Received Friday, July 13, 2007
Physical description of caregiver: College aged, longer brown hair, gray hooded sweat shirt, Caucasian
Physical description of involved child/children: 2 young boys between the ages of 8 and 10. Twins or close in age. Fair hair (brownish/blond), fair skin, wearing swimsuits and t-shirts.
Address or venue of observed incident: Muirfield Pool, Dublin, Ohio. In the parking lot
Date and time of incident: Thursday morning around 9:45 (right before the third age group had Muirfins swim team practice)
Detailed description of what you witnessed: I was waiting in the car (for 5 min. before I had to drive to the pick-up spot for a child getting out of swim team practice) in the middle of the parking lot. As I was waiting I saw a silver Jeep drive into the parking lot, very fast, and quickly drive into a spot, without pausing to let children pass who were trying to cross to the entrance to the pool. The nanny got out of the car, and yelled “hurry, hurry, hurry, we are late.” She then opened the door, moved the front seat forward and said it again. One of the two boys in the back of the jeep said “I am going to take my time” and went a little slower (but not too slow) and took his time getting out of the car. The nanny then said “If you don’t get out of the car faster I am going to drop your underwear in front of all the girls.” Although I think the nanny was trying to joke with the boy, he got a scared look on his face and started moving faster. The nanny then told the boys to run to swim team so they would not be late, and they ran across the parking lot while the nanny took her time getting her stuff. She did not watch them in the busy parking lot.
Description of vehicle, bag, stroller that may aid in identifying involved caregiver: Silver Jeep, looked new. I do not remember what the bag looked like.
Yep! Nothing like the threat of public humiliation to build stong minds and bodies. Idiot woman.
ReplyDeleteI'm sure I'll catch all kinds of trouble for saying this, but I don't really see the problem here, other than perhaps the nanny needs to be sure to be on time and pay better attention when pulling into the lot (but, come on...get real, we have all been in this type of situation).
ReplyDeleteHer joking with the boy about his underpants, was maybe a poor judgement, but as far as letting them run off to practice while she gets her things together? Big Deal. Kids between 8 and 10 should surely be able to watch for traffic and cross a parking lot without a problem.
She needs to manage her time better and maybe work on her jokes (note: the OP said she seemed to be joking with him), but is she a bad nanny based on this incident? No.
This one actually doesn't seem like that big of a deal to me either. These are getting more and more ridiculous in my opinion. It sounds like she was teasing him (my family jokes that way, and did so when we were younger as well...we all have a good sense of humor now.) I think it any thing she just needs to manage her time better, and slow down a bit.
ReplyDelete"These" are getting more ridiculous.
ReplyDeleteI don't know what blog you are looking at, but I have seen a lot of sightings here recently involving sadistic nannies.
Oh is this your child involved in the post? Why don't you sit tight then. I personally find this in bad taste. If I knew my nanny was talking like this to my child, I would be on the lookout for other behaviors.
ReplyDeleteSounds like the nanny was stressed out (maybe a little burned out) and in a rush. Kids ALWAYS dawdle. A good nanny knows this.
ReplyDeleteHopefully the nanny will ask for some time off. She can rest up, get a little perspective and return to work refreshed.
Problem solved.
@@ this is stupid, some lady with nothign better to do than make a mountain out of a mole hill.
ReplyDeleteBetween the ages of 8 and 10? That could mean they were actually 11 and 12 or even 13, you never know now a days with kids. My son is 11 and is so tall that he looks like he is 13 and I know kids who are 12 or 13 who look 8. Anyway, other then the driving too fast I don't see anything wrong here. My children and I tease eachother all the time about silly stuff. As for her rushing because they were running late. I have three children and I tell ya their are some days when I am getting them ready for school that they can really push my buttons when it comes to getting ready to walk out the door.
ReplyDeleteOP here-
ReplyDeleteThis is a nanny sighting, I was not trying to make a big deal of anything, just posting the nanny sighting, which is what this site is for. You can draw your own conclusions based on what I wrote about what you think of the nanny.
To 11:21, I know they were between those ages because that is the swim group that meets at that time. No other children are allowed in the pool so they must be between those ages.
Why do you let your children push your buttons? are you moved to say disgusting things to them? Don't let your sucky parenting excuse the behavior of a nanny.
ReplyDeleteUnless you are that child's parent and you are AOKAY with the nanny making belittling comments that threaten a young child's sense of self and sexuality.
Good job, OP. You posted what you saw.
It is different for a parent to tease and joke than it is for a nanny to.
ReplyDeleteGood Sighting!
The comment just seems uncool. I wouldn't make such a comment to a child nor would I appreciate anyone speaking to a child I cared about like that. Just my opinion.
ReplyDeleteIn this post, as in many others, what counts to me is not just what is said to a child, but how he responds to it. This boy took the threat of being denuded in public to heart and was upset by it. So if an OP makes the effort to put the result of a comment in, or the tone of voice in, or makes special note of how a nanny speaks to the children (not just the content) I believe it. A lot of people reading this blog tend to mentally gloss over stuff like that, then nitpick over the wrong points.
ReplyDeleteGet Real...I have charges, 11 and 14 -both boys.. And I have days were I pull teeth to move them through the day. If I was desperatly trying to make something on time and asked for them to hurry and I got a sassy "I am going to take my time" You better believe I would drop him a one liner to get him in motion. My kids know me, they know better than to know I wouldn't act on it...but its a humorus way of telling them I am serious, rather than the or so proper and ever boring "joshua we are exactly 10 mins late and I know you understand we need to be quick about getting to swim practice so could you be a good boy and move faster " GAG!
ReplyDelete9:28, I'm a nanny & I'm a little surprised at your comments. Granted nannies should not be expected to be "perfect" and nannies do get rushed and stressed, but honestly I don't see anything wrong with using manners when asking a child to hurry things up. It's not necessary to be sarcastic with a child, no matter how frustrating the situation is. We're the adults, they're the children. They look to us as models of decorum and decency. I'm very "proper" in my behavior and speech with my charges, and I don't think I'd want it any other way. Maybe it's a difference in personal style. If your way works for you, so be it.
ReplyDelete9:28, your post, in which you gleefully defend this poor excuse for a nanny's behavior, tells me much about what kind of mother you are and what your children must be subjected to. Even if a mother has some leeway in dealing with her children who may be familiar with her humor, it is not proper decorum for an employee to take such liberties. If good manners make you gag, I'll bet I'd gag if I had to have dinner with you and your family.
ReplyDelete928 is just another brainless poster. Don't fret. They pop up here frequently.
ReplyDeleteThere is a BIG difference between bad manners and playfulness (or even a little joking type of threat) to get kids moving....especially older kids. There is nothing wrong with 9:28's way of doing things.
ReplyDeleteYou are all so perfect that you never have your charges talk back, right?
2:58 why the hostility? Who said anything about "perfection"? Of course our charges talk back. They're not "perfect" either. But as ADULTS we should be able to control ourselves enough to handle children gently and with respect...even when they're misbehaving. Come on now, this is pretty basic stuff. See-- I just expressed myself without threatening or insulting you. It is possible after all.
ReplyDelete2:17AM:
ReplyDeleteI wasn't being hostle...sorry if my tone made it seem that way. It's kind of hard to get it across in type. I was simply being truthful and logical.
For example...your tone comes across as very condescending and holier-than-thou, but I will assume you did not mean it that way.
That said. Please, if you will, allow me to explain my comment for your further review:
While I hear quite a few comments that say what the nanny did was (while not perfect) normal, there are also quite a few who seem to be acting high and mighty as if they have never had to use anything but sugary words with their charges as if the children are all well behaved and we all know that is just not true. ALL kids get smart and talk back (just like the nanny's kid did in the posting) and I would venture to guess that at least 99% of us with kids, or who care for kids as a job, have occasionally snapped a comeback that was not sugar coated and yummy to hear. Joking or not.
A child that doesn't ever talk back is a scared child and an adult that has NEVER responded the way this nanny did is probably lying.
This nanny could have most likely kept the whole issue from happening by being more punctual; however, we don't know for sure that was her fault either, do we?
ble is the most holier than thou poster on here, doncha know? She knows it ALL
ReplyDelete7:41-At least I express and defend my opinions without hiding behind an ANONYMOUS tag.
ReplyDeleteAnd, I do know it ALL, when it comes to my OWN children.