I have been the nanny of my 16 month old charge for almost 10 months. I absolutely love everything about my job and couldn’t imagine doing anything else. I have a great relationship with both parents, and can honestly say that we have become close friends. I love my charge more than anything in the world, and we have quite a strong bond. However, Christmas is coming up and I have no idea what to get them. I am set on what I am getting for my charge, and have talked about that with both parents. What I am unsure of is, what should I get the parents seeing as how I don’t have a lot of money to spend. I thought of maybe doing a Nanny Coupon Book, and was wondering what type of things would make good coupons. Any ideas? Thanks for your help.
Thursday
Christmas Coupons!
Received Thursday, December 9, 2010
I have been the nanny of my 16 month old charge for almost 10 months. I absolutely love everything about my job and couldn’t imagine doing anything else. I have a great relationship with both parents, and can honestly say that we have become close friends. I love my charge more than anything in the world, and we have quite a strong bond. However, Christmas is coming up and I have no idea what to get them. I am set on what I am getting for my charge, and have talked about that with both parents. What I am unsure of is, what should I get the parents seeing as how I don’t have a lot of money to spend. I thought of maybe doing a Nanny Coupon Book, and was wondering what type of things would make good coupons. Any ideas? Thanks for your help.
I have been the nanny of my 16 month old charge for almost 10 months. I absolutely love everything about my job and couldn’t imagine doing anything else. I have a great relationship with both parents, and can honestly say that we have become close friends. I love my charge more than anything in the world, and we have quite a strong bond. However, Christmas is coming up and I have no idea what to get them. I am set on what I am getting for my charge, and have talked about that with both parents. What I am unsure of is, what should I get the parents seeing as how I don’t have a lot of money to spend. I thought of maybe doing a Nanny Coupon Book, and was wondering what type of things would make good coupons. Any ideas? Thanks for your help.
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16 comments:
What a great idea OP! I have never read about anything like this on this website, but think it would be wonderful to do so for the parents as you do not have much money to spend.
Perhaps an hour or so of free childcare? Maybe a coupon for a 1/2 hr of dog walking? Or even a coupon for a free vacuuming session, etc?
I've done this before. I usually made them out for 'free date nights'. It goes over really well, actually, parents are very appreciative of this kind of thing.
I always offer a few nights of free babysitting as well. I don't think it's ever necessary to actually spend money on your employers. It's nice but it can make things a little awkward.
Really, don't get them anything. I would feel grateful, but guilty. I truly do not want our nanny spending money on us. I very much appreciate a small, thoughtful gift for the kids.
If you really feel you want to get them something, stick with simple and low-cost. Perhaps a framed photo of their child or a framed picture drawn by their child.
happy ending
For the parents I always have the kids make a "higher end" craft, for lack of a better way to put it. I've made handprint calenders (google it!- they're great) painting ceramics and this year I plan to have the oldest write and illustrate a story which we will make into a book. The parents love it! The coupon idea is great too, I would do a free date night as the big one, but you could do the parents laundry, vacuuming, cleaning a room that your not normally responsible for (main bathroom?) Especially if the kids you watch are little you shouldn't have trouble coming up with little extras you could easily do during nap time or throughout the day that you know they'd appreciate.
I plan on making my boss a big tray of cookies. That would be something inexpensive to add to the coupons. I think the coupons are a great idea though!
I thought about a coupon book but decided not to because I don't like working for free lol.
Bostonnanny, I feel the same way, haha. It's been years since I volunteered to babysit for free, and that was for a friend, not a care family. I just buy my care families something or give a food item.
I'm with nycmom - totally appreciate a small gift for the kids but even that makes me feel bad. An employee should not feel obligated at all to give a gift to an employer. The coupon book is such a sweet idea but never in a million years would I redeem a coupon for free work from my nanny! I just would feel too guilty about it!
Going to syay it again, no gifts for the bosses! just like in the corporate world, I never gave my boss a gift, no gifts for the bosses here either, give gifts to the kids, but not to the person who pays you.
For my mom bosses birthday, I had her 4 year old make a card. Then he and I made a list of "things I love about mommy" and I recorded it inside. I also did paint handprints from both of her kids. She actually cried when she read it and said it was the sweetest thing she'd ever gotten for her birthday. Really- thought and sentiment go a long way! :)
I was just thinking about this very thing today....and decided against it. I refuse to work for free. I'm college educated, planning a wedding, and I know my families would refuse to redeem such a coupon anyway :) Baking cookies or some type of food is a great idea, to those who suggested it. Also, Buggins, the card idea is cute. One mom I work for nearly cried when I helped her toddler make some artwork for her. These gifts are much more meaningful than monetary ones. I love giving coupons as gifts, but I think they are more appropriate for lovers, friends, and family members.
I think this is nuts. Don't give away your services for free. What worker can you think of that volunteers to work for free.
Give them a card telling them how great they are. That's enough.
As I say often, gift down, not up. You gift the child, and let the parents gift you. A few kinds words can go a long way with people. Let's face it. Appreciation is a lost sport in America.
If you give your bosses a gift, perhaps it can be misconstrued as bribery.
Hmm.
Village is right, gift down, not up. I always buy my charge a small gift and then make a gift for the parents but present it to them as a gift from the child. The only times I babysit for free is for family members or my close friends' children...but they almost always insist on paying me a small amount anyway.
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