Monday

Third Street Playground in Prospect Park, NY

Received Monday, May 7, 2007
Physical description of caregiver: white female, 25-30, shoulder length, kinky brown hair, little or no make up, 3/4 length white shirt with different widths of strips in shades of grey, green handbag with gold link strap.
Physical description of involved child/children: possibly a second child, but at least one child,white, 2.5-3, short dark hair with a pink clip in it, print legging style pants and a navy fleece that buttoned like a pea coat.
Address or venue of observed incident: The 3rd Street Playground/Prospect Park
Date and time of incident: Monday 5/7; approx 10:40 AM
Detailed description of what you witnessed: nanny sitting on bench reading while child was playing. Soon, she removed a can of Red Bull from her handbag, opened it and took a sip. Then she very discreetly brought a small bottle of what I am guessing was travel sized vodka to her side and quickly dumped it in the can of red bull. She quickly dropped the little bottle back in her bag and looked around to see if anyone had seen her.
Summary: If this nanny thought this was okay, she wouldn't have been so sneaky. Is there any data available on the percentage of nannies with alcohol dependency?

50 comments:

Anonymous said...

This is a strong accusation. Are you POSITIVE it was vodka she was putting in there?

Anonymous said...

If it were anything else but alcohol, why would she do so in the way op described?

Anonymous said...

And only the vile flavor of Red Bull would hide alcohol breath AND discourage a child from wanting a sip of nanny's drink. This woman definitely has a problem if she's spiking her beverage at 10:30 in the AM. You know it wasn't a protein shot or flaxseed oil going in there.

Anonymous said...

I did a quick Google search on nannies and alcohol abuse and didn't find much. What I did find came out of Great Britain. Not much out there yet.

Anonymous said...

Was her hair in a pony tail or was it down?

Did you notice the kid's shoes?

Was there a stroller?

Anonymous said...

We go to this playground a lot but I don't recognize this nanny at all. Any ideas of what the little girl's name was?

Anonymous said...

why wouldnt you say something? what if this nanny had already had a few drinks? Drunks with children= not a very good idea. The ignorance on this board makes me sick.

Anonymous said...

AML-
I don't think it is ignorant. I have never seen the nanny before, nor have I seen the little girl.
She doesn't look like a lot of other nannies in that park. No, she did not have a pony tail and she must live near by because there was no stroller and her charge was about 2.5. Would you have said something? And what would you have said? Would you have said something if it was a child's mother?

Anonymous said...

First of all, you have no idea if it was alcohol or not, you are just assuming this. I guess there is no "innocent until proven guilty" in your book. If she is not acting drunk or abusing/neglecting the child than why do you assume the worse.

Second, like so many other posts on this site, how do you know this woman was not the childs mother?

Anonymous said...

I would not have said anything unless she was obviously drunk. Saying something would only cause her to be sneakier next time around.

Of course if she were swaying in the breeze I'd alrt the cops for sure.

Anonymous said...

yes 446,
i am sure she was sneakily pouring almond extract in to her red bull.

and who cares if she was the mother? she's just been outed in all her kinky haired glory.

Anonymous said...

448 (second poster) without proof you are just assuming that the person is drinking alcohol, who cares what she was putting in if she was still responsible enough to take care of the child.

Second, if it was a mother than this is just another post on this site that is trying to make nannies look bad.

Anonymous said...

if it is a nanny on the clock, just like if she were a freaking dental hygenist on the job, she should not be drinking!

Intervention on the bench.

TOMORROW

Anonymous said...

10:40 in the morning is nuts. Lindsey Lohan doesn't even do that.

Good reporting, OP.

See you around 3rd Street.

Anonymous said...

op- i like the format you used.
also- does this sound like to anyone else like it might be a hungover nanny? long weekend?

Anonymous said...

446, what else would someone add to a can of Red Bull? I can't think of anything else that comes in a little bottle that would be a good add. And the nanny may not have been rip roaring drunk,...yet. She may have just been warming up for a long day of drinking. Her behavior alone makes the whole situation look suspicious.

While this could be a nanny or a parent, better to post in case this is a nanny. Parents need to know/find out if their nanny has a drinking problem. There are a lot of people who can cover up if they are drinking, and the parents may be unaware. It sounds like the nanny and child walked to the park, so at least she is not out driving with a child. Still not ok.

Anonymous said...

Whatever happened to the mother who found the wine in her nanny's closet while snooping?
Did she fire her?
What is going on?
Nanny mayhem?

Anonymous said...

Hmmm.... I checked with my own nanny. She and my child were there this morning around that time (she guesstimates her arrival as being around 10:45ish) and said the only nanny she saw was a Black nanny with a white child. Is it possible that this drinker was the mother?

Anonymous said...

How does your nanny know a nanny from a Mom? Does she have Momdar?

Anonymous said...

8:29:

Yeah, pretty much. I have momdar myself. Don't most people? JMT my find that word offensive, so you better watch it.

Anonymous said...

could she have been a college student? i'm not saying this would excuse her behavior but it may explain why she was drinking in the morning. pregaming? "relaxing" before/after a final?

again that would not be an excuse. just a thought about who would do something like this.

Anonymous said...

I'm thinking gin would go better with Red Bull.

Anonymous said...

my theory-
if this were me and i was hungover or planning to drink, i would not take my charge to a park where i knew parents. i would walk an extra three blocks to be anonymous.

Anonymous said...

"Is there any data available on the percentage of nannies with alcohol dependency?"

Yes, when they apply for their jobs they always disclose that they're raging drunks....

Anonymous said...

What is the law on breathalizer tests for employees? I imagine if it's in the employment contract that random drug and alcohol tests may be administered, then it is legal. It would be a good thing to always include in anticipation of a case like this. But what if it isn't and you suspect your nanny of drinking on duty?

Anonymous said...

It is so strange, but yet it isnt how the mothers on this blog dont criticize this nanny because she iss white. Wow, what if she had been black. Comments would have been fast and furious I am positive. Such as call the cops, take a picture with your cellphone, accost her, hit her and all just junk because of her skin color but lo and behold the talk is all about a white nanny, and everyone rushes to her defense, why cant it be a mother, the only question that needs to be asked is ARE YOU SURE THE NANNY WAS WHITE AND MAYBE YOU WERE COLOR BLIND AND THE NANNY IS ACTUALLY B.L.A.C.K. Afterall, in the eyes of the moms who frequent this website, black means bad, evil and monstruous.

Anonymous said...

step away from that 40 of St. Ides.

Anonymous said...

12:32:

You've managed to bring up the race card, so while we are on the subjectL

We don't criticize the white nannies on here because we know the black nannies do it for us when we aren't around.

Every day my nanny gets some commentary from black nannies at the park. They want to know how much she makes, they borrow diapers from her because they've forgotten them, they tell her she should sit down and relax on the bench instead of playing with my kids. And this is all confirmed, documented stuff, as my nanny is often with friends of mine.

It's some weird cultural thing I don't get.

A good rule of thumb is to not harass other caretakers.

Anonymous said...

OMG, you too?
My nanny has the same problem. Playdates have also become a problem. When the nanny goes with dc to their house, it is okay. The children play near them. The nanny most often badmouths the employer. One nanny warned my nanny to whisper and that she had a feeling that the smoke detector was a baby camera. My nanny had more problems when she hosted them at my home. The nannies wanted to know what we did, see pictures of us, wanted to know how much we made, etc. And the nanny asked "what is for lunch". When the nanny was not satisfied with what we had in the home, the nanny complained that she the nanny should have cash to order in and that "this isn't right to come for a playdate and eat kid food". All of that is nothing compared with the fact that these nannies make my nanny feel bad for doing her job as well as she does. She has been told, "they don't appreciate you" and "what are you killing yourself for, they aren't your kids". I doubt nanny was killing herself. It actually isn't that much of an effort for her to be vivacious, kind and creative around our children!

Anonymous said...

11:33:

Yup. I didn't want to get that detailed, but I thank you for doing it for me.

I am so not down with the drama they bring, and they definitely bring it.

Anonymous said...

WHAT? You have got to be kidding me! She had vodka? My word....Do I need to play the Nanny Fairy and smack all the stupid nannies with poopy diapers?

Anonymous said...

9:17 PM
No, most moms don't have momdar. I am a Caucasian nanny with an American accent, and every single mom I have ever met in the playgrounds has assumed I am the mom. They are always surprised when I say I am the nanny. This has been the experience of other nannies I know as well.
As for relationships with AA or Hispanic nannies, some are clickish, but I have had some very warm relationships with others. I like to have playdates with women who share my standards of care, and are happy in their jobs. These tend to be very professional nannies, employed by families with high standards, and they come from all groups, AA, Hispanic, Asian, and yes, Caucasian.
UES Nanny

Anonymous said...

She probably works for one of the evil/bitter moms on this site. I don't blame her for drinking on the job if thats the case!

Anonymous said...

10:50 PM
LOL, I have known nannies who worked for employers who would drive Carrie Nation to drink.

Anonymous said...

I have known nanny employers who have driven their employees to the brink of suicide, so give it a rest nanny basher.

Anonymous said...

10:50 As you are one of the evil/bitter posters on this site, can you tell us if those around you drink?

Anonymous said...

What? Around me?
Just who do you think I am cozying up to? The mothers I am friendly with are all top notch and if they have nannies working for them, the nannies are all completely capable and nanny poppins-like.

I am not bitter. I just have no tolerance for people who hire "these people" and "these people" who mistreat the children they are trusted to care for.

I'm drinking now. Does that count?

Anonymous said...

THAT WAS ME!!! I am the nanny from the park! It was NOT vodka. My charge insists on drinking Red Bull, and the mom lets him. I do not want the kid bouncing off the walls for the rest of the day, so I add water to it. WATER!!!! If the kid sees me do it, she would have a fit. So thank you...whoever posted this. Next time maybe get the full story.

Anonymous said...

Anon. 12:32:
Before you, I did not see anyone posting ANYTHING about race other than the post saying that her nanny only saw one other nanny at the playground that day and time and she was black. No one anywhere can have a blog without trolls like you waiting in the shadows for the smallest bit of a questionable post so you can go all NAACP on their arses. Stop this stupid crap..if anyone is bringing up race, it's you. And if you are offended by people saying that someone is "black", why do you still come here other than to start something or try to anyway?

Anonymous said...

Hi AL!
What took you so long to get here?

Anonymous said...

A 2 year old who drinks Red Bull? Now I have heard everything.

7:28, you're on crack.

Anonymous said...

728 is another lying,scheming, anti-mommmy nanny. As a mother, I shudder to think of the nannies who walk around with such resentment coursing through their veins. It's quite frightening.

Selena said...

Well anonymous 7:28 is blatantly lying lol. First anon refers to the charge as a "him" and then says, if the child sees the water being poured into the RB, "she" would have a fit. So, 7:28, is your charge a boy or a girl? Perhaps you're too drunk to remember whether or not you're watching a boy or a girl?

Anonymous said...

excellent point.
i think a nanny somewhere is shaking in her boots as she fears her employers may catch on that her handbag rattles and she always has a redbull glued to her mouth!

Although it could be anything. We had a nanny in the neighborhood who drank crystal light and vodka all day (in the individual bottles). It took the family for her to be pulled over for a DUI at 4 in the afternoon to find out.

Anonymous said...

Yeah, okay. I know the bottled water companies are trying to rip us off with smaller and smaller bottles, but I have not yet seen a mini-bar-sized Poland Spring yet.
Adding water to a Red Bull? How about refusing to let a child drink it at all - just putting your foot down? Any mom that would let a kid drink Red Bull is NUTS anyway. I wouldn't listen to her! Just say NO!

Anonymous said...

jmt, I cannot believe that you believe 7:28's story!!! NOT YOU, jmt. You are way too smart to buy that.

Anonymous said...

Of course not. That's why the sarcasm over the "tiny water bottle". And the ridicule over the idea of giving a child Red Bull. See? If this was the nanny that was spotted, she's telling some whopping big lies, otherwise it's some faker wanting attention.

Anonymous said...

oh, ok! (BIG sigh of relief!)

:-)

Anonymous said...

bunch of fucking hypocrites. white nannies never do anaything. black ass nannies do. stupid bitches you all are. go get a life. or better take care of your own brats

Anonymous said...

If the physical description had black in it the comments wouldn't have been so civil. What you people don't seem to realize is that it's your kind who isn't genuine to the parents neither the kids.