Received Thursday, May 31, 2007
I am watching a sluggish looking, overweight, AA nanny respond to her charge's thirst. The child is thirsty. The child's see through sippy cup with the purple lid is empty. Will nanny get up and fill the cup with water? No. nanny will pour 1/3 of her coca cola in to the sippy cup and give it to the child. The child is looking at the cup with her face wrinkled. The child says, "I don't like bubbles." The nanny says, "it's cold, have some and go play, quick." The nanny is content with herself. She chugs the remaining coke from the bottle. She is wearing a tight white t-shirt with a flag on it, I think it's the flag of Puerto Rico. Nanny is also wearing red sneaker style sandals with criss cross straps. The child, who is probably two is now back playing. The nanny is complaining to the nanny next to her about having to work Memorial Day.
70 comments:
Better to let a thirsty child drink soda rather than spy on nannies and type type type on your little Blackberry while your child is off playing.
a little pop never hurt anyone... not that I am advocating caffeine for 2 year olds but in a pinch I might have done the same thing. She will be the one to pay the price when the child won't nap!
12:19 and 12:26 you certainly have low standards for childcare. While a little Coke on its own isn't a huge deal, adult dental bacteria are -- now known to be linked to heart disease (as well as any other diseases Nanny may be carrying).
The first 2 responders here are deadbeats.
And the nanny? What a lazy sack of shizit.
WATER, people. Drink WATER. It will lower the risk of your fat arses getting diabetes.
OMG...you people are all so perfect that you always have extra water on hand for a thirsty child. I agree, a few sips of soda will not harm this child in the long run.
To you non-soda drinking people...I suppose you never mix vodka with your water because you know that alcohol can hurt your liver.
As far as the bacteria and diseases, I would hope you are picky enough not to allow some disease ridden animal to care for your child. And I suppose you have never shared even a small sip of your own drink or bite of your food with your child in a pinch.
And the longer we can delay the child developing a taste for super-sugary treats the better for the child and his teeth. And the greater chance that he will eat actual food like veggies and fruits instead of liquid candy like soda.
My nephew and I drink water all day long. We made a game of saying "Cheers!" then taking big swigs from the bottle. It works particularly well when he needs to drink something (during a meal, or in the middle of him playing), if I say "Cheers!" he never leaves me hanging and drinks up. It even worked with a forkful of broccoli. lol
I wouldn't get bent out of shape about this particular issue, but I love-love that OP "live blogged" her sighting.
To the future, cheers~
Quick call the police what a horrible nanny! Sure it's not the best thing to do but it doesn't deserve to get posted on this site. I think she had every right to complain about working Memorial Day, you put that on here as if it were a bad thing. Nannies are humans too believe or not.
I hope the above posters nephew doesn't think when he is urged by his friends to partake of underage drinking that he must drink up everytime someone yells cheers. What a dangerous habit to teach a youngster. Some people are so foolish. Here's lookin' at you, idiot.
1:15:
The point is that the nanny could have risen off her arse to retrieve some water, but she chose not to walk a few feet. There was no "in a pinch" involved. She wasn't in the Sahara at the time, you know.
I too like the whole "live chronicle". Thirsty child. What will the nanny do? The fountain is what? At that park 40 feet away?
1:50 We've got a few years yet before we teach him about the evils of peer pressure and binge drinking. Have no fear.
Here's mud in your eye!
1:55 and 2:02 - not every park has a fountain. Many of them here in Baltimore do not. I always have extra bottle of water in my vehicle or in the stroller though, just in case.
1:50 - I love it! I too hope the child doesn't become an alcoholic.
You people really crack me up and give me a reason to look forward to nap time!
"Sluggish." The term may be used to describe a nanny whom doesn't get off the park bench and walk to the drinking fountain. It may also be used to describe a mother whom doesn't get off the park bench to play with their child.
You don't have to be a "disease ridden animal" to have dental bacteria -- we all do and it's unhealthy to share it with young children. And no I don't share even one little bite or sip with my own children.
115, yes, even heathy people have bacteria in their mouths. Yes, you can pass on mouth disease to children by sharing a cup or utensil. Yes, mouth disease is linked to heart disease. My nanny knows she is NEVER to share utensils or cups with my children. She would be dismissed. And she knows it.
I would rather my child drink some coke than something from the public water fountain. Worried about germs from the nanny, are you kidding do you know how germy that fountain prob. is.
A little soda isn't a big deal and we can all be lazy at times, but I would hope better of a nanny and I would be more worried about the bacterial issue than the sugar.
hahaha I honestly laughed outloud when I read 1:50 p.m...How can you possibly think that encouraging a child will lead to underage drinking...seriously I can't even explain how ridiculous your post is. JMT is encouraging her nephew...do you actually believe that now he will go through life thinking he must chug alcohol when he hears "cheers"? I'm sitting here in disbelief. Maybe you should read a book on child development.
Why is it that I, as a SAHM always have water for my son, and a paid nanny - someone's employee - did not? Lazy...
With regard to jmt's nephew chugging his water when he hears the word "cheers", I don't think it is an unfounded concern that such behaviors lead to drinking alcoholic beverages, and perhaps way earlier than legal. The same theory held true with candy cigarettes and that is the reason you can't buy them anymore.
What's more, It has been proven statistically that 76% of young children who partake of the "virgin drinks", Shirley Temple and Roy Rogers, will become bonafide drinkers before their legal age and many will end up with serious drinking problems. Toy makeup kits, make belive non-alcoholic cocktails and other fantasy adult practices which may seem innocent enough are but a precursor children on their breakneck pace to become adults and often cause them to engage in adult activities for which they are not prepared. Little girl "beauty queens" are another big cause for concern and fit into this precarious category. Who could ever forget Jon Benet? And what happens physcologically to the little girls who don't win??? Let me give you a hint: Depression, Suicide, Lack of Self Esteem. Our young children are precious and fragile. Think about what you're doing, folks and God Bless.
justsaying, that was my thought exactly! Especially with little kids, they tend to stick their lips, tongues, noses, etc on the fountain. Gross. I'd rather take my chances with the nanny's mouth.
6:28 (and others), she did have a drink for the child. The child just drank it all. (Hence the empty sippy cup.) Yes she should have had extra water, since it was a hot day, but she did in fact bring a drink for the child.
I thought JMT was a guy. I'm so confused!
The word "cheers" can be defined on dictionary.com as a shout of encouragement, approval, or congratulation. Do you honestly think there is linkage between this situation and beauty queens and Jon Benet Ramsey. I feel as though you are really digging deep for this one. What are the changes that when this little boy goes to highschool someone will say cheers and his will remember JMT and think "I MUST chug this beer" Ridiculous, i'm sorry. Saying cheers by no means is practicing fantasy adult activity. The kids I babysit for clink their glasses together and say cheers all the time because it is something that they think is fun to do. Honestly lighten up. I don't agree with beauty queens and all of that business either but that has ABSOLUTLEY nothing to do with this.
Call the police, call social services, follow the nanny home and rat her out to her employer! Better yet, since you always have extra water on hand for your child, offer a bottle to the nanny.
What sort of germs would you expect to catch if you hold a sippy cup to a water fountain without touching any of the actual hardware?
No offense, but some of you are freaks!
Repeat after me:
There is no excuse.
There is no excuse.
There is no excuse.
uh, Kate Kate Kate
"Cheers" which is often voiced when imbibing is a toast. A toast is usually connected with the drinking of alcoholic beverages. I don't give a flying F what the dick-shun-airy says! I think you are digging deeper to try to disprove something that should be quite obvious!
Know what? I bet the nanny is that lady from the Nannies of Brooklyn Heights.
*ducks and runs for cover*
Do you think a child links alcohol to cheers? NO, adults make that link. I'm simply saying the child just sees it as a game, it is not putting them in danger. This isn't even worth arguing about because clearly you do not understand that children think like children NOT adults. At this age it is innocent behavior. That is my point.
whoever you are anon...you clearly do not have experience with children, if you did you would realize that children do not read into things as some adults do!
jmt help me out here!!!!
Is the dental bacteria thing for real? I share food/drink w/ my 2-yo all the time. I have had lots of cavities, too. What can I do to reverse it, if anything?
Re the post, honestly this does not strike me as something to freak out about. The nanny sightings that I think are worthy of this site are the ones where a child is clearly being neglected and/or abused, and sadly there are lots of those. This is just...not a big deal IMO. But clearly I'm in the minority!
I don't think it is a real big deal either but worth noting and discussing. Never hurts to learn something new.
You people need help. You all would be complaining if she didn't give the kid a drink, you complain that she gave the kid soda. Then you complain that the kid can catch some sort of bacteria...are you serious. You know how much crap kids put in their mouths on a regular basis. Not to mention kids playing in the sand which is stepped on by shoes, which holds all sorts of bacteria....shall I go on??????
In NYC the water pipes that feed the fountains are old and deteriorated. A homeless man who drank regularly from them, got blood poisoning from the rust which entered his system through cavities in his teeth. If you run out of water, buy a bottle from the ice cream man.
Oh, please don't 10:35
You've said enough already
Isn't it your bedtime?
Sorry, Kate! I was out walking!
My BF and I (and yes I am a woman! lol) are laughing our butts off at the dire predictions of alcoholism for kids who say "cheers" when they drink water. It's a game. A friendly game of comraderie.
The BF wants me to tell you that all of his cousins and siblings learned how to count by playing blackjack with their grandmother, and none of them turned into degenerate gamblers. Plus they learned how to count money because, as he says, "you always played for money when you played with Grandma." LOL Can you see it? Like Dogs Playing Poker but with little children sitting around the card table.
Any Brits out there who can chime in on the many uses of "cheers"?
ttfn
you are all a bunch of stupid women. with nothing better to do. write about something sensible please
jmt...thank god you came back.. i was dying here...finally something reasonable written here...Cheers!!!
11:54PM, you are cranky. Did you miss your nap this afternoon?
Wait a minute! I too thought that JMT was a guy. I was just starting to fall in love. Oh well, I guess I will just move on.
11:54PM:
Lets discuss the solar system and what non-radiation energy sources we may be able to tap from our galaxy in the near future. You want some serious talk, go bore yourself. I've gotta admit, this blog rocks! Some of the things people write make me sick, but I still love it.
950, yes, you can pass on dental disease to your child. Sharing utensils with your child passes your bacteria onto them. Good and bad bacteria thrive in everyone's mouths except for babies, who only have good. They are introduced to the bad bacteria by shared utensils. They may get lucky and have no problems, or they will have problems. Once intoduced, they are there to stay. I don't think you can reverse anything, but you can stop sharing. Never let you child eat off your utensils or drink after you. Also, pass on the info to others you know. If they want proof, google mouth disease. I've never looked for info online, but I'm sure it's there.
Seriously, don't any of you here read Parents or Parenting magazines? Visit dentists with your children? Watch tv or read the paper? I guess my family and I are very pro-active when it comes to our health, as we read anything we can get our hands on and ask a million and one question when we see our doctors. I'm in my thirties, and I've known for over 15 years that sharing cans of soda was bad.
I had issues with my MIL, and had to put an end to mouth kisses with my children. So the nanny giving the kid a bit of soda is really not such a big issue as her sharing. Unless it was a brand new bottle.
Oh, I almost forgot JMT!! My son has a cute habit. Anytime we eat popcycles, we clink them together after we unwrap them and say "Cheers." It is beyond cute!!
And btw, we do not drink in our house because of our religion. So no one here try to convince me my son will be an alcholoic! That's just plain dumb.
whether you say cheers or never drink is not the issue. alcoholism is a disease. if you have alcoholism in your family (the child's biological family), the child is at risk.
I wish more people who adopted children understood this.
10:47-That was my original thought too. I don't trust tap water and maybe the nanny's bosses don't either, leaving her only option to share her own soda.
As far as sluggish goes-yes, we all have sluggish days...it happens. Especially if it's your time of the month and a 90 degree day!
4:45:
Thank you for posting that tidbit.
1:01, you should seriously educate yourself on the topic. There have been millions of parents like yourself who have been caught off guard when their kids start drinking excessively.
In the UK we say "cheers" all the time - not just when having a drink!
Growing up, no one in my family drank either -- for religious reasons. But when I got to college, I went through a major binge-drinking phase...as did all of my siblings.
No, I don't think saying "cheers" before eating or drinking leads to alcoholism. That's just stupid. But if you honestly think your child will never drink because you never drink...you are seriously deluding yourself.
Yaya, you just described me (90 degree day, time of the month, VERY sluggish). But I need to get my butt moving because todays my first day as a preschool teacher and I'm working the afterschool shift - talk about kids who will be rambunctious. But I digress... Regarding the "Cheers!" debate. A week ago I would've said it isn't a huge deal. Then I went to a relatives wedding on Saturday where my son (who is 7) was the ringbearer. At the reception after, everyone was drinking, celebrating (open bar) and even the children were given cider in champagne glasses for the toast. A few minutes after the toast I heard my son say "Look, I'm drunk!" while holding his champagne glass. He overheard someone - holding the champagne glass - say it after the toast. Oh how fast did that glass get taken away from my son and how quickly I dragged his little behind in the ladies room to have a talk with him. I think after the stern talking-to he might not ever utter those words again lol.
12:58
"I guess my family and I are very pro-active when it comes to our health, as we read anything we can get our hands on and ask a million and one question when we see our doctors. I'm in my thirties, and I've known for over 15 years that sharing cans of soda was bad"
Sanctimonious much? Some people call this "pro-active," and some people call it neurotic. Some people (including your doctor) probably wonder if you have something better to do, like count your blessings and enjoy life. I'm sorry, I love my child, but I have neither the time nor the inclination to spend "a million and one" hours finding out all there is to know about mouth bacteria. And that DOES NOT make me a bad parent.
Go back to building your bubble, freakshow. Good luck when your kids become junkies.
i am a nanny and i have taken the 2 little boys to the park, we pack a snack, and a sippy for each child..Sometimes the older of the two will get really thirsty from playing and drink what we have, sometimes i have water and sometimes i dont. Their mother only drinks bottled water and if they are out, they are out. I am not going to have a child be thirsty when i have my own water or Sobe with me, i am also not going to let him drink dirty water foutian water with sand in it and who knows what else.
First of all, this comment section is HA-LARIOUS! I can't believe how quickly these threads go out of control. RE: the "cheers" debate - do you remember candy cigarettes? Can you believe that product got the green light? I LOVED them. Unfortunately, I ended up a smoker but quit many years ago. NO - I have no idea if there was a connection. But I did love to play with make-up and many of my college photos show some pretty horrid eye shadow. Maybe there is a connection between childhood toys and adult behavior? That's it - I'm throwing out my daughters princess shoes lest she wear "F" me pumps as a teenager.
216, How sad that you feel it's a waste of time to educate yourself. It doesn't require a "million and one hours" to pick up a Parenting magazine and read, and the last time I checked, the evening news in still only 30 min. long. Don't you ask your doctor questions? Mine is always answering mine and giving me literature to read. And sorry, but on more than one occasion she has told me how wonderful it was to have such interactive parents. She has seen too many children who's parents don't ask her anything, and it frustrates her to no end. She even tells us,that she, a doctor, asks her own pediatrician a ton of questions. Of course, our reasons are probable a bit different.
My son needs surgery to correct a chest defect in a few years. I am so grateful I picked up a Reader's Digest and randomly flipped thru. It contained a story about a boy who had the same corrective surgery and died because the pain medicine they used caused an ulcer, and he bled to death internally. Was it a waste of my time? No. Now I know Tordol is not ok, and will question the doctors about what they are giving him when the day comes. And until then, research, research, research!
Personally, I feel like your post was a bit more sanctimonious than mine. I don't think your a bad parent, but reckless. Feel free to just let the road take you wherever it goes, but as for my family and myself, we'll question life as we go. I am a PRO-ACTIVE participant in my health and that of my family. With a family history that includes heart disease and cancer on my side of the family, and diabetes and cancer on my husbands side, I will take an active roll in preventing as much of this as I can in my child.
As for your low jab at my kids becoming junkies, sorry, but we will educate them about the effects of drugs and hope for the best. No one has a guarentee that their child won't do drugs. My husband nor I ever did, as we were raised by loving parents. I can only hope for the same. Try to be nicer. Your post was really rude.
Well, they say ignorance is bliss, 216. Great way to raise kids. I'm applauding you. your raising a whole new generation of ignorant people. Freakshow? Haha! That's like the kettle calling the pot black!
I actually think it was quite rude of the poster at 12:58 to begin with "I guess my family's just proactive." I don't blame 2:16 for feeling insulted when the poster essentially implied that people who share drinks are lazy about their kids' health. Her response didn't claim that she/he didn't care or was advocating ignorance - if she's on this website, it might mean that she thinks that vigilance is a good thing, wouldn't you agree? I think at some point there's a line that can get crossed between vigilance and obsessiveness. The media that 12:14 refers to thrives on fear - it's called "fear mongering," and there's a whole market niche carved out by getting parents to buy into it. I personally would encourage you to make sure that you enjoy your kids, who, as kids, are inevitably going to be germy, bruised, and wonderful instead of trying to anticipate everything that might happen to them. And, fyi, creating an absolutley sterile environment around your kids (including emotionally sterile: no kisses from grandma because of mouth germs !?! if I were 2:16 I'd wonder about you just based on this! It's not like she's using tongue!) IS a good way to make sure they act out later ("educating" them about the dangers of drugs doesn't always work, sorry to say). Ask any therapist. Calling yr kids future junkies may have been a low blow, but 2:16 is probably more right than you think. I'm surprised you haven't read those studies... but, oh yeah, the Parenting magazines don't cover those, if they did they'd be out of a job.
Ignorance is not bliss, but you people are a little paranoid. The only person I have ever known who had life threatening effects from mouth bacteria also had advanced stage HIV. So, yes, theoretically there is a possible risk but, like everything else we have recently had health panics about (bird flu? west nile virus? does anyone remember when we thought you could get AIDS this way too?), the risk is for the 1% of people who contract mouth bacteria from sharing a soda-pop AND who also have a severely compromised immune system. Considering that we ALL have this bad bacteria and how many people has it killed that you know of? The common cold is a more real concern than this (especially knowing how miserable it makes a 2-year-old).
But it sounds like it's easier for some of you to get on your blackberries and scream "typhoid mary!" than it is to consider the facts.
P.S. If you can't distinguish your and you're, 3:25, you shouldn't be calling anyone ignorant.
I really had a lot to say, but errased my comment. It's obvious to me that you don't want to hear what I have to share. Yes, share. That is what normal people do when they have knowledge on a subject being discussed.
My family doesn't live in a sterile, unloving enviroment, as you might think. We kiss on the cheek (or skinned knees, squashed fingers, etc.) But I do read, and learn, all that I can. I visit mothering forums and ask questions. Call me sactimonious, whatever. Your attack just makes me think you feel bad because you're taking a chance with your children. If you, their parent, won't stand up and be pro-active in your child's health, then who will?
325, you are rude. And as 1029 said, it's you're, not your.
1029, I was not refferencing AIDS. I was talking about mouth diseases.
I think the root of this issue is that it doesn't matter what any of you think. I don't want my son's grandma (his dad's mom) kissing his lips after she smokes pot and cigarettes in the next room--in fact I don't visit if possible, until she refrain from smoking in the house all together. BUT that is my opinion and my choice, I am his mother. This post is about someone else's child, so it really only matters what the mother wants. If she reads this she will know what is happening and will make her own decision. So really there is no point in arguing if the nanny was bad or not, unless you are the mother and father of that child, and employer of that nanny.
946, thanks, you put it way better, nicer, than I wanted to. Everyone knows what is best for their own family.
9:46 well said
i'm 13, and i have my own perspective. My mom and nanny both used the "Cheers" thing on me as a kid for water, vegetables, anything that needed encouragement to do. I drank shirley temples, known by the name of "Kid Cocktail" to me
Do I sneak out to get drunk on weekends? No .
Am I fixated on alcohol? No.
seriously.
Your kids are more likley to learn how to make rudimentary alcohol in jr. high science in the process of studying yeast and ethanol than they are to become binge drinkers due to a little "cheers"
Indigo,
what an astute observation.
Are you sure you are only 13?
You must be home schooled.
Love your perepective.
ro:
thanks. no not home schooled, public school bitch and proud of it!
I woul dlike t add that i have plenty of oppurtunitys to drink, and have? no.
9:46 why the hell would your kids grandparents be smoking pot???
11:49 Because they are potheads? They were stoners in the sixties? They have cancer and are smoking medical MJ? Do you really need a reason?
Look I can ask whatever I want. I don't care what reason it is, why the hell are they doing it??? Apparently you've been on the pipe because your can't read. My post was 11:39 not 11:49 you crackhead....
11:39, jmt is probably right, his grandmother is a NURSE and is in her mid 50s. i don't know why she does it other than for enjoyment, but as a result she is losing a relationship with her ONLY grandson, and she only has one son, so she won't have any relationship with any of her grandkids if she doesn't change--but i don't expect her to change, it is hard for a person to change. she also lives about 2 hours away which makes it easier for me to not visit, and since she refuses to drive and visit us because she can't smoke here.... its too bad but that is how i choose to raise my son.
10:59 In the words of Dave Chappelle: you have smoked yourself retarded.
YOU sound a little paranoid, your reasoning is off and you had a typo in the same sentence which berates me for getting the time wrong.
This cracked me up the most:
"I don't care what reason it is, why the hell are they doing it???"
Asked and answered, my friend. lol
Chill out already.
Cheers said when clinking together two or more glasses is a 'toast', and in the UK, you'd better believe that means booze.
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