tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32916951.post1709116206683052720..comments2024-03-19T03:27:24.068-04:00Comments on I SAW YOUR NANNY: Appleseeds in NYCLeigh Raymerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18210572527823459842noreply@blogger.comBlogger47125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32916951.post-82348472607060909892009-02-22T19:40:00.000-05:002009-02-22T19:40:00.000-05:00Nanny who cares,Yeah, I've gotten a lot of e-mails...Nanny who cares,<BR/>Yeah, I've gotten a lot of e-mails about the rain in California...but then it makes its way here after a few days and we have tornado warnings...so its hard ot ffel to bad for "y'all!" Overall the weather is night and day better in California than in Texas...well at least in the parts of OC that get the cool ocean breezes. <BR/>You're exactly right about the values there though. That's the big reason we knew we had to leave when we had kidfs, even thought in every other way our living situation was paradise. People are overall more friendly here (although its getting worse with time, as I'm sure it is out there too.) And parts of Dallas are unbelievably superficial and materialistic too...but its known where those areas are and its easy to just opt not to live in those areas. Southern manners are pretty prevalent where we live and I love that. Kids call adults, including their teachers Sir and Ma'am, and do not call other adults by first names...ever. They may say "Miss Betty," but they owuld never presume to say "Hey Betty." If they misbehave in school, nobody is worried about whether they are having a "feeling." They just get punished. There was an unbelievable difference in school discipline between the school my son attended in California and the one my kids attended here...night and day...in terms of expected classroom behavior and manners. I am a pretty traditional person as manners and values go, so that suited me just fine. There are some weird people here too, and more coming in all the time...but it used to be that when a kid got into trouble in school the parents worked with the school to correct their child's behavior instead of blaming the school for not recognizing that their child is better than all the rest and should be allowed to do whatever the heck he pleases.<BR/>its a nice place to raise kids...just stay out of Plano, Higland Park, Preston Hollow and a few other notoriously plastic areas and you'll love it here!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32916951.post-11417183835768664612009-02-22T09:44:00.000-05:002009-02-22T09:44:00.000-05:00I have to agree with mom about "helicopter nannies...I have to agree with mom about "helicopter nannies/parents". When I take the kids to the park, I let them play. They use their imaginations and create games while making friends. They don't need me to interfere with that. I sit close by and watch, making sure I am able to jump in as need be. I believe I'm being paid to care for the children and assist in raising them, which means helping them develop the ability to entertain themselves and build the self confidence that they are "okay on their own". They know they can call or come to me for anything they need ( a push on a swing, help climbing something) or if they want me to watch something, but I let them play.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32916951.post-30377471445199541102009-02-21T14:05:00.000-05:002009-02-21T14:05:00.000-05:00I wanted to clarify, that even though when I am on...I wanted to clarify, that even though when I am on the job I don't sit down and I spend my time interacting with my charges, doesn't mean I begrudge moms with older children who catch a break while they're at the park. I am sure when I become a mom, I will be doing the same thing. But, I only work 6 hour days, and to me that is pretty lazy if for the few hours a day we are at the park or play area I can't be active and engage them in activities! <BR/><BR/>mom: I didn't know you used to live in OC! I was born and raised here, and I LOVE it! I have had several friends of mine from high school escape to Texas as the materialism just keeps getting worse and worse here. I might be in Texas in a few years when I'm ready to start my own family and you will have to give me your contractors number! =o) <BR/>Your right about the weather usually being nice, but these last few months we have gotten an insane amount of rain! It seems like EVERY week we have at least a few days we can't play outside and it is getting really old, really fast with a 2, 4, and 6 year old in a tiny townhouse!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32916951.post-61950462157881130422009-02-20T14:22:00.000-05:002009-02-20T14:22:00.000-05:00I think it depends on the age of the child. I alwa...I think it depends on the age of the child. I always followed my young toddlers around at the playground, because even a climb up the ladder to the slide can be dangerous at that age, and they don't have any idea that they shouldn't walk in frnt of swings, etc. But when thet were a bit older, I typically chatted with friends or read a book while they played. The parks we typically played at were quite uncrowded, so an occasional peep at them, and the ability to keep them in my peripheral vision while reading, or whatever, was sufficient. If they wanted pushed on a swing or for me to watch them do something special, they asked me and I did it. <BR/><BR/>Nanny who cares, I'm form OC and really miss it. We wouldn't have needed an indoor playground there because we were able to play outside almost all year round. On rainy days we did someting special and different. I miss that great weather! here, we have to have big playrooms indoors because of the ever changing, and often unpleasant weather. Thank goodness houses are dirt cheap. I added a giant playroom over my three car garage for $10,000 during the building process...fully finished out, with crown moulding and all. (Was hard to keep from laughing out loud when the builder quoted me that price for adding that much space to my house!) It was a lifesaver!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32916951.post-92223132370792570662009-02-20T02:04:00.000-05:002009-02-20T02:04:00.000-05:00We weren't talking about a huge indoor playground....We weren't talking about a huge indoor playground. We were talking about those places with the blow-up things. I really think those are just for the kids. I'm sorry if people don't like the term "helicopter mom/nanny". It's really sort of an epidemic where I live that children are constantly hovered over and coached. I'm just not in to that, but I'm always watching.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32916951.post-51126332027611748642009-02-20T01:43:00.000-05:002009-02-20T01:43:00.000-05:00Wow, $1000 yr. Even here in the SF area, where thi...Wow, $1000 yr. Even here in the SF area, where things are generally almost as expensive as nyc from all I've heard, there are lots of indoor play places and children's "museums" that cost much less than that. Even the Lawrence Hall of Science, part of the UC Berkeley system, extremely educational and geared mainly for the 5 and up age bracket, is only $75/yr. But there is Studio Grow, which is either $7/visit per person, or $99/mo, which if you did membership for a whole year would work out to $1188.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32916951.post-4080301771389209742009-02-19T20:19:00.000-05:002009-02-19T20:19:00.000-05:00OP: Let me get this straight. This nanny was gone ...OP: Let me get this straight. This nanny was gone for 30 minutes away from her charge? The description you gave was wonderful, and I agree with the person who said that they could just imagine what could've happened to this child. Appleseed's sounds nice, yet I do agree with the "baby country club" comment, and I live in WI.<BR/><BR/>OK, when I take J to the playland at the mall, park or to open gym at gymnastics, I am constantly following him, interacting with him, and supervising him. If you want to call those of us that watch our charges carefully, making sure they are safe, "helicopter nannies" that's a load of BS. I remember many years ago when I took a child I was babysitting for to Mc'Ds for dinner, and we were in the play area. A girl of about 4-6 years of age was stacking blocks on top of each other to hang from the bar above her head, which was pretty high, if I remember. I looked around for a parent or caregiver, and didn't find anyone. This child made it up the bar and was hanging from it holding on with one hand. I was concerned that she was going to hurt herself, so I helped her down. I then had a woman, who I guessed to her caregiver screaming at me, telling me to leave her alone. She also started talking about me to others in the area. Guess what she was doing while I was watching her daughter? Chatting on a cell phone and painting her nails. That was 10 years ago. I made a vow back then when I got into childcare to take my job with children seriously. If that means being a "helicopter", well, I would rather be a concerned caregiver/teacher/nanny then a lazy bitch like the nanny this child's parents hired. <BR/><BR/>Appleseeds sounds like a designer playground...The Little Gym is popular out this way and a waste of time and money. I know people who have gone to there and never went back.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32916951.post-19343869218464003172009-02-19T19:02:00.000-05:002009-02-19T19:02:00.000-05:00I wouldn't let a two year old out of arm's reach, ...I wouldn't let a two year old out of arm's reach, actually. Then again, I don't think I'd take a baby to a place like that because I don't think the preschoolers who nomrally go there should have to be watching out for someone's baby when they're supposed to be bouncing around with abandon. <BR/><BR/>I know it's different being the person who is paid to play with the kids all day. I'm a mom and if I'm going to a place like that, it's so my child can play with other kids and we can have a break from each other.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32916951.post-16315842573190789382009-02-19T18:55:00.000-05:002009-02-19T18:55:00.000-05:00You can call me a helicopter nanny if you wish, bu...You can call me a helicopter nanny if you wish, but my youngest charge turned 2 this month! I don't think it's being overprotective at all to be with her the whole time. She needed my help to climb most of the equipment and would have fallen several times had I not been there! <BR/><BR/>Plus, even the older 2 would have been really disappointed to not have me there playing with them! I agree children need time to socialize with their peers, but they are both in school full time. So, I don't buy the excuse of needing to learn socializing skills either. It is my job to be playing with them, help them, teach them, and keep them happy and active!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32916951.post-83964204732501617432009-02-19T17:49:00.000-05:002009-02-19T17:49:00.000-05:00I'm a mom to a preschooler and I do not get up on ...I'm a mom to a preschooler and I do not get up on that equipment and neither do the other moms I know. There's also such a thing as being too much of a helicopter parent/nanny. If the kids are somewhere safe, why would you be up in their business? You can call me negligent if you want, but my kids have all ended up with good soical skills and the ability to entertain themselves and interact with other children their ages. I'm not one for micromanagement,Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32916951.post-50287355799557212392009-02-19T17:34:00.000-05:002009-02-19T17:34:00.000-05:00i dont think it makes them look bad at all, so lon...i dont think it makes them look bad at all, so long as they are *ACTUALLY* watching their kids.<BR/><BR/>sometimes its nice to give the kids some space to play alone or with eachother. im not saying its a bad thing you were up there playing with him, kudos to you, but sitting on a bench while the kids are playing is fine.<BR/><BR/>if theyre on the bench... on their phone, reading, talking and otherwise not paying attention.. then yeah thats not okay.<BR/><BR/>but it doesnt make them look bad unless they were outright neglectful.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32916951.post-63120419616255283822009-02-19T17:23:00.000-05:002009-02-19T17:23:00.000-05:00I live in Orange County, CA and would LOVE to have...I live in Orange County, CA and would LOVE to have a place like this to take my charges! I took them to a place that seems only half as cool called Jump 'N' Jammin' last week because it has been so cold and rainy, and it was $36 for the 3 kids, and we only stayed 2 1/2 hours! To me $1000 a year doesn't seem like that much for what you are getting!<BR/><BR/>The whole time I was at Jump 'N' Jammin' all the parents and nannies were sitting on the benches and me and 1 father were the only ones up on the equipment! I even had one mom tell me to come sit down because I was making them all look bad!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32916951.post-29770309248075768032009-02-19T16:12:00.000-05:002009-02-19T16:12:00.000-05:00I guess I can understand it if the options are so ...I guess I can understand it if the options are so limited. I also live in Seattle (not on the eastside like the others who have posted, but the west side) and there are so many nice, inexpensive options here. All told, we have anual memberships to the zoo, aquarium, science center, and 2 children's museums and the cost is under $500/year. That's for our entire family of five and includes guest passes. I do understand about spending on what's important to you. I have 3 kids in swim team and pay about $2400 a year for that.<BR/><BR/>All of which reminds me: I hate that no one in our house is employed right now. Ouch!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32916951.post-7507795580992831222009-02-19T13:32:00.001-05:002009-02-19T13:32:00.001-05:00OP again....So here is my feeling about Appleseeds...OP again....<BR/><BR/>So here is my feeling about Appleseeds... I have no space for large toys in my Manhattan apartment, nor does my building have a playroom. A larger apartment would be hundred of thousands of dollars. I am working on getting a playroom in our building but having no luck...<BR/><BR/>I swore I would never join Appleseeds, which I called the "baby country club" because it is so expensive, yet when winter came around and my totally active kid was bouncing off the walls, i bit down on the cost. <BR/><BR/>We don't have inexpensive and good options in our part of Manhattan. On the other hand, in Manhattan we don't need a car since my husband can walk to work in under 15 minutes! We get one with Zipcar when we need one. So really we chalk it up to the life we chose...<BR/><BR/>Here we don’t have malls with free play area. Even our Y does not have open play areas except for a few hours a week. Appleseeds is a few blocks away and once you join, you can play all day every day as long as you want. <BR/><BR/>That said, Appleseeds, is a favorite with many nannies (just as it is with SAHMs). It is easier to hang out with pals in a self-contained area. Many parents are more than willing to pay to have a fun place for nannies to take kids so that they get out of apartment. Is it a little guilt that they aren't with their kids during day? Maybe…each case is different... Generally the dads (and some moms) bring the kids on weekends though.<BR/><BR/>Many nannies are hands on and many hang out on the bench. (I admit that I see more nannies on the bench than parents, but that said, there are more nannies than parents. I would say during weekday there are 10 nannies to one parent, my unofficial count).<BR/><BR/>Anyway, it may be a status symbol for some, but it is a necessity for many of us.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32916951.post-65808386722513655722009-02-19T13:32:00.000-05:002009-02-19T13:32:00.000-05:00When we looked at housing in Manhattan about three...When we looked at housing in Manhattan about three years ago, apartments were selling for an average of $1000.00 per square foot...so that's a million dollars for a thousand square foot home...and they weren't very nice at that...mostly ratty looking and bare bones actually. (At least compared to the very high end custom luxury homes...granite counters, wood floors, natural stone bathrooms from floor to ceiling, multiple fireplaces, real wood windows, custom multi-process wood cabinetry, crown moulding and multi layer baseboards in every room, hand molded brick, etc., etc., etc.,...in Dallas that cost about $150.00-$200.00 per square foot at the time, and often included a sizeable piece of land and a pool with them!)<BR/>NY is GREAT, but good grief its expensive!!!<BR/><BR/>And you know what, in hindsight, we paid more than that $1000.00 per year for our club membership here just so that we could go to the pool in the summer. And it was well worth it because they played with all of the neighborhood kids all summer so that when school started up, everybody was already friends...and best of all, I knew all the mommies and how well they took care of their kids, or not...so I knew very well who was a safe play date hostess and who was not. Yeah, you have to do what you have ot do when you have kids.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32916951.post-90196162975097177442009-02-19T12:45:00.000-05:002009-02-19T12:45:00.000-05:00WOW! $1000 A YEAR?! Our indoor play parks cost $1 ...WOW! $1000 A YEAR?! Our indoor play parks cost $1 for each visit! I'm glad that I live in Portland right about now! I would probably be living in a box in New York.....but I love visiting NY! <BR/>Anyway, good sighting. Parents, Nannies, Grandparents, Teachers, etc. always need to keep a constant eye out!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32916951.post-3818986154847986262009-02-19T11:04:00.000-05:002009-02-19T11:04:00.000-05:00Alleyes, no one to worry about. She comes around e...Alleyes, no one to worry about. She comes around every once in awhile and pisses some people off with her false sense of superiority, but for the most part, she's easy to ignore assuming you don't let her snide comments get to you.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32916951.post-35936660321736147872009-02-19T01:44:00.000-05:002009-02-19T01:44:00.000-05:00H, And you are, what exactly?H, <BR/><BR/>And you are, what exactly?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32916951.post-46962014299974912722009-02-19T01:24:00.000-05:002009-02-19T01:24:00.000-05:00Worlds Best Nanny-Appleseeds is most definitely no...Worlds Best Nanny-<BR/>Appleseeds is most definitely not a status symbol of any sort, perhaps to many it is an essentiality of city living. I prefer my children not partake in the atmosphere of Appleseeds, too much riff raff.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32916951.post-85664449406981595152009-02-19T00:34:00.000-05:002009-02-19T00:34:00.000-05:00seattle, Crossroads Mall is exactly what I thought...seattle, <BR/><BR/>Crossroads Mall is exactly what I thought you were talking about. I live not even two miles from there off Bel-Red.<BR/><BR/>When I was a child, my grandmother would take my brother and I there.<BR/><BR/>My brother and I would go through the tubes and the ball pit while she tended to her shopping at QFC.<BR/><BR/>I have such wonderful memories of Playspace, although I didn't recall the name. So thank you for that.<BR/><BR/>I've taken charges there, as well as cousins, and as much as they enjoy cold stone, the few rides or that pretender to the throne ceramic paint place - because you have to remember Playspace was big - what is now the ceramic paint place was the entrance and what is now Hallmark was just part of it, I know all too well what they've missed out on and feel sad because of it.<BR/><BR/>Worst run on sentence ever.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32916951.post-33756139826447975922009-02-18T23:36:00.000-05:002009-02-18T23:36:00.000-05:00its not actually in seattle, its in bellevue. thou...its not actually in seattle, its in bellevue. though if theres a place in or around seattle that you're thinking of, i probably know it.<BR/><BR/>it was at crossroads mall. and the place i was referring to was called "Playspace".<BR/><BR/>i'm sad they tore it down, it was a great concept for parents to be able to go grocery shopping, have lunch, get their hair done, etc, and not have to drag the kids with them to do those things. its a small mall too, so if your child needed you for whatever reason, you were at most 5 minutes away.<BR/><BR/>they replaced it with a HALLMARK of all things. oh, what fun the children will have there!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32916951.post-75402591736777250372009-02-18T23:18:00.000-05:002009-02-18T23:18:00.000-05:00seattle,"we used to have something like that in th...seattle,<BR/><BR/>"we used to have something like that in the mall by my old house"<BR/><BR/>I must know, what mall were you referencing here? <BR/><BR/>I have a theory, but I need to know!!!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32916951.post-50635957395742934472009-02-18T22:43:00.000-05:002009-02-18T22:43:00.000-05:00so i checked the website, and yes, the cheaper of ...so i checked the website, and yes, the cheaper of the two packages is about $1,000.<BR/><BR/>but that is only about $83/month.<BR/><BR/>when you think about it, that is not very much. per month. to be able to go as often as you want (it hasnt said anywhere that you have a limit)<BR/><BR/>and its not per child. its per family (on the sign up page, you can list up to 4 children).<BR/><BR/>when i was younger, our pool membership was about the same.<BR/><BR/>if you have a family with 3 children, its cheaper than taking them to the movies every week. and you have the ability to go on a daily basis.<BR/><BR/>you can also bring a guest for free.<BR/><BR/>i think it's awesome. we used to have something like that in the mall by my old house. it's gone now, but it was also a "drop your kid off and shop" type of place.<BR/><BR/>still, $83/month? thats not bad. its the price you pay when you have kids :)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32916951.post-4460319924512694442009-02-18T22:24:00.000-05:002009-02-18T22:24:00.000-05:00To be fair...I have been in New York many times an...To be fair...I have been in New York many times and always love it there. But I always, every trip, find myself wondering what I would have done with my small kids had I lived in the city when they were small. There are some beautiful parks, but the weather does not always permit long outdoor excursions....and big houses with giant playspaces in them are not easily affordable. So what do you do with kiddos who NEED to have plenty of room to stretch out and play EVERY DAY? If I lived in the city (where everything, by the way, is tremendously expensive comparative to many other parts of the country) I think I would pay the darn thousand dollars and consider it the price of having kids...and NOT for status, but because I know what a pair of little boys who are all cooped up in a small living space and haven't had a chance to stretch their legs all day can be like! (Plus, if you can afford to live in the city in the first place, a thousand dollars is probaly like pocket change for most of those people.) <BR/>Now a place like that here in Dallas...I'd never pay that.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32916951.post-92056947409221572982009-02-18T21:55:00.000-05:002009-02-18T21:55:00.000-05:00One thousand dollars a year to play at an indoor p...One thousand dollars a year to play at an indoor playground? Let me guess this is some sort of status symbol place for all the sophisticated New York mommies to bring their children to see and be seen? I have 2 very nice indoor playgrounds in my area that charge no where near that! What I like about these playgrounds (the one's here anyway) have no obstructed view of the play area. So you can safely keep an eye on the kids without having to get into the pirate ship yourself! The children and caregivers here get matching wrist ID bands, the door to go outside has latch that you push on to get out and this latch is well out of reach of any child. If any adult makes their way towards the group of kids that contain my charges, I am up and chatting with them. You just don't know about people these days!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com