Received Friday, November 14, 2008. - Rant?
Where are the sites for reports of good nannies?? I'm a nanny, a college educated, excellent nanny. I am even asked by other parents to help them find someone "just like me". This website is wonderful and helpful but it gives a negative, one sided impression. You should really have a forum for good stories as well. Encourage people to speak up about good nanny sitings. I'm sure parents want to know when things are going exceptionally well, too.
ISYN is pretty fair. There aren't many good nanny sightings because they are boring. But there are as many nannies ranting about employers as there are bad nanny sighting, so it all evens out.
ReplyDeleteWhile a good nanny sighting is always a treat, I don't think that is what this blog is about. It's intended purpose is to "out" bad nannies!
ReplyDeleteA good nanny is doing her job. She doesn't need a damn parade thrown for her.
ReplyDeleteBAWAHAHAHA! Well said Lucy!
ReplyDeleteThat's not the point Lucy. I agree with you, but I think what OP is saying is that with all this negative attention on nannies, it gives a lot of people a bad impression of nannies in general.
ReplyDeleteI think this site is very fair. There are a lot more bad sightings than good, but that's the POINT...However, I do agree with OP when it comes to really having the potential to tarnish the reputation of good nannies. And believe it or not, there are more good than bad...but as Sarah pointed out, the good sightings aren't interesting reads.
I think good nanny sitings are nice because there are so many bad nannies out there that do not make it on to this site, that it could provide an employer with more information on their nanny - i.e. There's no bad nanny siting Nanny X at ISYN as she is a not a great nanny.
ReplyDeleteAnd yes, I know most families often know when they have a great nanny, but especially with pre-verbal children, I doubt a parent can ever get too much confirmation that they picked the right person for their children.
There are some good sightings, but the purpose of the site is to alert parents to bad nanny behavior.
ReplyDeleteYou will occasionally see some very nasty negative generalizations about nannies as a group from a few posters on this site. I think these come from moms who see large numbers of lazy inattentive cleaning women/babysitters in the playground, and don't have contact with, or recognize professional nannies. (Many times nannies doing a good job are assumed to be the mom.) It is these "faux" nannies who are tarnishing the image of nannies, not this site.
I think the majority of regulars here are kind and fair, and are motivated by a genuine concern for the welfare of children. For those of us who love caring for children, and want to be respected for the job we do, it is in our interest that the bad apples be weeded out.
If you want a positive nanny site, join the various nanny groups that exist: INA, APN, or NANC. There are more localized groups such as ADCAN in the DC area (check INA site for local groups). There are also various online list serve groups that are friendly to nannies such as Worldwidenannies@yahoogroups.com, More, More_Than_Nannies@yahoogroups.com,ParentsWithNannies@yahoogroups.com, NANMembers@yahoogroups.com. Lastly check out the ezine/blog www.nannyshelpinghand.com . We're here, we're just not notorious enough to get a huge thread going :)
ReplyDeleteSorry if I forgot anyone. I know there are others of you out there who will add some as well.
This is a pretty fair site, however negativity sells as far as nannyland goes. A few years back I was contacted by a talk show to possibly talk about being a nanny. As they talked to me in the phone interview, it turned out that all they wanted to know was the dirt and the bad stuff. I let them know that I would only show my job in a good light and that is when they promptly told me that they had no further questions.
ReplyDeleteJust be glad that you are doing a great job and being recognized for it rather than being a horrible nanny and having your goings on shown for the world to see online. :)
I love this website and have been a user for awhile now. I have read some good nanny sightings as well as some stories from some exceptional nannies.
ReplyDeleteMy advice is to just check in every few days and sooner of later you will see some. I have.
Nice nanny said it best. Every couple of days, a good sighting shows up here, almost always. But you have to understand OP, that most readers prefer to read and give advice on the perspective and opinion posts. I also see that "rants" has been getting more popular. It's what the readers want because it's what they are sending in.
ReplyDeleteWhy don't you send in a good nanny sighting for us?
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeleteAnonymous said...
ReplyDeleteI have reported serveral good/great nanny sightings, and only 1 bad nanny sighting. Maybe here in the midwest, we just have a plethora of great nannies? :)
3:08 PM
RE-POST FOR ANONYMOUS!!
I agree OP! I have been on a very long break from this website because it is negative and really depressing.
ReplyDeleteI think the fact that it's called: "I saw your nanny - report bad nannies" is a MAJOR clue about the intentions. It could be called "Nanny Advice and Issues" or ANYTHING ELSE!
As a nanny, it totally makes me sad that there is a whole website and a dedicated crew of loyal subscribers who get off on negative nanny stories.
What other occupations have websites like this? I can't imagine a web site called "Bad encounters with careless bank tellers"
Or maybe it's time to start a website called "Terrible Children Sightings" complete with descriptions and photos?