Monday, March 30, 2009

Police on Desperate Search For Missing 8-year-old Girl - Tracy, CA.
Law enforcement agencies and volunteers continued looking for an 8-year-old girl Sunday, in the largest missing person search Tracy has seen in at least a decade.

The FBI has also been involved in the search which started at 8:15 p.m. Friday night, four hours after the little girl was last seen in the mobile home park where she lives. Sandra Cantu, a second grader from Jacobsen Elementary, was last seen around 4 p.m. Friday afternoon after leaving her neighbor's house in the Orchard Estates Mobile Home Park. (continued)

CL- WTF

Saturday, March 28, 2009

1) Live-in domestic (PBC)
We are looking for a special woman for a live-in position. Taking care in and around the house as well as the lawn and pets. We would like to find an accomodating woman. Compensation include a salary plus private apt. including all utilities.
Original URL: http://miami.craigslist.org/pbc/dmg/1089643723.html

* The Nanny that responded to the above Ad received this:
From: wellingtonbill1961@****
The position is a 40 – 45 hour a week job. It involves taking care of the property including a little bit of housework such as doing some laundry sometimes, cleaning the bathrooms once a week, and maybe doing some light cleaning. It also includes a lot of yard work. Mowing the grass, edging, weed eating, pulling weeds, fertilizing, tending the garden, and such. The position also includes caring for our 2 horses, which includes cleaning their stalls and feeding them. I would like to find a special woman who can do that, and also be open to my sexual advances. I am a very nice, well mannered, and attractive man. In exchange, we offer a clean, beautiful, and private detached apartment, plus a salary, vacation, 401k, and insurance. The Apartment comes with all paid utilities plus high speed Internet and Direct TV. The apartment is located on the premises. I can make a vehicle available for the right person. I am being forthright in my job description. You will find that I am a very respectful person, and would ask the same in return. If this sounds like a position that you would be interested in, please send me a picture of yourself and a phone number. All applications are taken in confidence
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2) Hey! I can babysit your kids (ATX)
I am a 20 year old tree hugging, child loving care provider. Looking for a 4:20 friendly family of hippies like myself. Very into organic f00dz and animals of all walks. Holla back
(see attached CL photo)
Original URL: http://austin.craigslist.org/kid/1090780327.html
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Special Thanks to: alc0035 - for our Feature Ad, austinmama, Kate in PA, Alli, northjerseynanny, bayleighzback, NannyInNC, Meebo667647, Meebo238029, MissDee and Cinder38... all of you did a great job this week! Remember: CL-WTF will be Posted every Saturday... please send next weeks Ads HERE.

There is so much more CL-WTF,
click here to read all of this week's ads.

Am I wrong?

Received Saturday, March 28, 2009
I'm a full-time live in nanny for two very prestigious doctors. My hours consist of 7am to 7 pm and I am offered a very high salary, health insurance, apartment, and full use of a vehicle. Their little boy is wonderful, I adore him, I never any have problems with him, he truely is the most loving little boy I've ever met. Although at times, I find myself angry with the parents because they'll roll in the door at 7:45 p.m with no phone call, I really do try to understand and tell myself that they are very busy people. This has happened countless times, and I have not brought it to their attention because like I said, I really try to be understanding. When they are with their child, they are great parents. I do not feel as if they're late because they're out doing senseless things, it is really because they got caught up in a surgery. I have thought from time to time that I should bring up this issue because I do feel as if I should be notified when they will be late, I have had to cancel my plans 3 times before because they were late coming home. Something really topped it off for me though and I'm not sure how to approach it. I do love the job and the child, I just think that this is completely out of line.

Two weeks ago, the family had to fly to CA because the grandmother was sick, I stayed home and cared for their puppy, she had just had surgery to get fixed. It wasn't like I could do anything I wanted for those four days that they were out of town, I was puppy sitting. I did get paid my normal pay which I expected, because it was not my fault that I couldn't work, and I did watch the dog. I had also read online that if an employee shows to work and is unable to work at no fault of his/her own, the normal pay is expected.

On Monday, the Mom asked if I could be 'on call' this weekend because both of the parents were on call. This means that I have to stay home for the entire weekend in case they both get called in to the hospital so I can care for the child. Usually, they pay me time and a half while I am on call because I am unable to do anything those days. This morning I had to get up with the child because the Dad got called in and the Mom had to go do her 'rounds' at the hospital. I was told that the Dad would be home at 9:30, he wasn't. The Mom came home at 11:30 and gave me money for the hours that I had worked this morning. She then went on to say that they were not going to pay me my overtime (I worked 2 hours last week while they went to dinner) or for being on call the entire weekend because I was paid while they were in CA, so they were "calling it even". I was a little suprised that she had even said this because the aunt was orginally coming to care for the child this weekend but she cancelled so it fell on me. I had recieved my pay from them being in CA last Friday, and nothing was said then about being paid those four days that they were gone. I'm more so outraged because I feel set up. I feel as if she should have discussed the pay when she asked me to work this weekend instead of after I agreed. No one would agree to work if they were not getting paid..

What kinds of questions do you really want the nanny to answer?

Saturday, March 28, 2009
Parents,
We are starting a free job board to help parents and nannies connect and we need your input. We have all seen the standard nanny application, but what questions do you really want to see answered on an application? We want to make our application as concise and relevant as possible.

Please leave your responses as comments to this post. For this post, those comments may be anonymous. Never fear, nannies, we're also working on the family application and will soon ask you for your ideas and suggestions.

CL-WTF will be published later this evening/early tomorrow as my dear friend and associate, MPP is quite ill.

Netti Pot?

Received Thursday, March 26, 2009
I have a strange problem. I am a live out nanny and I work 18-26 hours per week. I work for a stay-at-home mother. Most often, she leaves when I arrive, she can be somewhat abrupt and always acts like she is running late, although as I stated, she is a sahm and does not work. She has a son who is 5 and is in part day kindergarten. He is very sweet, but can be a handful if you are not consistent and firm with him. He knows what I expect from him and as a result, I have very few problems with him. About two months ago, he went to the doctor because he was having problems with his sinuses and his doctor told me one thing I could do was to have his mother buy a netti pot to clean out his nose. The Dr. told me that it was worth a try, but he might not take to it. So I bought the pot and told his mother about it and what the Dr. said. She waved her hand in the air to suggest she wouldn't be bothered with such a thing and I let it go. Two days later, the child's nose was all plugged up and I suggested we try it. I took him in the bathroom and followed the instructions and he went ballistic. He was squirming and crying bloody murder. I figured, okay, he didn't take to it. I told the mother when I left that I tried the netti pot and his reaction and I made a remark, "I wish there was something else we could do". Yesterday, I see that the netti pot is out on his bathroom sink. I asked him about it and he told me that Mommy did it. Mommy did it because I was bad. After further questioning, I find out that this is the second time Mommy has used the netti pot as a punishment. The last time was because he took too long getting his pajamas on and was asking for too much help. I am furious.
Do I have a leg to stand on to say anything? In retrospect, I think I saw a glimmer in her eye when I told her how he reacted to the netti pot treatment. This is her only child and I pick him up from school most days. It doesn't appear to me that she has much affection for him.

Oh the Economy...II

Received Thursay, March 26, 2009
Wondering if I'm going to lose my job and I am wondering if anyone else is going through this. I may just be paranoid but with the economy the way it is I guess you never know. Today at work I overheard the father say " here are the daycare papers" as he handed her some papers. She then took them and put them in their office. Now maybe they thought I didn't hear them...but I did as it was pretty much done right infront of me. Curiousity got the best of me after they left for work and I did look at the paperwork(I am allowed in the office and they were setting out in plain sight). Apparently there is a daycare at my employers work and these were doctor forms to make sure they had correct immunizations and etc. They have never spoken to me about daycare. I do get paid a large amount($850) but I do work 65 hours a week. They have one child that is in elementary and one that is of daycare age. Am I being paranoid? There is also backup care at this daycare and maybe they are just being prepared incase something were to happen. What should I do?

Chuck E Cheese in Paramus, NJ

Received Thursday, March 26, 2009
I was so angry I was shaking. I saw a morbidly obese black women dressed in very loud prints. her pants almost resembling chef attire and her shirt emblazoned with a gold embossed logo over multi colored graffiti. Her eyes were somewhat buggy, but otherwise she was attractive, she wore her hair in lose braids, just below her ear and wore gold earrings that were fairly large. She had with her an older child who must have been her biracial daughter. The daughter was lighter skinned, but had the same features as the mother and although the child was only 8-10, she had on long, false nails that were painted psychedelic green, very bright. The little girl was helping Mom with the child, a cranky baby girl of about 8 months. The baby was dressed in a plum colored jacket with a bow tie at the top and she had very sparse, blonde hair. The baby sucked on a boinky and seemed to be trying to find comfort (teething), when she could not find relief, she would hurl her boinky as far as she could. The child would also bang her little fists on the stroller. She might have been as old as 12 months, now that I think about it. She was wearing traditional baby shoes in style, but in patent black leather. The nanny was on her phone laughing and gabbing it up. The child was crying and the older girl was trying to keep her calm when the nanny yelled at the older child not once or twice, but a number of times. She then put her hand over the cell phone and screeched, "maybe she wants out of the stroller, you think a' that" and the little girl tried to get her out. The baby was being uncooperative and so it was a struggle. The nanny reached over and flicked the older girl on the back of the head. The girl reached up and rubbed her head and said something like "I'm trying". The mother went back to the phone talking about clothes and weekend plans and the little girl now had the child out of the stroller and was trying to hold on to her (awkwardly) and trying to sooth her (unsuccessfully). The baby continued to throw her boinky and the child would attempt to get it and the way she bent with the child, I was certain she was going to hurt the child or drop her. One of the last times I witnessed the boinky fall, I scuttled over there and grabbed it and I said words to "you look like you have your hands full". The little girl smiled shyly. I told her, "I think she's teething". Now the mother of the older child/nanny looks over at me and once again covers the phone and says, "what what WHAT, WHAT WHAT", about nine times. I had no words. The woman was SCARY the way she responded to me just helping her child with the boinky. Please don't tell me that the older child should be learning responsibility, the baby was in pain and very uncomfortable and the nanny should have gotten off the phone. I would never hire a nanny for my child that mistreated her own child, especially physically abused her child. I have to imagine this is a recession era nanny, she clearly had no regard for children and no common sense. ** There was nothing here for the baby to do, the older child was busy with the baby but the nanny ate and ate and ate. In fact she was shoving pizza in her mouth while she was gabbing on the phone and she had zero etiquette. I shudder remembering..

Wednesday, March 25, 2009

Check out Goddess' new video program, "Spotlight to Nightlight," where celebrity moms talk parenting. In the first episode, host Ali Landry talks to E!'s Catt Sadler, tackles the issue of childcare, and gets the scoop on how much nannies to the stars really make from Westside Nannies in Los Angeles!

Church & Franklin in Tribeca, NYC

Received Monday, March 23, 2009
I debated posting this or not because I did not want to get slammed. I shall attempt to give you an unbiased account of what I witnessed not one hour ago.

Nanny: 5'4"-5'6", approximately 230-250 lbs, dark, brittle hair pulled tightly into a rubber band, round cheeks, brown eyes, cream colored windbreaker, terry cloth track pants, brown, and leather tennis shoes with what appeared to be a "D" on them in fluorescent green. AA. When she spoke, she had a very sharp tongue but her English was largely slang. No hard g's, or hard vowels at the end of words.

Child #1: Between 11 months-14 months, riding in a peg perego stroller, chrome with an orange ball print, wearing a blue jacket and flowered leggings. Caucasian.

Child#2: Between 3-4.5 years old, brown hair, brown eyes, fair skin, wearing cargo style tan pants, lots of pockets, one pocket was accented with a camouflage print, Olive colored jacket. Caucasian.

They had obviously just left Playgarden as was evident from the excited older child. He was excitedly talking about a boy who showed him a trick on a slide with a ball. I wasn't paying attention, but was walking behind them. The boy had his hand on the stroller. The nanny said to him, "Shut up, shut up, shut up" in the meanest voice you could imagine. From behind I could see the child's head drop down to look at the ground. It was so mean. The nanny was also a fast walker and the boy was working to keep up with her. I can say this because I am a fast walker, I was behind them and she was increasing the distance between us with every step. I saw the nanny push the child, PUSH the child with her right hand and push him hard so that he nearly fell and told him to "get off" meaning the stroller. She then made a grand gesture of shaking the stroller as if the boy had caused any problem at all. She told him, "just walk, you don't need to hold on to anything, you're not a baby".

For a minute, I considered that cameras could be filming and John Quiñones was going to pop out and ask why I didn't do anything. I'll tell you why I didn't do anything. I really thought any interference at all was going to cause the boy to be further mistreated.

Nanny Gets Left Behind in London

Received Sunday, March 22, 2009
Hello, I am a Nanny and have been doing this for 7 years now. I was recently asked by a family to go to London and help them with their 3 year old twin boys. The trip was going to be 8 days long and I was going to get paid 1200 for my services (150 a day). Plus, they paid for my ticket and were going to pay for everything else food, activities etc.

I got to spend a few days with the boys before hand and they were great. The family is great and laid back. The mother is wonderful and understanding. I was very excited about the trip! I went to the house the day before the trip to help the mom with laundry and packing. I packed all the kids and parents things too (I am very organized) and she was very grateful. The day of the trip comes and things were very relaxed and calm. The mom said "I made the process of going to the airport very easy and relaxing, because normally things would be hectic".

We get to London and I'm going through customs and get stopped. Apparently, you need a
"working Visa" to work as a nanny in London. Basically, to make a long story short I got stopped in London and was sent back home. I got to London at 7 in the morning and left at 3 in the afternoon. I got back to NYC at 7 at night. The process was humiliating, scary, stressful, and upsetting. They went through my luggage and purse. The person who went through my stuff was very unprofessional. She was making comments on my clothes, makeup, and perfume. Where I bought this, where can she find that. I was like wtf???? Then I was finger printed, asked about 20 questions, and then thrown in this room, where I had to wait until I was sent back to NYC. I called the family to let them know that I was okay. The family was out at the park with the kids. I ended up speaking to the grandmother.

My question is what should I do. I really needed this money. I am currently not working and this money was really needed. I am so upset and don't know what to do. They already have a full-time nanny and I can't work for them to make up the hours. Should they still pay me? Should they pay me half? Parents what would you do? Nannies what would you do? What should I do? I'm so confused and lost.

CL - WTF?

Saturday, March 21, 2009
.... What?!

1) Looking for a full time Nanny/Babysitter (Braintree/Quincy)
I cannot deal with another crazy nanny!! I want a nanny that is reliable, that will come to my house everyday and care for my 3 year old. I am so tired of the constant sick calls, family emergency calls and basic nutty behavior. I had to fire my last nanny because she was never here! I am paying $400 wkly, flat. I have been paying off the books, but I am beginning to rethink that whole thing. Actually my ex-husband pays and he needs to rethink the whole thing. I need someone M-F 7am-315pm. Right now I work 2 weekends a month, but those weekends my ex takes our son. On the weeks I have to work the weekend I will be home on 2 weekdays, they change every week, but I will still need you here. It's just easier to schedule that way. I am a CNA at a local rest home and if you know anything about that line of work, I can't keep calling in because my childcare failed to show up!! I come home exhausted and I need everything done! A quiet, clean, happy toddler, recently been to the potty and has had a nap and a snack. I want the dirty dishes in the dishwasher, and any left over food wrapped and put in the fridge. I send the laundry out, so don't worry about it but please make sure it is all in the hamper. NO DRAMA PLEASE!! I have enough of my own. My boy is a good kid, he has his 3 year old issues, but otherwise he's great. I don't care if you watch some TV, I let Barney babysit at times too, I just don't want it on all day. I would prefer a nanny that drives. I want a nanny that is not afraid, has the self confidence, and speaks English well enough to sign my son up for playgroups, playdates, story times, etc.. The is a playground nearby and an indoor playground for rainy days. Please be a nanny that can cook. I am not asking for Pheasant Under Glass, but I do need someone who can do more than warm up some chicken strips. My boy has a wide variety of likes. I cannot afford to pay health insurance or anything like that, I'm sorry. When I take my 2 weeks vacation, you can take yours. I can only get the ex to pay for 1 week however, idiot! Anyhow, drop me a line.
Original URL: http://boston.craigslist.org/sob/kid/1072932284.html
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Special Thanks this week to Nanny Taxi - for our Feature Ad, austinmama, MissDee, northjerseynanny, Renee, nannychrissyNJ, Meebo687325, Meebo825164, NC and WraithofWonder... all of you did a fantastic job! There were several Anonymous Submissions, so if you want credit for your Ad, please include your name or Moniker. Remember: CL-WTF will be Posted every Saturday... please send next weeks Ads HERE.

TO READ THE REST OF THIS WEEKS SUBMISSIONS: PLEASE CLICK HERE!

Discovery Green in Houston, Texas

Received Friday, March 20, 2009
I saw a nanny today at Discovery Green in Houston, Texas that was pretty rough with the kids she was in charge of.

We got there about 10am today and she was already there with her charges.

The nanny had 3 little boys with her, the youngest looked about 6 months and the older two looked close in age, maybe around 4yrs. The middle child had a superman shirt on and the baby was dressed warmly for the weather with a hat on his head.

The nanny was sitting down with her back to the kids for a good 45 min and whenever the children came up to her she was pretty harsh to them. She jerked the middle child by his arm and when she decided to stand up she took the baby out of the carseat by one arm! She followed the kids around and looked like a good nanny for the few minutes before the father showed up, she talked to him for a few moments and handed the baby to him while she followed the other two around the park.

Now I know some of you guys will probably ask why I didn't just go up to the father. Well I was there with my charge and SHE is my top priority, we played at the park for a few minutes longer and then she wanted to play in the water so we left the park and headed to the water. I tried to look for a chance to talk to the father while we were still at the park but he was talking with his kids and the nanny and I wasn't going to say something in front of the nanny or older kids. By the time we were done playing in the water and walked back to the park they were already gone.


In the picture is the nanny with the youngest still in the carseat/stroller. The child with his hands on his hips was the middle child, the oldest was playing on the playground behind her.

63rd and 3nd. Ave in NYC

Received Friday, March 20, 2009
Bitchy nanny seen walking with her young charge down 63rd Street. Screaming at the child because her new sneaks (the nannies) were turning brown. The child was only about 4 years old and had apparently had a "play date" which the nanny was walking her home from. The nanny said to the four year old, yes the four old, "Let's see you buy me a new pair" and "You think it's funny, it aint funny". She was going on and on. The conditions of her shoes had nothing to with the child, but the weather! I was walking behind them for almost five minutes, while the nanny ranted and moaned to the poor child about her stupid shoes. The nanny and went in to Hot & Crusty bagels there on 2nd.

The nanny was AA, portly, short, with a butch style of dress, dark grey sweatshirt, black hooded sweatshirt over that, bag men looking jeans, white leather looking tennis shoes, Converse. <--you should know if this is your nanny. The child had dark blond hair with a blue ribbon in it, wearing a muted pink pea coat and a grey, beanie hat.

Memo to parents: Don't hire nannies that are so finicky about their shoes and clothing. You're a nanny, you should expect you could get mud on your shoes, grass stains on your jeans and glitter in you're hair.

Oh, the Economy...

Update:
Friday, March 20, 2009
We spoke with the nanny and were very candid about where we are at. The one thing I did not make clear in my original post was that to reestablish myself in a prior profession, I will be putting in a lot of hours per week, this is why I cut the days down to four and no less. The nanny has agreed to stay on even with a paycut. We are rearrange her hours so that she works 5 hours on Friday, 5 hours on Tuesday and 10 hours the remaining three days. We made it very clear that we respected her option to look for another position and told her that we would serve as super references for her. We also told her that if, down the line, she feels that she can do better and we are not in a position to change her pay, we will support her decision to began looking. As we go forward, I have her scheduled for the days and hours mentioned above, but it is unlikely that I will atleast initially need her for the full 10 hour days, so she'll probably be working closer to 7/8 hour days. The nanny's pay change will not be reflected until her April 24th paycheck and her new hours will be in effect starting Monday, March 30. Thanks to all who took the time to offer their advice.

Received Thursday, March 12, 2009
In December of 2008, along with several thoughtful gifts, we gave our nanny a bonus of $2500.00. She had been with us for 11 months. We pay her a salary of $850 on the books. The company I am working with is looking for some of us to go voluntarily with a great severance before they are forced get rid of more of us. Either way, based on my time and experience, I would be one to go and I am thinking of taking the earlier way out which will afford me more severance and options. I have the ability to do some freelance work in an entirely different field, but this will take a lot of time to get going again and make contacts. Due to this, I will need to rely on my nanny to continue working. At the same time, even with this severance, the nanny salary we are paying now will break us. The nanny is wonderful with our children, we have no doubts about her. We don't have an intimate relationship with her and so it will be hard to sit down and discuss the financials of this situation. I would like to propose that we lower the nanny's weekly salary to $600 per week and cut her hours by either one full day or 2 hours less of work each day, (her choice). If she can stick it out with us through December, we could offer to double her bonus to $5,000.00 for 2009 (out of my husband's bonus). There is a margin of error here of about 5%, my husband's business is on solid ground, but you never know. Before I propose this to the nanny, I would like to run this by other nannies and see what they think. The nanny has now been here for almost 15 months and has a very strong bond with both children. She also seems happy to be working with us and to thoroughly enjoy the job and seems happy to see the children every day. She is a live-out nanny and we do pay for her metro card. That would of course, not change. I just have to add one footnote and that is we tried to be generous with the nanny as things came up, for example when she went to Greece in July, we gave her a $500 Visa card just because. Things like these are also things we are cutting out, but any observer would notice that we have cut out a lot of things across the board, not just as relating to her. I do think that is relevant.

Sexual Harassment?

Received Thursday, March 18, 2009
It seems like you are not posting as many nanny complaints as before, so let me make a point first. I have been a nanny for 3 years. For the first two and a half years, I worked for one family. We had a mutually respectful relationship, they backed me on child discipline, we worked as a team, they were generous and when they moved away I literally mourned the loss. I know that I made a difference in their life and the children's lives and they positively affected my life by the support and encouragement they provided me.

Because I had worked in a small town, many families knew me through school and activities with the children and the family. I never needed to reach back out through the agency because I had two job offers almost immediately. I chose the job with the children I knew the best and have already developed a great bond with them. The children are super and I have no complaints.

Here is the problem. I originally came out here through a nanny agency that specializes in Mormon nannies. I am Mormon and my faith is very important to me. I don't smoke, drink, swear or do a lot of going out. I spend a lot of my spare time working with the Church of volunteering with a pet shelter. My current employers knew all of this and this is one reason they wanted me, even offered me a fairly generous pay raise. The mother involved made specific comments regarding being tired of nannies who spent their days planning their nights, dressed like "whores" and got lost in urban culture. They are of a different faith but the children do go to Sunday school every Sunday and believe in the same principals.

The father in the house is pleasant to me most days, unless he is grumpy in which case he is a little abrasive, still I don't see him much. The mother works from her house three days a week. Five months ago, she worked in her city office all five days, so this in itself has been an adjustment. I don't dislike this woman, but I am fed up with some of her behaviors as directed to me. She seems to go out of her way to make sexual references, makes comments that mock my faith and tells me things like, 'you need to relax, go out and have a drink, have 10". The sexual comments are the worst. She says things like, "you know if you don't use that thing, it's going to shrivel up and die" (referring to my vagina). She says things like "you have a great rack, show it off. Why are you always wearing big sweatshirts". And it doesn't stop there. If there is a service person who arrives at the house or leaves, she will say despicable things like, "how'd he taste, he looks like a salty dog". She is always laughing. I know you will say, tell her that these comments are inappropriate. I have told her that such talk makes me uncomfortable. She has responded by saying "lighten up", or "smoke a joint, let loose". On Thursday of last week, the electrician showed up and brought a helped who was about my age. I was playing with a child and the mother said to the younger guy, "have you ever seen an ass like that? I swear it makes my eyes water". Gesturing to me. I might have been bending over, but I don't dress in an immodest fashion.

None of this has been encouraged by me, I don't find it at all amusing and it makes me especially angry because the things she razes me about are the very same things that caused her to think I would be the best nanny for her children. There are more comments I could use for an example, but it makes me sick just to recant these things. She also makes constant reference to masturbation and techniques and tells me I have to be doing something, everyone needs sex.

I am a live-in nanny. There are no other job that I know about. I hate that because of her behavior I have so much stress. But my question is this, do I have, as a household employee in NY State, any recourse? My second question is, whether I do have recourse or just seek to move on, I would like something else to back my story of why I am leaving. It would not be hard to get her on recorder saying some of the disgusting things that she says. There have also been witnesses to her behavior towards me. I'm miserable. I have two great days a week and the other three are causing me against anxiety.

Borders Bookstore in Chestnut Hill/Boston, MA

Received Wednesday, March 18, 2009
I am going to post this and I don't want any flames or repercussions. I am going to post this because this is what I saw and this needs to be shared. In retrospect, I coulda, shoulda, woulda, but hindsight is 20/20 and life comes at you fast.

I was in the Chestnut Hill Borders bookstore. I was with my three year old daughter and she was helping me pick out books for our upcoming vacation. A young woman and a child passed us a few times and the little girl (cherry print shirt, taupe cords, black buckle shoes, dk. brown hair with ringlet style curls, blue eyes, and the same size as my 3 year old) was obviously interested in my child. The woman was looking around the bookstore, holding the girl's hand. Finally, she said, "you can say hi, say hi". With that the little girl said hi and started talking about her brother who has lots of train books, but she doesn't like trains, but Thomas is okay". I tell the young woman, "she's precious". The young woman says, "she's super. I'm the nanny". I say, "I'm the Mom". The nanny bends down and says hello to my child. Then she talks to the child about helping her pick out some books for her brother first since he couldn't come. They disappear, off to what I assume was the child's area. I am in the best seller area, the new arrival and the magazines. While in the magazine section, the two reappear. The nanny is holding a stack of books. She is looking at the magazines on the other side of me and the two girls are at the end aisle somewhat talking. The little girl with the nanny is VERY verbal, "do you have a dog?, I have one dog, but maybe we are getting one more. Then we would have two dogs. And you would still have no dogs. I don't like cats. Cats make my mom itch a lot, so we don't have cats. If I had a cat, the cat would be named..." etc. So my little girl is pleasantly entertained. The nanny says, "would you mind if I ran to the bathroom? I usually take her, but she's right on top of me". I say, go ahead, of course. So the nanny sets her books down and off she goes. The girls are still talking. I am leafing through magazines and my stack of books and magazines is growing. I realize the nanny has been gone for almost ten minutes. I am not 100 percent sure of the time since I wasn't watching the clock, but it would have to be a good amount of time because I noticed it, even though I was still looking at magazines and the children were talking and twirling about five feet from me. Just when I start to wonder, the nanny returns. She is still as pleasant as before but there is something different about her. I notice it as she is walking towards us. As she comes to collect her books and thank me, I notices very evident white powder on the outside and just inside of one of her nostrils. It was very noticeable. She thanks me and tells me she had to freshen up. I notice now that she has made up one eye. Like one eye has a very obvious amount of mascara on it and one eye is completely plain. She makes a comment about being on the move from the time the children wake up until Mom comes through the door and thanks me again. Then she is off.

I stand there confused and concerned. I'm no babe of the woods. But I don't know if or how to say something and I wonder if the child is going to be okay. It is not an ideal situation to have a nanny use cocaine. So, I did nothing. I've thought about this all evening.

Aside from the fact that the little girl obviously has a brother in to trains and her description, I can tell you that the nanny was white. She was unassuming in the way she looked. I think she had on a nude or tan colored sweater and it was a v neck and she had a white shirt underneath it. She had on jeans but I don't know what kind. They fit her well. She had an athletic figure, nice shape, small bosoms, thin hips and was medium height. She had light brown hair that was worn up in a loose bun and no jewelry. I don't remember shoes or bags. The magazines she was looking at before she went to the restroom were house and design magazines.

Tuesday, March 17, 2009

In The News
Babysitter Sex Tape Arrest - Veedersburg, Ind.
A couple who ran a baby-sitting service out of their home videotaped themselves performing sex acts with children, some as young as 2 months old, police said Friday. Stephen E. Quick, 31, and Samantha Light, 25, both of Veedersburg in western Indiana, were being held on $100,000 bond in Fountain County Jail. Both faced preliminary charges of child molestation and child exploitation.

"In 15 years of doing this job, it's the worst thing I've ever seen or imagined," he told WRTV. "Just horrible, just horrible. It's a new low." (continued)

Abuse Alleged at Daycare - Milwaukee, Wis.
Police arrested day care worker, Pamela Coleman, after two children were found with broken arms at Alphabet Daycare Learning Center. (Video)

Babysitter Arrested, Charged with Injury to Child - Garden City, Idaho
An 18-year-old babysitter was arrested Monday and charged with injury to a child after a 10-month-old in his care was hospitalized. Officials said the baby's injuries were not consistent with statements made by the babysitter, Kody L. Smith. Smith is an acquaintance of the child's mother and babysat the child for several hours Monday when the incident happened, police said. (continued)

Two-year-old Suffers Terrible Injuries, Father's Girlfriend Arrested - Kansas City, Mo.
A two-year-old boy is in bad shape, and police have his father's girlfriend under arrest for assaulting him. Police couldn't talk to the young boy because he was unconscious in the hospital due to the amount of pain medication he was on. He suffered two broken arms, a dislocated shoulder, cuts on his chest, and damage to his liver, pancreas, and kidneys and other cuts and bruises.

Police said the boy's father, Brian Allen, was at work and he was being watched by his father's live-in girlfriend, Vernessa Peppars, 30, on Monday (March 16, 2009). Peppars faces charges of first degree assault. (continued)

Yorkville Branch of the NYC Public Library

Received Monday, March 16, 2009
I saw a nanny in charge of a boy child at about 11 this morning. The weather was nice, so I took my girl for a walk to the library. They were out but she was not kind to that child. The child was interesting looking, super cute with an angular face and pointy features, blonde hair, pale skin, wearing a mint green l/s polo shirt and a pair of blue jeans with a brown belt and brown hiking boots. The nanny was anorexic/cracked out looking, gaunt, with sallow cheeks, medium dark complexion, African American,puffy brown auburn hair that is cut short and styled to be tight near the ears and puff up by the top of the head, thick urban nyc accent, likely Bronx and wearing blue boot cut blue jeans with yellow and red embroider on the hems and a brown vest over a cream colored shirt, somewhat sharply dressed with what appeared to be designer boots, black leather with metallic divots.

Here is what happened. The child was sitting next to the nanny and coloring in a coloring book. It appeared to be Batman from the colors. The nanny was reading a glamour magazine. Okay, fine, the child is entertained. The child then scribbles on his page and his crayon goes over and on to the table. The nanny shrieks and says something to him. The boys says something like "it will come off" and the nanny says, "it shouldn't be on in the first place. you don't write on tables, how would you like me to write on you". The boy looked at her and she grabbed the purple crayon and pushed up his l/s shirt sleevs and started grinding the crayon in to his forearm. He said "that hurts". The nanny stopped because it wasn't making a mark. She disappeared and came back with a paper towel and wiped up the crayon. How hard was that, really? Anyway, when she came back, she noticed that the boy was now looking at her magazine, so she grabbed it away from him and HIT HIM ON THE HEAD WITH IT the same way you would hit a puppy. Her whole demeanor was mean. It wasn't a soft hit but a hard THWACK.

So I walk over to her and I'm like, "what's your problem?" and she's like, "You best keep walking". I say, "Was it necessary to hit the child on the head" and she says, "with a magazine?" and then she hits herself on the head with the magazine like 4 times. She says, "It isn't hurting anyone". I just look at her disgusted. And she said, "Move on. Just move along". So I walk away. No problem right?

Wrong. I am with my five year old charge. She skips up to me to show me the books she has found. I tell her she can get one more. She skips away. I think that is the end. The nanny says to me, "why isn't she in school" I said, "excuse me" and she says, "I am demanding to know why she isn't in school". I say, "Are you out of your mind" And she says something like, "You make my business your business, now I am making your business my business". I just look at her in disbelief. And she says, "shame, shame, shame, leaving a child like that to run around. Someone is going to steal her, take her right from under your nose, and take her away and do what with her, you don't know. They do some bad things to kids when you leave them alone" And she is standing there shaking her head at me. I don't know if she is mocking me or threatening the child. I believe she thinks the child is my own. I say to her, "You are out of your mind" and I start to walk away and she says, "you better hold on tight". I didn't stick around for more.

In summary, your nanny is unkind to your child and borderline psychotic. I hope this description alerts the parents. I had my iphone with me, but she scared the crap out of me, God only knows what she would have done if I would have tried to take her picture.

CL - WTF?

Saturday, March 14, 2009
.... What?!

1) Free Rent Free Rent Lakeaway Area (lil household duties & childcare) (Austin)
My son is 8mos. My Wife bailed, he stays with me two-three nights a week. I also need just basic help around the house. I love to cook and hope you do too. Really looking for a roomate but figured I could help someone who can help me. Garage included, private room, guest bathroom and this is a nice home.. I'm a cool guy, just didn't know my girlfriend well enough before I married her. We do have a great kid which is easy to love and is well behaved. He just smiles and laughs all the time. And cute like his dad. There's no drama over here and hope you won't bring any. It stays pretty quiet around here, but I'm not a prude. We can party a bit if you like. Summer is fun around here and hope you like the lake. Charlos n Charlie's in down the street and Iguana Grill is across the street. Let me know what question you have and we can discuss the details. Thank you kindly, Marshall Leonard 939-**** Please be at least around my age. 31 Just want to have something in common..
Original URL: http://austin.craigslist.org/kid/1072806442.html
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Special Thanks to all of the following Readers: austinmama - for our Feature Ad, northjerseynanny, KeljustKel, Bmomtami910, HungryCollegeStudent, etereia, MissDee, Meghan, Fawn, cdhere25 and Lunar785. We had so many Submissions to go through this time.... All of you did a fantastic job! Remember: CL-WTF will be Posted every Saturday... please send next weeks Ads HERE.

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Kohl Children's Museum in Glenview, IL.

Received Friday, March 13, 2008
On Friday, March 13, around 9:45 am I witnessed something with a nanny at the museum that bothered me.

The nanny involved was younger, probably early 20s, Caucasian with short, blonde hair pulled into a pony tail. She wore blue jeans and a blue, zip up hoodie. She spoke with an accent, I think Polish was probably her original language (This is one of the reasons I believe she was the nanny, as there are many Polish nannies in this area.)

She was with two little girls. Ages approximately 3 and 5. Both little girls had light brown/dark blonde hair in half pony tails, the older one with a big black bow. They both wore jeans and the older one had a black and white horizontal striped shirt while the younger one had a white shirt on. The nanny called the younger one Bella and Isabella. I think the older one might have been named Olivia (but I didn't hear it well, so I could be wrong.)

I was at the museum with my charge. She and I walked into the doll area and it was empty except for one little girl (the younger of the two I described, Bella). She was playing on the floor. I looked around and didn't see any adults anywhere that seemed to be watching her. The areas in this museum are walled off, with only one doorway in and out, and there were no adults in sight that were looking in her direction. I watched her for about two minutes, looking around for a parent, then tried to ask her who she was there with. She wouldn't talk to me, so I decided to just watch her until someone claimed her or a staff member came close enough for me to inform.

After about three minutes of my charge and I being in there, Her nanny came in from the Vet area (across the way) with the sister. She didn't seem alarmed that the girl was playing by herself in there, just said it was time to go. It was obvious the girl had not wandered off, the nanny knew she was in there and let her play by herself. This is a very crowded and busy museum. Anyone easily could have taken the child and the nanny would have never known. I don't think this is a "bad" nanny in every sense, she seemed decent, but definitely needs to be informed of the danger of leaving children unsupervised in public places.

Crosstown Bus from 79th Street in NYC

Received Thursday, March 12, 2009
Sharp, smooth faced Caribbean nanny with tight silky pony, wearing a red sweater under a black jacket with blue jeans and black boots. Nanny was caring for a little red haired boy of about 2 years old. She boarded the bus on 79Th Street at approximately 10AM, yesterday (3/11). She picked the child up and placed him on the seat grabbing him over his arms. (Not good). She then wrestled with a mint green umbrella stroller and sat down. Once she sat down, another nanny of similar descent shouted a recognition greeting to her and the two began chatting. The bus was not that full at this time. The other nanny asked her if her job was going any better and the nanny said word to the effect of "they are all the same. No good mother hires a nanny to watch her child when she's home all day". The other nanny then asked her if it was at the least better than her last job and the red sweater ed nanny said, "nothing is as bad as that. Them children were abused by their mother, abused". From this a very detailed conversation went on about legal rights and department of family services and how this woman should not be allowed to have children. The red sweater ed nanny, while speaking unkindly about her current employer as the two year old sat next to her went on at length about how she raised the children their whole lives and without her there she hears they are suffering. The little boy she was taking care of had on a blue puffy jacket with a easily identifiable copper colored liner. His hair was curly, brown eyes and black old school converse. The whole time she was talking she didn't even acknowledge the child next to her except to shush him when he was looking out the window and thought to interrupt her to ask her a question. Crushing a child's curiosity, gossipping, maligning current and former employers, mishandling a child, wearing your hatred for your job and the child in your care like a fluorescent banner. Sad. So sad.

Library in Tenafly, NJ

Received Wednesday, March 11, 2009
I saw three nannies come in to the Tenafly , NJ library today, around 4 PM.. Between them, they are caring for about 7 kids. Because they all arrived together, for the most part, I'm not sure which kids were with which nanny. Two of the nannies are average height and weight. One has long black hair, dark skin and has a heavy Spanish accent. She was wearing black jeans, a black and white striped shirt and black sneakers. The other nanny wore a plum colored jogging suit with purple sneakers. Her hair went to her shoulders and she wore no jewelry or make-up of any kind. The third nanny was tall and overweight. She wore jeans and a long sleeve green henley shirt.. Her shirt said Polo. She had long, gold dangly earrings and cropped, curly hair. All three nannies were Spanish. The children ranged in age from about 2 years old to 4 or 5. One little girl, about three, was dressed brightly. Lime green top, skirt and shoes with pink flowers and bright pink tights. Her very light blonde hair was tied back in little pig-tail with green and pink scrunchies. Another of the children, a boy name Rory (Sp?) was about 4 or 5 and had a jacket on with a cowboy on the back. He had black pants and little work boots. The left breast of his jacket had Tuff Stuff on it. One of the children called the nanny in the black and white stripes "mommy" several times (I did not see which one) And the other nanny expressed surprise. She said "I don't bother to tell them no".

One of the children, a girl about 3 years old had dark hair and eyes. She was dressed all in blue, and she had a terrible cold. Flushed cheeks, sneezing and coughing. She should have been home. I know this because the nanny in the plum suit was speaking very loudly and said she had to get home in an hour because "the lady did not want her out today-she is too sick." Pointing to the child.

The nannies were semi-involved with the kids, not as attentive as kids that age need, but they weren't overly neglectful. However the disturbing thing I saw was the nannies had some bottles of water, juice boxes and snacks. They ate all the snacks (despite the NO FOOD/NO DRINK sign in the library) And chased the kids away when they asked for some. I doubt the nannies are buying snacks like Gerber Graduate type cookies and snack sized bags of rainbow goldfish for themselves. They also drank the juice boxes and bottled water they had. When one of the kids asked for some water the nanny shared the bottle with her. That wasn't so bad but kids will be kids and next thing you know-they all wanted water. I then watched the nannies pass the remaining water they had around among the kids letting them all sip from the bottles, sharing even with the sick child.

I know this is not a terrible sighting but I thought it was worth mentioning since the one nanny was not supposed to be out with the sick child and it appeared these women ate all the snacks provided for the kids. I also think sharing the same 4 drinking bottles among 3 adults and seven kids is beyond unsanitary, particularly when one is sick.

CVS in Larchmont, NY

Received Tuesday, March 10, 2009

I witnessed something troubling at the drugstore yesterday, (Monday, 3/9). A nanny of white and or/Hispanic make-up, tall, attractive, wearing jeans and a nice shirt and boots, attractive was with three girls. The three girls were obviously related as they all looked alike. The youngest one had a narrow face and it looked like dark circles under her eyes, like she was sick or just tired. She had messier hair. The girls were all wearing the same sort of clothes, jeans with embellishments and decorated sweatshirts. The girls all had light brown hair, curly, dark brown eyes and great skin. The oldest one said to the nanny, "Elsa, remember you said we were going to call each other names yesterday and we never did". This conversation started as they walked past my aisle. Apparently Elsa was going to allow everyone to call the youngest girl names for being a pest. It was a bizarre conversation. One of the young girls said, "yeah, we'll do it until she cried" and then someone else imitated someone crying. (By the by, they were in the shampoo aisle). At the check out, I heard one of the older girls say what sounded like "Noo-mee hit me". The nanny said, "hit her back" and so the other one hit her back and then the nanny said, "hit her harder, she hit you first". Honestly, I don't know what was going on. It seemed to me that they were all having a lot of fun alternately ignoring and then picking on the youngest (and kind of frail looking) one. The nanny carried a handbag that had leopard stripes on one side and solid black on the other side and the middle girl had a tatoo heart sticker on her cheek. I hope this helps.

Petty Father

Received Tuesday, March 10, 2009
I work for a divorced couple. Along with taking care of their three children, I clean both of their houses. When they were together it wasn't so bad. One house to keep clean wasn't too much. Now that they are divorced it's a lot to keep up with. Actually, the father's house is a lot to keep up with. I clean two bathrooms, vacuum the whole house, mop the kitchen, dust, wipe up the counters and clean up his messes from the weekend. The mother's house is pretty clean to start with, so I basically just vacuum, run the Swiffer over the kitchen and dining room floors, and put away laundry. I know everyone is going to tell me I shouldn't be cleaning, that it shouldn't be part of my job. But I agreed to it, and learned the hard way. Never again will I accept a job with cleaning.

The oldest is in school all day and the younger two go to school for 2 and a half hours three times a week. One morning I'm off, one I spend at the mother's, and one I spend at the father's. That 2 and a half hours while the kids are at school isn't enough time to do all the cleaning that needs to be done at the father's and I pretty much work my ass off every day I'm there trying to keep up with it all. The mother is not a pig. She does her share, and her home is always clean with minimal effort from me.

A couple months ago I accidentally bleached a couple of the father's dish towels This made him refuse to buy me spray cleaner of any sort and to get Clorox wipes for me to clean everything with. At the time I didn't let it get to me. If he wants me to use wipes, I'll use wipes.

So today I pulled out the wipes to clean, and there was a sticky not attached saying that I should not be going through the wipes so fast and to use them more sparingly because they are costly to replace. At this point I don't really know what he expects me to do. If he'd allow me to use spray cleaner (he's more than welcome to get a non-bleach cleaner) then it would go a lot further. As long as I'm using only wipes to clean, they are going to go fast. I use them the same way I use wipes to clean my own house....and yes, when I clean his piss off the outside of the toilet bowl, I like to double up the wipes!

It seems so extremely petty for him to complain about wipes. I've been with this family for three and a half years. As far as I know, he has no complaints about the care I provide for his children. (I'm sure he'd let me know if he did) I go above and beyond every day. I take the kids on trips, we do educational activities, arts and crafts, and read a ton. Everyone tells me how amazing I am, but he just doesn't appreciate what I do.

When I take his kids to the airport to see the planes, I don't ask for the $3.00 for parking. When I take his kids to the zoo, I don't ask for the $1...00 for goat feed. When I decided to start teaching the kids Spanish, I paid for the flash cards and work books, and I've never asked for gas money to drive his kids around all day. Considering the amount of money I spend on his children, I just can't believe he'd complain about Clorox wipes! I don't even know what to say to him. Am I wrong here, or is he out of line?

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Why I hate my job?

Sunday, March 8, 2009
Original post, "Why I hate My Job" by guru-123@hotmail.com

CL - WTF?

Saturday, March 7, 2009
.... What?!

1) No Salary Live-In Nanny - Years of Childcare Experience and References (Orlando)
I have over 9 years of experience with all ages infants to teenagers with references to prove it that I can forward through email right away. For the family I helped recently, it included 4 at home children - a 5 year old girl, 8 year old boy, 10 year old girl and 11 year old boy), I provided before and after school care, occasional weekend days and all night care, including making meals, making school lunches, provided assistance getting baths ready and then tucked into bed at night, washed and picked out clothes for school and play, helped with homework, played games and other fun activities (including horsey back rides for the youngest two! LOL), supervised when swimming, provided special care when sick including giving of proper medication, provided house cleaning and pet care, and much more! I'm dependable, honest, responsible, kind hearted and attentive. Be at ease and hire me with NO fees or pay. My real reward in pampering you and yours like Nanny 911 is just seeing happy faces that result from the caring contribution I give! Experienced stay at home caregiver will pamper you and your family FREE! Yes REALLY! Why give a nanny room and board AND PAY MONEY too? Trust me, your kids WILL be happy with me there! YOU will SO appreciate what I do for YOU! Whenever I did this Mr Mom before the families loved me! I am very family oriented and know how precious children are. I will treat your children like I would treat my own. Think of me as Nanny 911 who SO cares about the kids and gives them such caring, respect, nurturing and attention they (and you) don't want me to leave - and I don't leave. (-; I'm dependable, honest, responsible. Safety is of utmost importance! Children's CPR COURSE completion! I JUST saved a life a few months ago when a child in the pool became exhausted and couldn't swim to the side! I do much more for your family! I create activities in a safe environment for all ages, and they all relate to me because I'm patient, caring, fun-loving, attentive to their needs, and very compassionate. I am a good listener and problem solver. Even teens and preteens talk to me {{-; I also am fun-loving and like ALL the rides at Disney World and video games with the kids (as parents allow) I have educational games too like Madagascar and Shrek multiple choice learning games. I am a clean living trustworthy Christian man, caucasion 40+ that has lived happily with all ages. I get along well with everyone regardless of age, ethnicity, etc. I'm not one of those heavy drinker types, don't smoke and NEVER use drugs or profanity of any kind! There will be no expectations from me or need for any money to be exchanged between us - I just need a room where I can go sleep at night and call my own. You share your meals with me (I can cook for you) Very SMALL stipend may be asked for depending on what you provide and how much housework you would like me to do in addition to childcare duties. I am a very experienced, trustworthy jack of all trades. I do house cleaning, laundry, dishes, cook, yard work, painting, fixup, install electronics and computer programs, help with homework and provide security for your family if you need. Safety is of utmost importance. I am experienced at computer research for assignments, essays, etc. I can be just about anything you want me to be for you except chauffer. I don't drive, and if you could help move me and my bedroom things to wherever you are that would be appreciated as your first contribution. I offer companionship for people & pets. Looking for permanent family life to avoid the sadness that comes from kids getting attached and then having to deal with separation. My more recent families before my latest family included 3 children, 1 year old boy, 7 year old girl and 12 year old girl ( for 2 years) and 3 children, 6 year old girl, 8 year old boy and 16 year old girl (for 3 years) Ages were at time of my arrival. References forwarded from THEM to me are available to forward through email to you when you write and tell me your home situation and your vision of what would make this work for you and our mutual agreement that we have probable compatibility.
Original URL: http://orlando.craigslist.org/kid/1062637752.html
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Special Thanks to: mbargielski - for our Feature Ad, Amy, CL listing, ali, MissDee, hungrycollegestudent, etereia and Bayleighsback.... all of you did an excellent job this week! Remember: CL-WTF will be Posted every Saturday... please send next weeks Ads HERE.

TO READ THE REST OF THIS WEEKS SUBMISSIONS: PLEASE CLICK HERE!

Overworked & Underpaid - Grateful?

Received Saturday, March 7, 2009
Please help me out. I am in a situation now and I feel very conflicted and don't know what to do. I will take any advice I receive on here very seriously.

I am a single mom in Southern CA. I work as a nanny for a marine family who lives in housing on base. I know they do not have a ton of money since the father is an E-5 and the mother is a medical assistant. I watch two children, a 2 1/2 month old infant along w/a 2 1/2 yr old. They are lovely boys and I have grown very attached to them, even though I have only been caring for them for 2 weeks thus far. I am a student at a local nursing school as well as a parent.
Okay...my problem is this: I know the economy is bad, who dosen't? And I should be grateful to have ANY job in this climate. I work 9 hrs a day, 4-5 days a week. I am stictly responsible for childcare ONLY, no household duties are required. I am also not mandated to drive on the job, but am allowed if I want to. They are paying me $8/hr for the two children. It's tough work, multiple feedings, diaper changings, potty training, etc. The children rarely nap, the baby only naps for 45 min. max and the toddler dosen't nap at all while I am there. It's tough work, yet I need the money. I have two pre-teens to support and bills/rent you name it to pay for. Yet, I am constantly drained to the max. My friends are angry that I am working for this low rate, they say that while the economy is tight and all, I should be charging at least $10/minimum per hour for these children, based on age/number of children. They say I should not be working for this low rate and are very angry at the family, who they feel are using me. Again, I need the money now and would not be doing this if I didn't have to. They say I should move on and try to find something better.

What should I do? Should I stay considering the economy and just be grateful? Or am I seriously being underpaid and taken advantage of and move on?
All advice appreciated.

Undermined by the Old Sitter...

Received Saturday, March 7, 2009
I have a situation. I am a nanny for three kids and I love my job, but there's one problem. I feel undermined by the old babysitter (and now nanny for another family in the development) and one of the oldest girl's mom.

Whenever we go out to the community playground the other nanny is constantly checking on my charges, commenting on things they do, and over stepping her boundaries while ignoring her own charges. The problem is that everyone in the development thinks she is so great, including my boss. She has been working as a babysitter for many families in the area over the years and is now employed by a friend of my bosses. She is very short with her charges and today when one kept falling off his bike she just looked over and continued talking to another mom at the playground. Every time I am outisde with my charges and she is out there she is constantly asking where they are going, what they are doing, etc and making comments about it to me. I don't appreciate it and she is very aggressive with the way she says things.

The other problem is one of the parents of my oldest charge. She asked to go over to her friend's house and since she is allowed to I said ok. I had let her know she has to pick up before her mom gets home and needs to be mindful of that. My charge was playing outside and left some trash out on the playground (something I am not ok with). Since she is 9 years old and responsible for picking up after herself I called over to her friend's house and asked the mom if she could please send her to the playground to pick up her trash. The mom curtly responded with, "I'm not sending her over there to pick up her trash!"

I'm really not sure what to do in either case. I don't want to stir trouble with either person, but I am the one ultimately responsible for my charges, their behavior, and safety. Any advice?

Cafe Art in Livermore, CA

Received Friday, March 6, 2008
Thursday at around 3pm:

Maybe I am making something from nothing and honestly I was busy with the kids I nanny for and didn't get as much detail as I'd like.

Today while there making a mothers birthday present there was a group of 3 girls. At first I thought they were just there making a project but then saw that there was a boy with them. The girls looked about 22-25ish so I don't think it was a mom. The boy looked maybe 10 (could be off) he was pretty tall and fairly skinny. His hair was reddish,but not a true red head at all, had freckles and light skin. He was wearing dark pants and shirt.

Like I said maybe I'm over reacting its just not how I'd act when at work and these girls were so loud and distracting I couldn't help but hear them. They were just pretty much ignoring the boy while they talked about going to the mall. They would occasionally comment on a dolphin he was painting but mainly to say it was the wrong color or something. At one point he sat down and started talking to them. Then the girl who I believe is the nanny said a few cuss words loud enough that my little girl turned and looked. I tried to ignore them but then heard the nanny talking about being really drunk one night. She then had a small conversation about it. They just talked and hung out the whole time and when included the boy talked to him like he was just a friend hanging out. It was just a lot of adult talk for such a little room filled with kids.

The one I think to be the nanny was on the heavier side, dark hair in a pony, a white shirt over a brown shirt jeans and brown chucks. I think she drove a green beetle and her initials were C.W. (I did manage to get her name and one friends name).

My Gym in Leesburg, Va.

Received Friday, March 6, 2008
I see your nanny every Thursday morning at My Gym in Leesburg, Va. She takes care of a little boy named Mason who is about 18 months old. She seems nice enough but is on the CELL PHONE almost all the time, rather than interacting with him. He is safe but she is unavailable to him to talk to him and guide him in his activities.

Iodine?

Received Friday, March 6, 2009
I found a bunch of tiny bottles of iodine in my nanny's room. They were on her dresser, in plain sight. While I don't normally go in her room, I went in there because our three year old went looking for her this morning and went in to the nanny's room. The nanny has taken today off to have a three day weekend. Why would anyone have 10-12 small bottles of iodine? I have to figure this out and see if it is worth consulting her. If my 3 year old had gotten a hold of them, then what? She has a bathroom with a medicine cabinet in her area.

Striptastic

Received Thursday, February 5, 2009
I need opinions please.

I interviewed with a very nice single mom 2 weeks ago. The hours suit my needs and the pay is good. She has 2 adorable children. She told me she is a waitress in an upscale establishment. She was very selective about the interview process, called my references and did a background check on me. Monday she called to tell me I was hired and could I start Friday evening. I said yes. I stopped by her home this morning to go over things and become familiar with her house. (She owns her own home in a nice neighborhood). She was on her way out and as I left and I decided to take a walk around the neighborhood I would be working in. I will mostly be working late nights she may occasionally have me there weekend days.

As I was returning to my car, a woman came out of the house near hers. She asked if I was going to be the new babysitter. I said yes. Then she asked if I knew the woman Iwas a stripper. I was shocked! The neighbor gave me the name where she works and I just had my husband call and ask if X would be on this Friday night he was told YES! The club is an upscale club but my DH says no way he wants me working for a stripper. He worries about what sort of people she might bring home and what I could innocently get involved in.

Now I don't know what to do. On one hand I can see my husband's point and on the other I see nothing wrong with how she makes a living. It's not easy out there and I know strippers often make a full time salary working part-time hours. An excellent situation for a single mom who gets to earn a living wage and be there for her kids. I addition, we had a good friend who paid her own way through college stripping and he saw nothing wrong with that back then.

My big issue is she lied to me. I can understand why she lied but I still feel uncomfortable about that, particularly after she checked me out so thoroughly.

I promised to sit for her this Friday evening but I'm not sure if I should get involved. I'm also not sure what to tell her if I decide not to work for her. After the interview process and subsequent conversations, I would feel silly saying something "came up" My DH says just lie to her like she did to me but that's not my style. I can't think of a way to tell her I know the truth either.

In the News - March 4, 2009

Driving and Breast-Feeding Nets Charges
Police in Ohio say a woman has been charged with child endangering after another motorist reported she was both breast-feeding a youngster and talking on a phone while driving.

Former Sun Prairie Day Care Worker Convicted of Child Abuse
A former Sun Prairie day care worker was convicted Tuesday of child abuse for squeezing an 18-month-old girl to the point where she turned blue and stopped breathing. Of the many troubling things about this story, I was particularly taken aback by this, "At a preliminary hearing in July, a former co-worker, Lindsey Anderson, testified that she saw Kladehall swaddle and place weight on the girl on several occasions." And she said nothing, why?

The nanny/employer relationship is one of the most difficult. What is the most difficult thing you have had to deal with as a nanny or as an employer of a nanny?
Join the group Nanny Watchers on Facebook to talk about upcoming features on ISYN.

The Houston Zoo in Houston, TX

*Received Wednesday, March 4, 2009
I witnessed a nanny (at least I think it's the nanny) Monday, March 2 at the Houston zoo.

I'm not 100% sure it was a nanny/babysitter. How she interacted with the child made it seem like she was not the mother. She seemed unsure of herself and just sort of out of place.

The nanny was young, late teens early 20s, blond hair blue eyes wearing a white terry cloth running outfit.

The little girl had brown hair and blue eyes and was wearing a sweatshirt that probably belonged to the lady watching her. It was white also. You couldn't see the clothes that the little girl was wearing because of the sweatshirt. She looked to be about 18 months.

They had a green stroller with them that had a built in bug net, I couldn't tell the brand but it was similar to the graco or evenflo strollers that come with a baby carrier.

There was also a man with them. My guess is that was her boyfriend or husband by the way they were holding hands and kissing. He was wearing jeans and a blue Texans hat

The problem was they were not watching the little girl on the carousel. They allowed the little girl to go through the gate by herself while they stood there talking to each other. The little girl walked along the wooden part of the carousel (where all the animals were) and then walked to the inside concrete part and walked along the inside of that area. Finally the lady came inside the gate and picked the little girl and put her on the monkey but when the carousel started the little girl screamed and the lady yelled at her to knock it off. She then took her off and sat down on one of the sleighs and as soon as the little girl stopped crying she tried to put her back on the monkey but the little girl started to cry so she sat back down on the sleigh with her. She continually told the little girl how bad she was and that she was acting like a baby and she needed to stop. When the carousel stopped she put the little girl on the ground grabbed her by her arm and roughly pulled her through the gate and put her in the stroller.

They were standing about where the red ladder is in the picture and the little girl was running on the inside where the mirrors are. I did not take the picture, I found it online.

* This was submitted on 3/2 but did not reach me until today -JD

Okay for Nanny to Drink While on the Job?

Received Wednesday, February 4, 2009
I don't know if this has been addressed before and you might have to spell check this because I am on my phone. I wanted to run this by other employers and see how they feel about this. We have a good nanny, she has been with us 4 months and is a live-in. We pay her overtime when she works late, per day, not per week. She doesn't seem to mind babysitting 2-3 nights per week. When my husband and I come home, we usually have a drink. I will usually have a glass or two of wine, he will usually have a scotch. Occasionally, he will have many glasses of wine to the point where he and I have joked in front of the nanny about him knocking out a whole bottle of wine. The thing is, the nanny, age 30, when she is babysitting late, will have a drink as early as before dinner. I am not counting how much she drinks. I think it tends to be 3-4 glasses of wine or 3-4 beers. She doesn't eat with the children (I would prefer she did), but will sit with them and have a drink. Then she will clean up the kitchen and have another drink and join them in the family room where she has another drink. I don't believe she is intoxicated, although I do wonder if she would be impaired if she needed to drive somewhere. My real question has to do with the appropriateness of these actions. She is on the clock and making double her hourly salary when she works past 6:30. She has the right to say no if she doesn't want to sit (we told her this when we hired her). Employers, what do you think? How would you handle this?

Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago, Il.

Received Monday, March 2, 2009
I saw a tall, blond nanny today at the Lincoln Park Zoo who was doing the typical lazy nanny routine of talking on her phone the entire time and never once even looking around to see where her charge was playing.

What's funny is that I have seen this nanny before at the Zoo doing the exact same thing, and last time I even took a couple of photographs of her. I never got around to posting them - after all, perhaps she is a great nanny when she actually pays attention to her charge(s). But after several sightings I'm beginning to think that this is a typical day for her. Take kid to zoo, park butt on bench, talk on phone, ignore child. Case in point: I don't even know which child she is supposed to be watching!

The photos are from my last sighting at the Children's Zoo indoor playplace (February 9th). I was there with my little charge for just over an hour. This nanny was parked in place, jabbering away, when we arrived. As we left, she was still doing the exact same thing. I looked all over for her child but never once saw her interact with or even look up at any of the children playing.

Today (March 2nd), she had parked herself in the Farm portion of the zoo, phone glued to her ear. Since there weren't too many children in the barn, I again looked around for an unattended child or children. I encountered two little boys, one about two or three years of age, brown hair, happy, wearing snowpants overalls. There was also an older boy playing with him who looked to be about 5 or 6, fair hair, skinny, with large pale eyes. I'm guessing these two might be her charges? The littler one is far too young to be playing without supervision. Aside from the obvious "stranger danger", how does it benefit a child to go to these great learning places and not have any adult input to help them develop and question what's around them? I am chattering to my little guy constantly, asking him questions, helping him to climb, wiping his nose, and encouraging him to look at different things and practice polite greetings with other children, zoo volunteers, etc. News flash to these phone-obsessed nannies (and there are a LOT of them in Chicago): you are being PAID to NURTURE these precious children! I understand that we all need the occasional time off our feet to sit down, regroup, maybe even make a quick necessary call to the parents or someone. But to be basically incommunicado for hours on end while the child(ren) in your care wander aimlessly is neglectful. My last family I nanny for remains in touch with me, and the primary complaint of the children about their new nanny is that she is constantly on her phone. It makes kids feel unimportant and frustrated to be ignored like this! Why do so many nannies have such "important" phone conversations all day?? It puzzles me. I feel like the parents who employ these phone-obsessed nannies deserve to know how their nannies ignore their children - then probably come home to tell them all about how she and Junior had such a fun, stimulating day.

Today, the nanny was wearing a black North Face jacket, jeans, and black shoes. Stroller parked by her is a black BOB-type jogging stroller.

Library in Halifax, MA

Received Sunday, March 1, 2009
Your nanny, a large woman approx. 35-40 years of age, named Gina or Jean or Jenna. Long black hair in a ponytail. I am not sure which child in the small crowd that was assembled at her feet was yours, but she was fantastic! She was reading "If you give a mouse a cookie" aloud using different voices and hand gestures. One of the moms told me she was not an employee of the library just a patron who happened to pick up the book. She is wonderful and I hope you appreciate her, let me tell you if you don't, there were about a half dozen women there that would be willing to take her off your hands!