Do you ever get annoyed at know it all new nannies? A few months ago my mother asked me for tips she could pass along to her younger coworker. My mother is a teacher and her coworker was not sure if she would have a job at the end of last school year. She was also dissatisfied with the work environment and thought being a nanny would be a great alternative. So I carefully outlined places to look for jobs, red flags, the kinds of jobs that would be a great for a new nanny, questions to ask, and things to make sure she had in a contract. Well she brushed it all aside, because she knows everything. Now she does have experience working with kids, about two years worth, and none for kids as young as she will be working with. She does have some teaching experience.
As we nannies who have taught know, being a nanny and a classroom teacher are entirely different animals. I just get tired of having people act as though being a nanny is easy, especially those that have never been a nanny. I would have appreciated an experienced nanny making herself available to me in my first nanny jobs. Heck, I turn to more experienced nannies now when I have questions or need support. To top it off she quits her teaching job without having a contract signed, with the attitude of well if it doesn’t work out I’ll find another nanny job. Perhaps I’m being too harsh on this one young lady. - Anonymous
Though I agree it is frustrating that she is not taking your advice on contracts, I will say that with regards to quitting her teaching job, she may have hated the environment so much that she didn't want to risk being trapped there for another year. Still not the wisest choice, but it's not like teaching is an easy job to quit halfway through the year.
ReplyDeleteMaybe these are just lessons each nanny has to learn for themselves. She just might not believe that a family that seems perfectly normal in an interview could be capable of taking such advantage of her.
I think most people who haven't been nannies have no idea of what is involved. Even parents with experience caring for their own children don't always understand that there is a difference between caring for your own children, and someone else's.
ReplyDeleteTeaching experience can be a plus in some areas, especially with school age children, but does it qualify you to be a nanny?
To quote the teacher mom of one of the most difficult charges I ever had after she gave me a rundown of last evening's screaming tantrums "there is a big difference between teaching and parenting". Substitute nannying for parenting. I'm afraid your friend is in for a rude awakening.
I'm guessing this person is much younger, as in early-20s. I'm just picking this up from how you described her, because it seems to be a generational thing. People that age appear very entitled and as if they know everything. Case in point: my 24-year-old sister. She randomly decided to pursue ECE but she will not listen to a single piece of information from me. I don't know if it is because she is acting like "rebellious little sister" or if it is her age.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you on this: "I would have appreciated an experienced nanny making herself available to me in my first nanny jobs." When I was searching for my very first nanny job, I was lucky enough to have a good friend who was a nanny at the time. Her boss was awful and seeing her have hard time with it really taught me a lot, such as having a contract and sticking up for yourself. People who don't have access to this sort of expertise have no idea what they're getting themselves into.
Why would your sisyer listen to you? Do you have a background in ece?
DeleteShe is her own person. Let go of your need to control her. She has a right to make her own path without it being navigated by you. I know you mean well, but she has to make her own choices.
DeleteNote: I should say NOT ALL people that age act like that. There are some very mature and down-to-earth young-20s, several of whom post on here.
ReplyDeleteYour post reminds me of nannys who think parenting is the same as nannying. There is no comparison. Its completely different. Like teaching & being a nanny. You don't understand this until you're actually there. This is for her to find out first hand. Its nothing you can simply tell her. She will find out in her own way. It was kind of you to try to help her. But people need to have their own life experiences to learn life lessons. Most things can't just be told to us. We have to go through it personally before we "get it."
ReplyDeleteI think I would be annoyed only becaused she asked for the tips.
ReplyDeleteYes ,everyone does need to find their own way but wise people learn from the experiences of others as well as their own.
Hopefully things work out for this girl. You live you learn.
I'm sure therr is another young nanny out there happy to take your advice, so post your tips.
My annoyance with new nannies or non nannies is when they act like being a nanny is oh so easy.
Oh to be twentysomething again. My horse was so high and I knew everything at 22.
ReplyDeleteIt's her life, let her live it. She'll learn. That's why it's called the school of hard knocks.
If she comes back later ready to listen, be kind.
You were a late bloomer, villiage. I was @ my peak of intdlligence before my 16th birthday! Lol
ReplyDeleteAgree with Village if she comes back be the bigger person and help her out.
ReplyDeleteHopefulyy she won't need to learn the hard way.
The other day at he library story time I overhears a nanny say, "I've been a nanny all my life, so I'm used to it." there was a pause and no one else commented, then she added with athority, "I started when I was 15, now I'm 22.". I couldn't help snickering to myself and thought, well I guess you have no education past 15, jez. I know she was trying to show her experience, but it sounded like someone bragging about being a young drop out that turned into a babysitter, that now at 22 is an expert nanny. I wondered if she had ever even taken a child care or development or CPR class. When I was 22 I would have said "I have a AA degree in child care and development, 2 years assistant teaching at a daycare while attending college, and lots of babysitting experience." I know anyone can call themselves a nanny, but when you've really paid your dues, it can be a bit annoying to listen to a self labeled 22 year old expert .
ReplyDeleteHmm. I am a 24 year old nanny, and I have been working full time for the past five years. I also have a bachelors degree. I was in college full time, as well as working 40+ hour weeks. It was tough work, but I managed, and found a good balance. I would never consider myself an expert, simply because like most jobs, but specifically nannying, you are constantly learning and growing in your profession. I see no correlation between age and expertise in this field. In regard to your post, life is all about learning lessons, making mistakes, and hopefully growing from them. People will constantly ask for advice, and disregard it. It's the worst feeling, especially when you are trying to help someone out, but she will hopefully learn what works for her. I'm sure after nannying for a few months, she will come back for more advice... (or a shoulder to cry on) when she realizes how much work nannying actually is!!
ReplyDeleteYou're right, the way I worded it made it seem like I want to control her. But it is more like she runs into a problem with her class and rather than listening to any advice, she prefers to tell me I don't know anything because I don't have a degree and she does. I am a firm believer that experience teaches more than any classroom can.
ReplyDeleteWow OP, wish I had had someone like you to talk to when I was looking for my first nanny job. Although that said I did get a lot of helpful information from this site =)
ReplyDeleteI think its more an attitude thing than being about someones age, I'm 21 and constantly ask for advice (probably to the point of annoying some of the friends) and one of my charges is only 5 and thinks she always knows better than anyone else lol