Nanny Duties- Packing?

Hi! I am a younger nanny who is currently working for my first nanny family, I have an associates degree in ECE. I work with a one year old and a six year old. The family I work for travels often, at least once a month. This was something that was mentioned to me during the interview process and I am happy to report that I am always paid the same while they are traveling. My question is about packing for the children, which has never been discussed between me and my employers. I am expected to completely pack for them on my own and when they return I am expected to completely unpack. I am curious if this is a common nanny duty? Any and all input is appreciated!

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The Sou Chef

I am a nanny for a family in CT. This fall, the oldest child started first grade. I am home the rest of the day with a very demanding two year old. Keeping the house organized and keeping the child occupied including lots of appointments and classes for the kid keeps me busy.

Here's the sitch, which has become a problem.

In late summer, I decided to start eating healthy. I went on Pinterest and got a bunch of meal ideas. I started bringing salad to work in a jar. After some time, my boss took note of this. She asked me to make her one. Fine. Then another. Fine. Now I make her one every day plus, two on Friday for the weekend.

Can I just say, my salad was simple-tomato, red pepper, ham slices and lettuce.

She wants all of these things, in a complicated arrangement. I have to go out and buy these things which adds time on to my shopping routine and then cut, clean and process these foods. An example:
strawberry, blueberry, spinach, iceberg lettuce, cherry tomatoes, red onion, cucumber and avocado. Now, if I was making that for myself, it would be different because I would make the same thing for a few days in a row. But she asked me for this tomorrow. chicken breast, ("can you grill it on the grill this afternoon?"), bean sprouts, iceberg lettuce, shredded cheese, hominy, red pepper, green pepper and yellow pepper. And always with different dressings,

She continuously compliments me on my creations and creativity. She messages me during the day when she thinks of a combination. Even though the house is well stocked, I find myself having to go out for certain things on a regular basis.

She tells all of her friends how wonderful I am and how I have saved her and how she has more energy and feels great, how I am her "right hand", the best nanny and helper a person could have.

So how do I say...I'm over making you freaking salads?

No, but for real.

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Worst Nanny Expeirences- Part One

To read part II of this Feature, please click here.

1) I have bad jobs. And this was not that. It was just kind of sad. I had worked for a family for three years. We went on vacations together. I lived in an apartment over their garage. They treated me absolutely like a part of the family and they were really nice people raising great children. Just after I had been there three years, the wife started having an affair with “someone”. I knew about it because the wife who was my friend involved me in it. She made me part of it. She put me in a position where I lied to her husband who I considered a friend. I was closer to the mother because she was a stay at home mother but I felt sick all of the time. Sometimes the husband would be talking to me about a child’s baseball game and I would just feel that he could see it in my eyes. I didn’t want to be there when the husband found out and the children. I just feared they would all fall apart and be ruined by this. The stress was getting to me. I ended up making up a lie about a sick relative and needing to relocate and left. I kept in contact with them by sending emails for about 3 months, but it was too much to even wonder how the children were fairing (as the mother let some things through). She clearly had fallen for the guy she had an affair with. I had to cut ties with them so I could live without the guilt.

2) I worked for a family of 5 kids (twins and triplets). The job started out good, I was hired by an agency and there was suppose to be a contract with the family (never happened). I did normal nanny things like laundry, care of kids...but as time went on (I stayed with them for 4 years) they began to take advantage of the situation. I started taking care of their two dogs(1 being a new puppy), cooking, I did not have set hours-I pretty much worked 60+ hours a week, mopped and vacuumed. Sometimes I was so busy with the list of things she left me to do, that the kids would ask me to play and I couldn't because I had to get these things done. Not to mention that I got paid horribly (400/wk). In all fairness though I was a live-in and I do understand that live-ins sometimes has to go above and beyond what they should do. I did bring the fact that I was working very hard to my boss’s attention several times and her response was amongst other things "we don't think that we are asking too much from you". I have since moved on to another position (this was one of the hardest things I have ever had to do because I loved and still love the kids so much!!!) Parents please be aware that nannies are NOT housekeepers! Nannies are supposed to be taking care of the children and doing housekeeping that pertains to the children only! Also keep in mind that we are people too and sometimes need a break...just like you!

3) Worst job I ever had was taking a job for a recently widowed woman and her two children. If it sounds sad, you have no idea. The woman held it together okay as did the older boy but the youngest boy was not doing at all okay. He was acting out. Even violently. I had a lot of empathy for the whole situation and family. I left after the 7 year old child through a corning ware casserole dish (ceramic) at my head and knocked me out cold. I had to go to the hospital. The good news is they got him the help he needed after that. I always wonder how they are doing and I know I could find out if I tried, I would just be afraid to learn that they weren’t all okay.

4) I worked for an alcoholic man once................ (click here to continue reading Part I of Worst Nanny Experiences)