be himself.
ReplyDeleteOr worse than entitled girls you will raise sheltered girls who think they can't do anything for themselves. Almost the same result except at least the entitled girl would know what she expects from the world and her man/bank account.
ReplyDelete7:54 I agree, a sheltered girl who can't do anything for herself is worse than a girl who feels entitled.
ReplyDelete