tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32916951.post2267153593436718009..comments2024-03-19T03:27:24.068-04:00Comments on I SAW YOUR NANNY: A Day in the Life, Nanny Horror Story, and Rant... all Rolled into One!Leigh Raymerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18210572527823459842noreply@blogger.comBlogger40125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32916951.post-87754000714293925242011-11-03T13:43:37.933-04:002011-11-03T13:43:37.933-04:00Update: So I had a job lined up with another famil...Update: So I had a job lined up with another family, and they wanted me to move in within a few days...there was no way I'd turn it down so I could give the current family more notice (after all, no contract, no obligation. They did not keep their end of the deal) so I told them Wednesday that I would be leaving Friday. MB FLIPPED OUT. She told me how immature I am, and told me she's "so disappointed" and on and on with similar comments. I explained calmly why I was leaving listing all our agreements she disregarded. Anyways, she basically kicked me out on the street. She told me to be gone asap. She would not leave the house, would not let me near her children. Thankfully my amazing boyfriend dropped everything to help me get out of there. <br /><br />Now this is the part where the heavens open up, revealing a beautiful ray of sunlight down on me. I love my new family! They are younger, very laid back, and best of all they are slobs! well...not terribly but they dont expect me to clean the whole house and dont get angry that their house looks like they have two toddlers.....cause yeah, they do! I get paid by the hour and we have a contract. woo!<br /><br />@igotnuthin: Thanks :PWrennoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32916951.post-47440756356188661662011-10-15T01:41:23.432-04:002011-10-15T01:41:23.432-04:00sorry, i don't have any advice. i just wanted...sorry, i don't have any advice. i just wanted to say, i enjoyed reading your post. while unfortunate, it was humorous. maybe you should write. :)igotnuthinnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32916951.post-20187727389419133572011-09-30T13:53:27.284-04:002011-09-30T13:53:27.284-04:00I agree...
I agree with you. I get bored easily, ...I agree...<br /><br />I agree with you. I get bored easily, and I know this sounds strange, but I like doing laundry and organizing things. I always take a 1 hr. break and do the usual baby related chores, but when babies take long naps I find other things to do. I might do the family's laundry, organize the baby's drawers or switch over clothing when seasons change. However, these are extras and the parents know and appreciate it. It's never been an issue if I didn't do the extras. <br /><br />Miss Mannah...<br /><br />LOL, you don't sound heartless! You work hard all week and your time off is your time.<br /><br />Concerning live-ins, when I was considering working in NYC, one of the main things that made me decide not to work there was that the high end nanny agencies had jobs where the nannies were expected to be on duty 24 hrs. a day 5 days a week. The pay is great, but there's no way I would do that for years on end, and I think it's ridiculous for the families to expect that. I'd feel like a prisoner.<br /><br />I think of those NYC jobs whenever a bad nanny siting shows a nanny sleeping on the job. I always wonder if she's a live-in and was up with the baby for nights on end, then expected to be alert and perky during the day! (And, no I'm NOT excusing sleeping on the job.)Wownoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32916951.post-55052905554996816772011-09-30T10:10:05.868-04:002011-09-30T10:10:05.868-04:00Tales, that's interesting and I didn't kno...Tales, that's interesting and I didn't know. Around here it is very rare to find live-in nannies, in fact I've never met one. It seems to me that before the nanny moves in, she and the family should set up a sort of time sheet she could fill out daily so if she does get stuck with last-minute work, she could just add it on the time sheet and get paid for it. That way there would be no petty squabbles about her paycheck. It also seems to me that if the nanny lives in the family's house, she ought to just make herself scarce on her days off if the parents are known to take advantage of her being there. But what do I know? A few weeks ago my MB texted me on the weekend because she was sick and Baby K was driving her nuts, she was basically wanting me to come in, I was reading between the lines. How did I respond? "Wow, that sucks. Hope you feel better." Makes me seem heartless but I'm not about to go in on my days off.MissMannahnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32916951.post-52841338329688495032011-09-29T19:30:05.526-04:002011-09-29T19:30:05.526-04:00Nanny Sarah... I agree with you...to an extent. In...Nanny Sarah... I agree with you...to an extent. In my current job, I am caring for an infant only. She sleeps a lot so when she is asleep, I usually pick up around the house. I load/unload the dishwasher, clean up toys in her older sibling's room, and occasionally do a load of laundry. I do not feel like this is unreasonable at all. Plus, when the family hired me, we all discussed that those would be my only household duties and I agreed to it. <br /><br />You're right in saying that a nanny is supposed to be caring for the children first and foremost. However, if both parties agree to other duties then I don't see a problem with it. I personally would (and do) feel guilty if the baby is sleeping and I am sitting there reading a magazine, while there are simple things around the house that I could easily do to help out. After all, I am getting paid. <br /><br />It definitely depends on the situation too. If the parents are leaving all their dishes for you to do, or you are doing all the laundry then that isn't very fair. <br /><br />I have to say though, I MUST agree with you about eating lunch in peace. We nannies deserve a lunch break, just like everyone else!I agreenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32916951.post-5596302262325747292011-09-29T15:42:16.023-04:002011-09-29T15:42:16.023-04:00Yes, MissMannah, LI nannies are entitled to minimu...Yes, MissMannah, LI nannies are entitled to minimum wage, and I believe in at least some states the employers are allowed to take out a certain percentage for "room and board", but don't quote me on that.<br /><br />The issue for many LI nannies is that they wind up NEVER being off the clock. It's all well and good to have hours outlined in a contract and "know" you start and stop work at certain times, but it takes a VERY self-confident nanny to say, "No, I am off the clock and cannot 'just watch the kids for a minute", but I would be glad to add the hours you need me to work right now to my next pay check!" or just, "No, I am not able to do that for you right now."<br /><br />Why? IMO it's because as a LI you are constantly wanting to be helpful because you know that if you say "No" too often you will be both jobless and homeless.talesfromthe(nanny)hoodhttp://talesfromthenannyhood.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32916951.post-61814525862853401412011-09-29T10:23:48.567-04:002011-09-29T10:23:48.567-04:00I could not have said it better myself, Sarah! I a...I could not have said it better myself, Sarah! I am sick of being snapped at after caring for their children all day because there are things unrelated to my job out of place!!Wrenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04467832727305928513noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32916951.post-48643356503008376242011-09-29T04:11:27.681-04:002011-09-29T04:11:27.681-04:00Who says that just because someone is in your home...Who says that just because someone is in your home, caring for your children...that they are also supposed to do any housework whatsoever?? A Nanny's job is childcare ONLY. She is to educate, entertain and care for her charges..not clean the house. I am a Nanny and would say that 98% of the families I interview with request that during "nap time" I dust, vacuum, mop, cook, do the wash, etc...I currently have a family where they hired me to care for their child ONLY and keep her safe, happy and fed, etc. Sure, I wash any dishes she eats from when I am there as well as make sure all the toys are picked up when the parents come home, but that is basically common sense. <br /><br />Parents need to stop taking advantage of us Nannies...there should be lines drawn.<br /><br />During nap times, I use that time to eat lunch in peace, do homework as well as take a rest myself. The parents even encourage me to read a magazine and relax since they know caring for an active toddler is a huge job in itself.Nanny Sarahnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32916951.post-32018972066525348082011-09-28T23:23:37.438-04:002011-09-28T23:23:37.438-04:00I just want to clarify that I work (on average) 10...I just want to clarify that I work (on average) 10 hours extra a week.Wrenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04467832727305928513noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32916951.post-13614105101335108422011-09-28T22:31:54.240-04:002011-09-28T22:31:54.240-04:00Sounds like the parents are the real issue. If the...Sounds like the parents are the real issue. If they are taking more and more advantage of you, you should probably move out. Or tell them you are thinking of moving out because they are not staying with the reasons why they hired you. They hired you to be a nanny, not to clean up everything. By telling them you are thinking of leaving, they will do one of two things. <br /><br />1) They will ask your reasons for leaving, and try to negotiate to keep you. If they do, be very careful because they might just be lying again.<br /><br />2) They will say see you... if they do that then they aren't a great family at all.<br /><br />Phoenix to your comment of telling the nanny that she should clean when the children are at school. Why should she do that? She agreed to watching the children and assisting them with school work. She never agreed to cleaning the house, doing laundry, etc... Not sure if any hours were mentioned but it sure sounds like she is technically working 50-55 hours a week... she should be getting paid way more, especially for overtime... It has nothing to do with laziness, only deals with the parents not keeping their part of the deal. No nanny should be treated this way.Nickelnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32916951.post-15849185495209110752011-09-28T20:20:36.226-04:002011-09-28T20:20:36.226-04:00I do have a question about wages. Is it true that...I do have a question about wages. Is it true that live-ins are entitled to minimum wage? It would seem to me that they needn't be because their room and board is included. I don't know where OP lives, but I know if I got all my living expenses paid for, I would be thrilled to make an extra $800 a month, because I can make do with that small amount of money, but I understand that is not the case in big cities. OP should have spoken up as soon as she got a check that wasn't the amount they agreed upon. Why are people always afraid of their bosses? <br /><br />I don't think OP is overworked, but I think she needs a more exact schedule. From the sound of her "schedule" she posted, she does do the chores while the kids are at school and then does a few things off and on throughout the day. I didn't really see any real childcare either, but I got the feeling these are older children. Maybe she and the parents need to clarify (in writing) what her schedule and duties are.MissMannahnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32916951.post-87298231820684979202011-09-28T13:14:23.094-04:002011-09-28T13:14:23.094-04:00that why I said it appears they hired her as a hou...that why I said it appears they hired her as a house keeper not a nanny.Phoenixhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15540701992730212772noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32916951.post-22358991527000267782011-09-28T11:31:06.774-04:002011-09-28T11:31:06.774-04:00Phoenix, just speaking legally here, nannies are e...Phoenix, just speaking legally here, nannies are entitle to earn at least minimum wage for every hour they work. As a LI OP is not entitled to overtime, but LO nannies are.<br /><br />So, based on what I read in the original post, OP is working about 60 hours a week. But to be fair, I don't know how much down time she gets when the kids are in school, so we'll guess she works 40 hours a week, divided into *6* days.<br /><br />Federal minimum wage is $7.25 per hour. Some states have higher minimum wages.<br /><br />So, at 40 hours work per week, federal law dictates OP should be earning **$290** a week.<br /><br />So, even if I agreed with you about the workload, you are dead wrong about the wage. OP is not being paid a legal wage, and that's neither fair nor acceptable.Tales from the (Nanny)Hoodhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14266117417206315356noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32916951.post-4036156444019959912011-09-27T22:14:50.320-04:002011-09-27T22:14:50.320-04:00Phoenix... I'd be willing to bet that in real ...Phoenix... I'd be willing to bet that in real life you are very cold-hearted. It always seems like you give terrible advice that puts all the blame on the person who posted it. If I am remembering correctly, the OP is being paid very little to take care of the children as well as clean the house. You suggested that she do all the housework while the children are in school. Perhaps if that was the agreement and she were being paid for it, that would make sense. But $200 to be up with the kids, get them off to school, clean the house during the day, and take care of them when they return from school?! There is no way that is fair!Just an observationnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32916951.post-24050371433820366012011-09-27T21:14:55.880-04:002011-09-27T21:14:55.880-04:00Phoenix, I do my absolute best to respect their ti...Phoenix, I do my absolute best to respect their time with their kids and have never gotten mad for them wanting to raise them. I am guessing you have never nannied before or else you would show more respect and compassion for those who work hard in this profession. <br /><br />I am NOT a housekeeper...I thought I made it obvious that thats the problem.<br /><br />'Kaytnxbai.Wrenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04467832727305928513noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32916951.post-89363716686496018242011-09-27T13:23:24.534-04:002011-09-27T13:23:24.534-04:00the pay thing is a normal occurance that I see pop...the pay thing is a normal occurance that I see popping up all the time. It seems to me that families also test the nanny to see what they can get away with. The OP should talk to them first before she bails. Now if she does that and they don't change the way in which she is paid then fine. That is a reason to leave. <br /><br />They are only paying $50 less than first agreed. Ask why? So then you see the kids off to school. Wait around until they get home from shcool at which time they are engaged in electronics. So are you saying that you are too busy. Because you aren't. You are a housekeeper NOT a nanny at all. You don't take care of children. You watch them and take care of the house. Which you don't have a lot to do.Phoenixhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15540701992730212772noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32916951.post-86313567292413835762011-09-27T00:40:10.186-04:002011-09-27T00:40:10.186-04:00Even though I do not agree w/Phoenix's opinion...Even though I do not agree w/Phoenix's opinion on this...I give her credit for expressing herself while being brave enough to have a picture of herself posted. Most people can only express themselves behind a moniker.Nanny Lori ♂noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32916951.post-1325523064899102202011-09-26T20:27:02.384-04:002011-09-26T20:27:02.384-04:00Phoenix
Wow, so its okay that the parents decided...Phoenix<br /><br />Wow, so its okay that the parents decided to screw her out of her due pay?? Would you continue to work for liars???ericsmomnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32916951.post-84592039401440757072011-09-26T20:24:36.227-04:002011-09-26T20:24:36.227-04:00I agree you need to leave. If you have great refer...I agree you need to leave. If you have great references I am sure you will find a job with no problem. Like someone mentioned on here, why not rent even a one bedroom with someone. I live on the east coast and its so popular here having others split the cost of rent. Look your still young. You should consider a live-out job. Then have freedom to do what you want afterwork or on the weekends. Being a live-in I am sure is hell for most nannies.ericsmomnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32916951.post-68818568244237706782011-09-26T17:55:37.541-04:002011-09-26T17:55:37.541-04:00Nanny S...I think the damage has been done already...Nanny S...I think the damage has been done already and OP should NOT try to salvage the relationship at this point. These people scammed her by changing the pay (what a low blow!) and they are over working her, etc. OP should just pack up and leave tonight when everyone is asleep. Hehehehehehehehe......The Nanny Advocate ☼noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32916951.post-85680885166880107952011-09-26T17:31:48.927-04:002011-09-26T17:31:48.927-04:00Phoenix,
Give me a break. That is WAY too much w...Phoenix,<br /><br />Give me a break. That is WAY too much work for one person. She SHOULD leave!<br /><br />I live in NYC, which I admit does have much, much higher nanny salaries than almost anywhere else..but do people seriously offer that little as pay??!! YikesNanny Enoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32916951.post-11544166585275761822011-09-26T16:05:59.110-04:002011-09-26T16:05:59.110-04:00why can't you do your chores while the kids ar...why can't you do your chores while the kids are in school? I don't think you are overworked I think that you mis-manage your time. And kids will say No. They will test you to no end. That is what a child does. Then you get mad that the mom and dad want to step in and help raise their children.<br /><br />What kind of strange nanny are you?Phoenixhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15540701992730212772noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32916951.post-69036518164608513812011-09-26T15:09:36.306-04:002011-09-26T15:09:36.306-04:00I agree with the live-out comment. I had a bad exp...I agree with the live-out comment. I had a bad experience like yours and I simply, under no circumstances will ever live in again. You get no privacy and they know they have the leverage because you're living in their house, especially after you move in. Start looking ASAP. If part of you would like to stay with this family, sit them down and tell them you need to actually have a written contract and put new terms on them--for starters, an hourly pay, since they were unable to stay inside the parameters you both agreed on and you have been taken advantage of. Secondly, review the housework duties, and what "off duty" really means (hint: it means off duty!). If they don't receive this well, then pack up and peace out and stop living in!Nanny Snoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32916951.post-29878128866625366672011-09-26T14:46:53.814-04:002011-09-26T14:46:53.814-04:00Miss Mannah: I have been hired on the spot at time...Miss Mannah: I have been hired on the spot at times, but I do agree with you. Selecting a person to care for one's precious child is a monumental decision and should not be taken lightly.<br /><br />I think some parents meet a terrific Nanny at times, and are so afraid she may be hired by another family and they don't want to lose her. ☼♥♥ Leslie ♥♥noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32916951.post-20763208373370766102011-09-26T12:57:09.699-04:002011-09-26T12:57:09.699-04:00you are been paid too little for this job, if i wa...you are been paid too little for this job, if i was you i would star looking for another one as soon as possible! so sorry about this, but you dont need the abuse.calinannynoreply@blogger.com