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| Screaming Inside by Annie Whatever |
Here's my stance: if I'm getting paid my lowest rate, no I won't do your laudry, clean your trashed house on Mondays, or wash the dirty dishes that you just can't seem to fit in the empty dishwasher (or the pot that you have left "soaking" for a week in the sink.) If I agreed to work my lowest rate, that means we agreed ahead of time that I will not be responsible for cleaning up after two grown adults. I will be pretty offended if you go back on your word and expect me to clean up after you. I will quit if I come over for my shift one day to find out (suprise!) You took a vacation day to "take the baby off my hands" and ask me to spend the day doing the things that your housekeeper (who you recently fired) used to do when she made almost 3 times as much as you pay me.
That being said, I'm a nanny, yes. I would not take a job as a maid or housekeeper. However, I'm not too good to do laundry or clean dirty dishes. If the family needs me to clean up after the parents too, that's fine, as long as it was discussed ahead of time and I am being compensated appropriately. Of course, there is a limit. I won't clean up after a family of slobs who leave their dirty underwear on the table. Don't poop on the floor. Rinse your dishes and put them in the dishwasher. Throw your trash away. And for the love of Nannygod, don't leave your lovemaking tools out. Act like a responsible adult, clean up after yourself, have respect for this expensive home of yours, and I would be glad to get paid 6 extra dollars an hour to do your laundry, cook dinner, and vacuum once a week when the cleaners don't come.
Let's not be spoiled. There's nothing wrong with housework. Many jobs include cleaning. (To state a few: waitressing, receptionist, nurse, paramedic, fast food, cooking at a restaurant, caregiver, day care center) It comes with the territory of being a nanny. If you don't like it, this might not be the job for you. A little advice from me: be clear about your expectations in your interview. If you want to be paid extra for housework, tell them how much. If you don't want to do housework period, tell them that, and don't agree to do "light housekeeping." -Nannyrobot
