Received Wednesday, July 18, 2007
This occured today, (7/18) around 10:30a.m.
Nanny was thin and pretty, darker skin and longer dark hair. Her shorts were literally skin tight. The little boy was very fair skinned/blond hair- probably between the ages of 1 and 2. She wore her Ipod the entire time she was with the little boy in the water area. He was cautious at first (like any normal toddler) but the nanny scooped him up more than 2 times and forced him under the sprays of water. Each time, he cried and squirmed to get away. She never spoke a word to him the hour I saw her there. They ate a snack on the bench, she still had on her Ipod and ate staring off into the distance, never looking at him once.
I noticed when they were leaving that she had rode a bike with a yellow burley like trailer. She was strapping him in and talking on her phone the entire time.
This little boy was not being abused, but overall it was just sad to watch. If you are wondering how I witnessed so much- the whole park is probably 50 square feet and totally fenced in. I couldn't avoid watching her! I just hope the parents see this and find a better nanny for their sweet little boy.
Not saying a word to the boy for an entire hour while they were there to supposedly play? I'd call that abusive.
ReplyDeleteThose parents better line the speech therapist up NOW. They'll surely need one if they hold onto that nanny.
--Esme
Forcing him under the water while he cried was abusive too. She should be intereacting with this child.
ReplyDeleteOP...are we sure this is the nanny and not mom? Doesn't make it any better if she was his mom...probably makes it worse...bu just wondering.
OP here... It seemed to me that it was a nanny.. most of the moms at this park chat and stand in the ankle deep water- she seemed SO detached. She also looked to be around 20ish.
ReplyDeleteShe had quite dark features as well. The little boy was so fair skinned and his hair was almost white. There didn't seem to be any way they were related. (hope that doesn't sound offensive?)
I am a nanny for a 20 month old,I brought her swimming a few times her mother asked me if i dunked her under the water and i said just once and she did not like it,Her mother told me to keep doning it even if she cried she wants her to get used to it,needless to say i still don't do it if a child does not like it then i am not going to keep doing it..
ReplyDelete4:33...Some people still believe that is the way to get kids used to it, but most kids will just get more scared. I know my daughter took several times back in the pool before she was back to her old self when I let her go under once. She was about the age of your charge at the time.
ReplyDeleteOf course, children are all different, but I think if they get scared, one should at least give it some time before you try it again.
Just another testimony to why we should (if at all possible) raise our own children. No one will ever love them the same way you do...this is why we see so much detachment with caregivers verses parents. There are way too many nannies who don't love your children, and are doing the necessary most basic oblatory motions/job requirements in order to avoid getting fired. They are treating your children like a job, as for them it IS a JOB. Sad...
ReplyDeleteAnd...before any one jumps down my throat, I realize not all nannies feel this way (some are doing it because they love children) I'm referring to these detached emotionless nannies we keep hearing about, not all nannies in general.
7:42- I totally agree with you. No one is going to love your child the way a parent does. It is just not possible.
ReplyDeleteI too am a nanny, and I understand where you are coming from 7:42. I recently started a new job and I feel for the mother. This is her first baby, and she has to go back to work. I consider myself to be a very very loving nanny, and realize that I have THE most important job in the world. I do my best to convey to the mother that I will go the ends of the earth for her precious baby. Because I would!
ReplyDeleteI'm with 9:38... Every Mother I've ever worked for has felt some kind of guilt for the time she spends away from her children and since I was a child who was raised in a daycare, I realize it is so important for kids to have one on one care and attention. Reality is that most parents have to work to give their family the things they need and want, so I always do my best in making sure the Mother feels comfortable with me and knowing that I treat her children as closely as I can to how she does, with love, patience, humor, and dedication!
ReplyDeleteI hope they find a new nanny soon! He definitely deserves someone better!
Why is it "sad" that they treat it like a job if it is a job? True, some nannies are better than others, but nobody should expect a stranger to give their children the care they would. As far as so many nannies being "detached" from their charges, on the contrary I feel it is the nannies who provide the most love and stability while the mothers are detached. How much more detached can you get than being away from your little ones, especially infants and toddlers, for 45 to 60 hours a week? That sounds pretty detached to me.
ReplyDeleteAnd once again, a nanny sighting turns into a bashing for moms who work.
ReplyDeleteDads have traditionally worked 45-60 hours/week away from home. And yet they've never been accused of being detached from their kids. Why is that?
9:01
ReplyDeleteBecause the person taking care of their kids was their mother, not a hired person. And for the record, many dads, especially in the past, were and are detached from their kids, for the very reason that they didn't spend time with them doing the important things: reading, playing, diapering, teaching. All the things that "moms who work" cannot or do not do.
I daresay one can disagree with out it being "bashing." If you see yourself as being "bashed" perhaps you deep down feel you deserve it.
I wish people would bann the use of Ipods and excessive phone use when they hire nannies in the first place. I don't care IF the nanny only sees her interaction with a child as a job, she owes that child more attention than she'd give at a checkout line or whipping up a latte at Starbucks. Cellphone and Ipod usage isn't a right. If you can't muster up a little enthusiasm for your job, maybe, you shouldn't be interacting with children in the first place. I'm sick of working parents being bashed because lazy nannies don't want to do their jobs.
ReplyDeleteIf the park is 50 square feet, it's like 7' by 7'.
ReplyDelete2:34- OP here... sorry, I *knew* I shouldnt have tried to describe the area in feet!
ReplyDeleteAn adult could walk across the area where the water sprays in about 10 steps. The area around it has about 2 feet and room for a couple of benches.
Not that it even matters- I should have paid more attention in math.
to do one's job, one is supposed to do the job and if the job is taking care of a child, then that doesn't mean ignoring their duty which is taking care of the child. So, if you want to treat your job as just a job, then do the damm job.
ReplyDeleteWhat is this splash pad you speak of? I wish I had a visual.
ReplyDeleteyou can google it... its a city park. My kids call it sprinkler park... there is no standing water, it all runs down a drain, but water is spraying out from all over.
ReplyDeleteI have been to this splash pad and have seen several nannies do the same. I am glad others see it to.
ReplyDeleteThe woman mentioned is the child's mother. I have met her at Dakota Park, and she rides around with her bike and the boy all the time. I thought she was his nanny at first too since she is very dark skinned and he's so light skinned. She's a stay at home mom and I think the Ipod is her diversion and a link to her cultural music as well.
ReplyDeleteSo I totally nanny in st. louis park mn and have been to the sprinkler park!
ReplyDeleteanyway, I always think its fun to go in there with the kids and get drenched. If you have a problem acting like a child and playin gwith them some of the time, don't be a damn nanny! although you do need balance for authority reasons, but its okay to have fun with them!!
Sad that mom & dads these days can't take care of their own children. Intelligent parents leave their children to idots everyday and go off to conquer the world. Why not explore the world w/ your own child and relive your childhood too. No wonder society is so screwed up...a little one on one and TLC w/ quantity and quality time. I left a 6 figure job to stay home w/ my BABY b/c it is my 1st priority and 2nd I DON'T TRUST ANYONE ELSE to DO THE JOB RIGHT LIKE ME. BE a STAY @ HOME MOM...your kids will thank you every day w/ hugs & smiles...it doesn't pay the bills, but it makes dad work extra hard to keep everyone happy and clothed. NO ONE ELSE CARES FOR YOUR CHILD THE WAY YOU CAN!!!!!
ReplyDeleteYou are a moron.
DeleteFor "Kelly" and anyone else on here insisting that we don't leave our kids to someone else: wake up!!! I'm a single mom who HAS to work. It's not all smiles and sunshine for everyone, not every person has the option to be a stay at home mom. Trust me, I would gladly never work a day in my life but that's not an option for me right now and it's INCREDIBLY rude for you to insinuate that me or any other mom chooses this option over being able to stay home and play with their child every day. I doubt you had the brains to hold down a "6 figure" job, you probably wouldn't last 10 minutes in mine.
ReplyDelete