Baffled in Buffalo, NY

samcarterart.com

I have a problem. I relocated to Western New York from Boston, Mass. with my husband who is doing his residency at a hospital here. Him doing his residency requires that I work, of course. I always have. In Boston, I worked for 7 years as a nanny. At my first nanny job, I made $600 a week. At the last one, $950. I have a four year degree in early childhood education. I am really concerned that there are people posing as NANNIES who are asking for $20 and $25 a day here.

I can't figure out how this is. I went to talk to someone who used to place nannies (and now places temporary office workers) and she said, the people nannying are usually on welfare and food stamps. They get medicaid for themselves and their children. They might even be on section 8. So $125 a week is just party money because all of their needs are met.

Are you kidding me? I have to support my husband and I and pay rent on a $900 apartment, plus utilities.food, car insurance on two cars and one car payment.  Why doesn't the government go after these people? They are making it hard for real nannies to get work. They are exposing their children to questionable caregivers and they are bankrupting the United States. I got a job at a department store. I'm great with kids but I'm working in the menswear section of a department store. Don't worry my employer and I pay our taxes.

Has anyone else heard of these crap pseudo sitters wrecking the nanny market?
-Baffled in Buffalo

PS..I just set out on the online sites again. Care.com, sittercity.com, Craigslist.. What is wrong with people?
75$ a week nanny
$115 a week nanny

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To Low Salary Sets off Warning Bells for NYC Mom

I had the weirdest experience with a nanny interview I thought I would share because it was peculiar. I advertised in the paper and pre screened by phone. I set up interviews at a public location with just myself and the nanny. My ad listed the pay as DOE.

The first nanny I interviewed was, well a bit off. She was homely and kind of simple sounding, but when I asked her about childcare philosophies and work experience, her answers were on point. I indulged her a full interview because she seemed nice, if a bit fragile. When I brought up salary, I said, "We usually pay dependent on experience, and upon verifying that experience". She sat up and said, "Oh yes, they will all give me good references." I took the paper from her where she had listed two babysitting jobs and two nanny jobs.

I paused. She said, "Because of my experience and education, I can't take less than $8.00 an hour".

I interviewed the remaining candidates. Again we discussed salary at the end. The other rates for my job from people of similar age and experience were $16/hr, $18/hr and $22/hr. One woman suggested that she would work the prescribed hours (43) for $900 per week.

I went with the candidate that seemed like the best fit for my family, the $18/hr candidate. I remain curious, why was this American nanny in New York offering to work for as little as $8.00 an hour? I live in the Chelsea NYC area. I'm really curious about this.

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