Received Friday, March 30, 2007
I have a sighting from yesterday, Thursday, at about 4:30pm. This was at the Barnes and Noble at 66Th Street and Broadway (UWS). I was at the bookstore with the two children I take care of part-time, and I couldn't help but notice a curious exchange between a boy and his nanny. He looked to be about 3-4, skinny, with curly hair. He was wearing an orange shirt and jeans . His nanny was African-American, heavy set but not excessively so, and had very short hair. She was wearing a green shirt with a brown sweater and khakis. The entire time of this conversation she was sitting on the floor on her cell phone. He told her he needed to go to the bathroom and she mumbled something to him in response that I didn't hear. He asked again and she said "You can go there yourself." He looked a little unsure and walked about halfway there and then came back and asked her to help him. She said no, and again sent him away. He went to the bathroom and she waited at least 5-7 minutes before getting up to see if he was back.
I wish that I had said something to the nanny, but I am very confrontation shy. I gave her a look which seemed to get no response from her. I also almost asked the boy if he wanted me to help him, but I had a 6 month old and a 2.5 year old to take care of, and it didn't seem feasible. Also, considering that I didn't know this kid, I don't know how appropriate it would have been for me to accompany him to the bathroom. All I know is that I was very disturbed by this incident and I really hope that this boy's mom or dad sees this. Your nanny is placing your child in a potentially dangerous situation, and disregarding his nervousness and requests for help. As someone who takes care of two children that I love with all my heart, it is painful to see another child be treated so poorly.
27 comments:
Alot of African-American Nanny Talk on the phone and don't know how to care for the child they are babysitting.
Again, I don't understand how people can take a responsible job like a nanny and then not do what their job entails. It requires taking a small child to the bathroom. It involves interacting with the child. It requires protecting a child by keeping strangers away from him. Basics. If you don't want to do that, don't take a nanny job. Go to McDonald's or Starbucks. If you drop a burger or spill a coffee, the world won't stop turning. If your little boy gets taken from the public bathroom because you weren't there, trust me your world will stop and so will the parents'.
Ummm... racist much?
I assume the boy was white? You realize you have a supremecist attitude when you mention that one is African-American, and don't mention the race of the other, implying that "white" is the default race for everyone.
Everyone is so quick to play the race card...
agreed, RIP Johny Cochran.
I think, you had to talk to nanny.
You didn't,and you didn't help the boy.
You're not better than nanny.
Another lazy slug, an inept nanny with a reckless disregard for her charge.
How obnoxious that some of you say this is racist. Give me a break! can you not explain people by the color of their skin anymore?? If I were african american I would think that it is more racist not to be able to say the color of my skin.
Anyways, to the person who posted this. Thank you for letting us know. People need to be VERY careful who they leave their children with.
HI I AM CURRENYLY A CHILCARE PROVIDER AND I DON'T HAVE ANY CHILDREN, BUT EVENONE THAT I TAKE CARE OF I TREAT THEM AS MY OWN AND I'M ONLY 20 YEARS OLD. I FEEL THAT NANNIES ARE ONLY IN IT FOR THE MONEY AND NOT THE CHILD AND THATS NOT A GOOD THING FOR THE CHILD.
Alot of African-American Nanny Talk on the phone and don't know how to care for the child they are babysitting.
Does this person have evidence to back that up? That is racist. No two ways about it.
I don't agree with the poster that said the OP did wrong: if everyone left their own charges to go help a nanny or parent who wasn't doing her job, there would be chaos. This is the real world. If a child is in immediate danger, yes, do something, but if a caregiver is merely making a poor choice, you have enough on your plate. The parents don't pay you to watch other kids, only theirs.
A veritable invitation to a pedophile, isn't it?
Alot of African-American Nanny Talk on the phone and don't know how to care for the child they are babysitting.
Does this person have evidence to back that up? That is racist. No two ways about it.
Re: That is Not being Racist it Just the Truth About it Alot Of Nanny Some African Ameican and Other Of Different Race Does Not Know how to care for the child they are watching. The Mother Need To hire A Legal Person With References and knows know to do the job and not some person who talks and does not care for there job by being on a phone and not helping the child that has to use the restroom.
Whatever her race, she isn't doing her job and puts a child in jeopardy.
That's the important part but I hope the description nails her. She needs to be outed.
I'm responding to the message I have copied and pasted below.
I am an African American nanny (and have been for 8 glorious years thank you!) and I know how to take care of the kids I'm in charge of. How dare you make such a blanket statement about African Americans!! I have seen White, Indian and Hispanic nannies on the phone as well who aren't watching their children properly so what does race have to do with it? A bad nanny is a bad nanny. The original poster did nothing wrong with mentioning her race, (she was just describing her) but what you posted was offensive and I wouldn't want you as my nanny when you look down on other races. What the nanny did was wrong, there is no doubt about it. What gets me is when people like you have the nerve to put us all in the same boat. Are all White people the same? All Hispanics? Come on! Get real! Also, before you put someone down, you need to check your grammar. It's important to speak properly when dealing with children.
________________________________
Re: That is Not being Racist it Just the Truth About it Alot Of Nanny Some African Ameican and Other Of Different Race Does Not Know how to care for the child they are watching. The Mother Need To hire A Legal Person With References and knows know to do the job and not some person who talks and does not care for there job by being on a phone and not helping the child that has to use the restroom.
6:56 PM
I am responding to the message I have copied and pasted below.
I am an African American nanny (and have been for 8 glorious years thank you!) and I know how to take care of the kids I'm in charge of. How dare you make such a blanket statement about African Americans!! I have seen White, Indian and Hispanic nannies on the phone as well who aren't watching their children properly so what does race have to do with it? A bad nanny is a bad nanny. The original poster did nothing wrong with mentioning her race, (she was just describing her) but what you posted was offensive and I wouldn't want you as my nanny when you look down on other races. What the nanny did was wrong, there is no doubt about it. What gets me is when people like you have the nerve to put us all in the same boat. Are all White people the same? All Hispanics? Come on! Get real! Also, before you put someone down, you need to check your grammar. It's important to speak properly when dealing with children.
______________________________
Re: That is Not being Racist it Just the Truth About it Alot Of Nanny Some African Ameican and Other Of Different Race Does Not Know how to care for the child they are watching. The Mother Need To hire A Legal Person With References and knows know to do the job and not some person who talks and does not care for there job by being on a phone and not helping the child that has to use the restroom.
i appreciate you taking the time to respond to the racist on the board, but her comments were so ignorant and so poorly formed that I didn't pay them any heed. I don't think anyone did. In this day and age, anyone with a brain knows that good nannies, like good dentists come in every shape, size, color, etc.
I am not Being A Racist at All. It Does not Matter To me what Race A nanny Is as long as there are good. I just metion Some African Americans and Other Races Mean Not Just One For Example Like White, Chinse, Hispanic Etc... I just feel it wrong that alot of nannys that there job for granted. I know a Few African American Nanny Who are wonderful and loving person to the child they watch. Im sorry if i came out wrong. I just don't like what some nanny do to the child they are watching.
Re: That is Not being Racist it Just the Truth About it Alot Of Nanny Some African Ameican and Other Of Different Race Does Not Know how to care for the child they are watching. The Mother Need To hire A Legal Person With References and knows know to do the job and not some person who talks and does not care for there job by being on a phone and not helping the child that has to use the restroom.
RE: I am not a Racist Person. I Just Said That Some African American and Other Nanny Does Not Know how to do there job. Meaning I am not only talking about one race I am talking about ever race. I have African American Friends Who are nannies. It does not matter to me if a nanny is African American, White, Chinse, As long as they are good with the child. I am sorry if I came Off As a Racist But I am not and never will be. I see many nanny of different Race Of Phone and not doing there job correct. You are right a bad nanny is a Bad Nanny. Race Is Just a Word.
I am responding to the message I have copied and pasted below.
I am an African American nanny (and have been for 8 glorious years thank you!) and I know how to take care of the kids I'm in charge of. How dare you make such a blanket statement about African Americans!! I have seen White, Indian and Hispanic nannies on the phone as well who aren't watching their children properly so what does race have to do with it? A bad nanny is a bad nanny. The original poster did nothing wrong with mentioning her race, (she was just describing her) but what you posted was offensive and I wouldn't want you as my nanny when you look down on other races. What the nanny did was wrong, there is no doubt about it. What gets me is when people like you have the nerve to put us all in the same boat. Are all White people the same? All Hispanics? Come on! Get real! Also, before you put someone down, you need to check your grammar. It's important to speak properly when dealing with children
Yes, I know. I'm just so passionate about what I do that I don't want there to be any misunderstanding here. Also, I'm wondering is if there is a website where we can all go to for advice, vent about nanny experiences . . . and other things. Please let me know.
________________________________
re: i appreciate you taking the time to respond to the racist on the board, but her comments were so ignorant and so poorly formed that I didn't pay them any heed. I don't think anyone did. In this day and age, anyone with a brain knows that good nannies, like good dentists come in every shape, size, color, etc.
vent right here. have you seen the "opinion" section? It gives the board balance. (I think).
on the index, there is a link at the bottom right that will take you to the opinion page. as a parent, i am always interested to hear the nanny side of things.
isawyournannyindex.blogspot.com
Hi,
I don't see the opinion page grrrr ha ha Not used to this website yet. I'm sure I'm looking RIGHT over it. Can you post a link to it?
http://isawyournannyindex.blogspot.com/2006/10/perspective-opinion.html
those opinions are just indexed on that link but they appear on the main blog just like a sighting. personally those are some of my favorite reads.
Great! *rollin eyes* We get into a debate about the nanny who didn't take the boy to the bathroom, and then we get on the subject of race.
To clarify a few things, I have worked in inner-city daycares with black people. I have seen things I am not proud of, and whomever said black people don't know how to take care of children, they are wrong! My best friend is black, and she does a great job with children, and a good friend of mine is black, and we worked together at our old daycare. Both of them did fantastic work, and they are two of my best friends. My other best friend is black, white and Latino, and she does great with a three year old and three one year olds. It isn't about color, it's about common sense. Children don't see color, and neither should we. We are to teach children to love other people regardless of their skin.
The last daycare I worked at was black owned-I was the only white employee there. I had more education then any staff member, I was paid the lowest hourly wage because I wasn't a family member, and my director (the owner's sister) kept arguing with me about the fact that yes, I can put a child under one year old on the same schedule as a one year old. The director almost fired a teacher because the teacher has just started at the center and came down with strep throat. In Wisconsin, if you have strep throat, as a teacher or child attending the center, you are to be out of the center for anywhere from 24-72 hours. The teacher called in, and my director almost FIRED the teacher, since she didn't believe the woman had strep. She asked me what antibiotics were prescribed and what the symptoms were-I told her everything she needed to know, and she called the county health department to see if the woman was telling the truth! I was in awe of this woman, who was in charge of the center, yet didn't know what she was doing. She told me she left a $40K job with a degree in human services to work at her sister's daycare for half of her old salary. She also told me she didn't know anything about childcare.
Does anyone remember hearing about the little girl who was left on the daycare van in Milwaukee June of 2005? She died of heat exhaustion, after falling asleep on the van. The people I worked for owned the center where the little girl died. I ound out it was the same people after I viewed the "parent board" in the front hall. I got sick and couldn't believe that these same people didn't have the common sense to check the van, or to do a headcount as children were entering the building. I then realized that my director and her sisters were nice people, they just lacked common sense.
What I am trying to say is that the fact she was black has nothing to do with anything. She obviously lacked common sense. That has nothing to do with color, but with maturity.
This did seem to have racial undertones. Some of the details were unnecessary.
Post a Comment