When: Tuesday, May 5th 2009 10:30am
Where: MN Zoo Monorail and Grizzly Exhibit
Description of nanny: White, mid twenties. Brown hair pulled back into a ponytail, looked on the tan side. Wearing a teal colored zip up jacket/hoody without a hood, jeans and sneakers. She was on the short side but height and weight proportionate.
Description of children: There were two boys, Max a boy with brown hair was wearing a green sweatshirt, who looked to be about. Also, Eli, a boy with blonde hair was wearing a shiny blue and dark reddish color jacket, who was around 2 and a half. Both children were white. Description of stroller/diaper bag: No stroller. Blue camo skip hop diaper bag I was not able to get a picture of your nanny without being too obvious. I saw your nanny twice today. First, when we were on the monorail in the same car, your nanny kept them engaged, by singing and talking about all the animals, and asking them if they remembered what was next. About 15 minutes later saw your nanny in the bear exhibit. Max and Eli were pushing and shoving, and your nanny had given them warnings to stop. Eli stopped but Max didn't. After Max shoved Eli into the glass (it didn't break for those of you who are not familiar with this exhibit) your nanny told Max to "stop being rough or we will go home." (note: She did yell Max's name first, and was a bit too stern with her warning) A few minutes later Max again shoved his brother, this time into the rocks. He immediately started saying "I didn't do it!!!" She sternly said "Yes you did, I saw you. We are leaving" took them both by the hand and left rather quickly. My only "concerns" are that she really didn't explain what it is that he did. She also didn't try to calm Max when he was crying as they left. If it were me, I would have tried to calm BOTH children not just one. Your nanny wasn't mean, degrading, or abusive, mostly I think she was just frustrated they weren't listening. I do think she could have explained better, calmed both children. Also, I am not sure that pushing really is enough of a reason to leave the zoo. (my reasoning is more based on the fact that my charges and I have quite a drive to visit the zoo and it would be a waste of a trip to leave for something so minimal) Note: I know this was your nanny because on the monorail, the boys had asked where mommy and daddy where, and she had said that you were at work.
*Remember readers, one of the purposes of this website is to let parents know how there nanny treats and handles the children when the parent is not around. This sighting could very well cause the parents reassurance.
Good thing there was some fine print at the end of this one cause I was like ... and ... ?
ReplyDeleteI think if it doesn't have a hood, then it does not qualify as a hoodie.
ReplyDeleteGood siting. Thank you.
i actually think this is a GOOD nanny sighting. all things considered, i think the nanny handled the situation very well. good job, nanny!
ReplyDeletegood nanny sighting... its fine to have your own opinions but this nanny did nothing wrong at all.
ReplyDeleteI often take my charges (boys) to Disneyland. Once a week actually. They are 4 and 6. We have left Disneyland a few times when they want to push and shove each other all day. Someone who sees me take their little butts out there, might not have seen us in the line before that or the one b4 that. No explaination is needed to them. They are well aware the next time is the last time. Same goes for anywhere...I dont mess around with explaining over and over so the public hears why I am dragging them out of there. The boys know. It might be more discussed in the car but not right there. I have seen parents yelling and begrading their toddlers for misbehaving. I think silently leaving is the best way.
ReplyDeleteIf I was the mother I'd be happy if I read this sighting. She seems like a great nanny.
ReplyDeleteI read the "fine print" but I still think this was a ridiculous sighting and honestly, it pissed me off a little. Just WOW...The nanny haters out there will find ANYTHING wrong, even with a nanny that is blatantly good at her job.
OP has NO idea if the nanny explained WHY they left after they were out of her earshot. I doubt the nanny felt the need to put on a show for everyone around. Not only can that be humiliating for the children, but they're more likely to listen after they've been taken out of the situation. And OP doesn't think the pushing warranted them leaving? She thought the nanny yelled the child's name too harshly? Again...WOW. Ugh. I'm sorry Jane and MPP..really I am. I don't want to start drama but I think this sighting is a JOKE. I try not to question the OPs too much but really...this is just silly.
this is a GOOD nanny
ReplyDeleteI just noticed that OP is also a nanny. I take back the "nanny hater" accusation.
ReplyDeleteI agree I think this is a good nanny nanny-sighting. Good for this nanny for following through with consequences. How many times do parents or nannies threaten to leave and never do because of some other reason (like having driven too far)?
ReplyDeleteI hope her employers see this and are reassured at the great nanny they've hired.
And....?? I think this is a GOOD nanny sighting.
ReplyDeleteWe visit the MN Zoo frequently (own a membership) and it's about a 20 min. drive for us. I would have done probably the same thing this nanny did and would have left. The boys were given warnings. If she didn't follow through, then they wouldn't take the warnings seriously the next time.
I understand you thinking what a waste of a trip, but its important for the nanny, and parents to be consistent and stick with what they say. If she says "we are leaving if you do that again." Then she should do just as she says because otherwise the kids won't take her seriously. I wish I could do this more often, so often I say Im gonna count to 3 or we are leaving if you do that again, and then I don't. This is what gives kids the power, then they think they run the show, and its hard to get back control once they think they can walk all over you.
ReplyDeleteI think the nanny did a good job, but it wouldn't have killed her to comfort the boy first. If my kids hit eachother (one is 6 and one is 4), I try to calm the hurt one first and then dicipline the one who did it.
I DON'T understand the OP thinking it was a waste of a trip. That's not for HER to decide. And really, just because this place is a long drive for OP doesn't mean it was for this other nanny...I hate to use the word DUH...but DUH!
ReplyDeleteHaha I don't know why I am so upset about this entire post. It's eating away at me though! I'm going to sign off now :-)
This siting is a big waste of time, but sounds like the nanny is doing a great job!
ReplyDeleteIt wasn't the boy who was hurt who was crying, it was Max, the one who did the shoving, after he was warned. You don't want to comfort a child who cries because he is being given consequences for his misbehavior. That would be apologizing for disciplining him. And he clearly knew why they were leaving.
ReplyDeleteThis sounds like a very good nanny to me.
In the summer we go to the zoo once a week, and this is EXACTLY how I would handle the situation. You shouldn't comfort the child you're disciplining, it would actually confuse him.
ReplyDeleteAlso, you don't know if they actually left. She may have pulled them aside, reprimanded the kid, and moved on to another exhibit.
I'm a mom and that's pretty much how I'd handle it...
ReplyDeleteI am usually fairly defensive towards OPs... but really?!
ReplyDeleteOh. my. gosh. she used his first name!?
I am going to go out on a limb here and say that since RIGHT after he pushed him he said "it wasn't me!"... makes me think he knew what he did, and it would have been silly for them to explain to him...
She seems like a good nanny, she probably discussed it later, or earlier. I also don't think the child needed to be comforted right as his punishment was starting...
Sounds like she set a limit and followed through on it. Something I wish parents would do. Don't set the limit if you can't follow through....it may have been too harsh in your opinion, but she set and had to keep it.
ReplyDeleteIt's hard for me to believe she yelled the boy's name and warned him "too sternly" since he didn't stop. She obviously knew she needed to be very stern to try to get him to stop. It's not like he was doing something irritating- it was an actual safety issue.
ReplyDeleteI misread, I thought Max was the one who was shoved, in that case I think she did everything right.
ReplyDeleteI think this is a good nanny sighting too. I think the boys probably knew what they were doing wrong, I mean pushing is pushing :)
ReplyDeleteI don't think anyone should say that the OP did anything wrong, this is an I saw your nanny site and she wanted to send it in.
If it was me I probably would have left the zoo too. Maybe they go there a lot and she is not going to deal with their behavior like that :)
Let me just say, as a parent I would really appreciate this. While she may have been a bit harsh, my number one fear is having the kind of nanny who can handle my children out in public. You lose control of the children in a public venue and one can go one way or one can end up jumping down in with the polar bears.
ReplyDeleteWhatever your intentions, thanks OP for a detailed sighting. It's kind of like a performance review. Would love to see more of these on here. Not everything is good or bad. But feedback is essential!
Go Nanny!
ReplyDeleteOP, it's actually much harder to follow through with consequences (such as leaving the zoo) then it would be to stay there. Since you are very experienced yourself, you know that it takes a lot of work to get everyone ready to go to the zoo. It's really more punishment for the nanny to leave then for the children. GOOD for her!!!! She is teaching these kids invaluable life lessons!
As a fellow nanny, I know that I would have done EXACTLY the same thing that this nanny did. Pushing is unacceptible behavior. She gave them warning once, and in my opinion, ONE warning is enough. Any more than that, and the kids learn to "play" you, and know that they can get away with everything around you. I think that the parents should COUNT THEIR BLESSINGS to have found such a WONDERFUL and PATIENT nanny for their children.
ReplyDeleteIf I were in that situation I would have done the exact same thing. No questions asked. If kids cant follow the rules and be safe, then we wont be going places where they can get hurt.
ReplyDeleteI don't think the nanny did anything wrong. I'd have done the same thing with my own kids.
ReplyDeletewell, i think maybe the other boy had been warned repeatedly before and nannys warning was simply the last time and he over did it. would you have rather the nanny pushed, yelled at him or squeezed his hands like we have heard somany times before on this site. she took them home ans punishment no matter how lonog they were there. thats not a bad thing. hopefully it will teach him that everything comes with consequences and that is something that is never too young to be learned is it?
ReplyDeleteSometimes the tone of your voice lets children know that you mean business. I cannot count the times that I warned my kids that if they kept acting up in the store we were leaving and left a grocery cart with half of my shopping in it and took them home.
ReplyDeleteIf we don't follow thru with what we say the kids are just going to ignore the warnings. Good for this nanny and if her voice was stern better yet. This child had already been warned, he had already pushed his brother into a glass case and this nanny did just as exactly what she said she would do.
So NICE to hear about a nanny who pays attention to her charges, who is aware of their interactions, who gives them a warning and follows through!
ReplyDeleteI spent about an hour at Appleseeds in NYC yesterday, and I was disturbed. Nothing too awful to post about, but just general disinterest, boredom and extensive phone calls. I'd blame it on the weather but it happens constantly. Saw it at City Tree House today too.
Is it too much to stay close enough to the charge to know if they are taking things from other kids? Do I have to (constantly) teach other kids how to share because the nanny is just hanging with friends or on cell phone, facing other direction?
Good Nanny Sighting! Wish she lived in our area.
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ReplyDeleteExcellent Nanny! I hope mom and dad see this and are reassured of their choice in a nanny-- I would be!
ReplyDeletePlease!!!!!!!! like wtf...this person obviously has nothing better to do than to nitpick. This nanny is obviously a great person and i would love to have someone like her babysit my kids. She did nothing wrong. IF it was the mom that did the same thing you would have nothing to blog about but since it is the nanny you just wanted to find fault. STFU already!
ReplyDeleteMay 8, 2009 11:45:00 AM
I agree with others. She did what I would have done. After all, safety is our number 1 priority.
ReplyDeleteI hope if her bosses ever did read this sighting they back her up 100% when she has consequences for their child's behavior.
Good for that nanny! She had warned the boys to stop shoving and she followed through when they didnt'! I call that an EXCELLENT NANNY, not someone to be snooped on!
ReplyDeleteGood for her! The nanny told the boys to stop and when they didn't she followed through on her promise to leave. I would want that sort of nanny in my home!
ReplyDeleteWow! I am so glad enough people have common sense to say "Good for the nanny!"
ReplyDeleteIt's so refreshing when parents and caregivers actually follow through with a real consequences that really teach the children.
On a more dissappointing note, I seriously can't believe some people have absolutely NO lives, nothing to do with their time and no idea of early childhood development.
good idea thanks C*
ReplyDelete