Received Tuesday, September 25, 2007
This afternoon, between 12:30-2:30, I was alone laying in the grass on the great lawn in Central Park. People came by playing, reading and napping. Of the interesting sights I saw involved a nanny and the young girl that she cared for. The little girl was two years old, part Asian, dressed in fine clothing, darling espadrilles, beautiful face and a thumb sucker. The nanny was wearing knee length shorts, a ringer t-shirt with a black design on it, she was tall, white, thin and had kinky, curly hair she wore short and black framed glasses. She had an eemo look to her. The two of them came and sat on a pastel striped blanket and everything was fine. I know the little girl was not her own because she took the nanny's phone and pretended to call Mommy and invented a conversation. The nanny was carrying a terry, slouch bag and she took out from it an inhaler and used the inhaler twice. Next I saw the two of them laying down. Next I see the child has fallen asleep. Next I see the nanny has fallen asleep. Next I see the child is awake. At first she is content laying there sucking her thumb. Then she takes her shoe on and off. Next she sits up and starts playing with the nanny's handbag. The nanny woke up after about ten minutes. I was there so if anything would have happened, I could have leaped up, but do we think it is a good idea for nanny's to nap while on the job? If you are safe at home and the child is in her crib, I understand a nanny being tired. The world is just far too dangerous to take such chances.
I really don't think the nanny meant to fall asleep. It seems they were having a great time together and then the child fell asleep and then the nanny did. Although I'm not saying this is a good thing, it may have been the first time it happened and could have been a complete accident.
ReplyDeleteHow do you know the nanny was really asleep or "faking" it to see how the child would behave? I would "fake" sleep sometimes.
ReplyDeleteJust thought I'd jump in here and define "emo" for everyone...it's short for "emotional" and is a term used these days to define punk rock and/or goth music/dress/lifestyle. Some may think it refers to suicidal/depressed people, but that's not it at all.
ReplyDelete~Former 80's goth girl ;)
Blaaah yet another overreaction post by someone who's just desperate to post something on this blog.
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like they were just having a relaxing weekend out and when the child fell asleep the Nanny nodded off. Not the ideal situation - but definitely nothing on some of the sightings we see on here.
Special note to anyone who babysits for me now or may babysit for me in the future: It is absolutely 100 percent unacceptable for you to sleep on the job.
ReplyDeleteWhy on earth anyone would excuse a nanny falling asleep on a 2 year old in New York City? Why? We fired a receptionist a few months ago for falling asleep on the job and all she lost was a FEW CALLS.
This is soooooo not a bad nanny sighting.
ReplyDeleteOP good thing you were there ready to rescue the child at a moments notice!
Good nanny here. I would never fall asleep while my child was sleeping next to me. Not anywhere. I am getting paid to work. And in the middle of Central Park? Are you kidding me? This is just what the perverts are hoping for.
ReplyDeleteHow do you defend this?
On what grounds is this defendable?
That the nanny's snooze was brief?
This is NYC honey, you don't let your guard down. Steam pipes explode, manhole covers blow off and everywhere there are freaks.
It is not ok to sleep on the job - especially if you are responsible for a young life.
ReplyDeleteno matter how you slice it is not a good/safe thing for a nanny to fall asleep on the job especially in central park. i could see if the 2 were watch TV or laying around at home, but even then, come on. who here is paying their sitter to snooze?
ReplyDeleteWe don't really know if she was actually asleep. If she was, inexcusable, and an offence that would justify firing, but I would go over and check before I posted an accusation that could get someone fired.
ReplyDeleteMaybe, she was dreaming of her boyfriend. And forgot she was working. Scary
ReplyDeleteNo,no,noooo. You do not fall asleep while a young child is next to you...especially in park? Is she smoking'? Anything could have happened. She actually put that childs life in danger,ugh!
ReplyDeleteI dunno about this. I've raised two kids without a nanny so that means lots of sleeping on the job!
ReplyDeleteI've been to the great lawn and I can imagine snoozing there while I felt my child pressed up against me.
Mothers do it all the time.
But, if you've never stayed home with kids you wouldn't know how exhausting it can be.
*snark*
I agree with those that posted this is unacceptable behavior for anyone on the job. Especially while caring for a child.
ReplyDeleteI question the ones that are posting otherwise here.
Sue: same here! Thanks!
ReplyDeleteHey, I'm a nanny with a long and respected reputation for being exceptional at what I do. Guess what? Occasionally while the children are napping I take a 15 minute catnap. Why? Because being a nanny is hard and exhausting work and because I am a human being and not a robot. Occasionally I am tired and need a moment or two to recharge. I'm sure a parent has never, ever needed such a rest though. No no no, only bad, evil nannies are imperfect and fallible. Geez.
ReplyDeleteHey, I'm a VP in mergers and aquisitions with a long and respected reputation for being exceptional at what I do. Guess what? I have never taken a 15 mimute catnap on the job. Why? Because being a VP in mergers and aquisitions is hard and exhausting work and although I am a human being and not a robot and occasionally get tired, the level of professionalism I operate at does dictate that I do not nap on the job. And when I need a moment or two to recharge, I join the thousands of other working professionals in line at Starbucks.
ReplyDeleteParents sleep every night when their children are asleep. It's a wee bit different.
And anyone defending some lazy slug sleeping in the middle of Central Park needs to be smacked.
I can understand a nanny OR a parent taking a 15 minute catnap when the child is asleep in the dafety of their own home, but in the middle of a public place is definitely unacceptable. Any stranger could walk up and lure her away, she could wander off into traffic, lots of things could go wrong in that 15 minutes while the nanny was asleep and the child wasn't.
ReplyDeleteHmm, dafety s/b safety.
ReplyDelete10:37 Yippie for you you're a VP. You're not working in a home or dealing with fussy children all day. Yours is a far more professional work environment than mine. You're so proud of yourself.
ReplyDeleteI am not advocating taking a nap in the middle of Central Park, but I am pointing out that nannies are every bit as human as parents. And please don't tell me that you've never closed your eyes for a few minutes at work because I really don't want to have to call you a liar. I'm certain that you are not 100% alert, full of energy and ready to go every minute of every day.
Perhaps when nannies are paid the kind of salaries that VP's are paid then we will refrain from indulging in our little human faults.
By the way, I bet your nanny is American, over the age of 21 and paid a top-notch salary. Oh yeah, and I'll bet she just loves you too.
i dont think it matters who works where or how much they get paid. sleeping on the job is a no-no. and nannies are not parents, they don't get the perks of parents so they need to stop their yipping and yapping and do the job they were hired to.
ReplyDelete8:30, I have to agree. As with ANY job or ANY industry, if it doesn't suit you, make a change. Either do it or don't. Don't do it half assed and collect full pay. And believe me, I've had plenty of high pressure jobs where the bosses were a-holes, but I did the best job I was capable of, in a professional manner, until I was able to give notice and move to a better position.
ReplyDelete