Wednesday

Los Gatos Public Library in Los Gatos, CA

Received Wednesday, March 21, 2007
Several nannies were at the library last Friday and were all behaving badly. The nannies were all talking, not paying attention in story time and making so much noise that a toddler turned and hushed them. They continued talking and caused a real distraction for the children. They didn't participate in any of the songs and at the end of the session the story teller asked them all to keep their conversations to a minimum next week. Mind you this is the story time for the 2 and under crowd. If you nanny goes to story time on Fridays - you should tell her to behave herself.

16 comments:

Anonymous said...

It's not fair to say "several" nannies and lump them all into one. I'm sure there are nannies there who were doing great. So next time, include a description please. For you to tell parents that their nannies need to behave themselves when their nanny could have very well been paying attention to her charge is misleading and wrong.

Anonymous said...

were they being disruptive in English or their native tongues?

Anonymous said...

The first comment is probable one of the disruptive nannies or a nanny herself. Second, as a parent of 2 children, I feel it necessary to say: If your nanny does not speak the same language as you and your child; then of course you are going to have problems! This is why licensed daycare will always be better than your own nanny. Most 'nannies' don't even speak the english language, so how do you expect to communicate "Hey I don't like what you are doing with my kids or anything for that matter." Anyway, don't leave your kids with someone you can't even communicate with and can't seem to be able to sit through a story time at the library.

Anonymous said...

If you read the post, 4:32, the OP says that there were "several" nannies present, and of those "several" all were behaving badly.

I don't know if this is true or not, but it does seem to make your point moot.

Anonymous said...

It doesn't matter wheather it was English or not the point is they were being rude and not engaging with the children like they were supposed to be doing.

Anonymous said...

The xenophobes are back again.

Anonymous said...

wow someone really likes the word xenophobe. I am guessing someone called her one, she cringed, not knowing what it was, ran home and googles it and now throws it around in EVERY conversation she has.

A dislike for rude people has nothing to do with being xenophobic.

Idiot.

Anonymous said...

It might matter whether it was English or some other language that they were babbling in for descriptive purposes.

Anonymous said...

I think it was more than likely foreign nannies because American citizens have been schooled from the getgo to know that being quiet is the rule in all libraries.

Anonymous said...

FG: I'm not sure your logic works, being quiet is the norm in all libraries.

I used to take the 2-year-old I care for to a music class on Friday mornings. I was one of only two nannies in the class, and I was driven out of my mind by the fact that the mothers would sit and chat loudly with one another through the whole class. It was so rude to the instructor, who really went out of his way to make the class engaging for the kids.

This is, of course, not to excuse the nannies behavior. Rudeness is rudeness and frequently the only way to deal with it is to point it out clearly to the people doing it. I had to finally speak up and ask the mothers to not talk because my charge was distracted by their gossip. They listened to me because they were ashamed to have it pointed out by someone other than the teacher (who had asked them to be quiet every class with it having no effect).

I think that the OP should have said something then and there to the nannies. It would have been much more effective than posting it here and hoping a parent reads it.

Anonymous said...

In a movie theatre, I have NO problem telling someone to be quiet.

Anonymous said...

I am the first poster and no I am not one of the "disruptive nannies" since I am on the other side of the country! And no, I am not a nanny, I am a teacher and a parent.
I used to be a nanny and when I went to story hour at the local library (with all american people there) the moms used to be the ones to chat loudly. I was the only nanny who came to the workshop and I couldn't believe the parent's behavior.
And to clarify, the OP said, "If you nanny goes to story time on Fridays - you should tell her to behave herself.", implying that any nanny at story time should be told that. So I do not agree that my point was moot.

Anonymous said...

Well, she did name THE library and said all the nannies were participating in the mayhem, so I would think only parents whose children would have been at that particular story hour would have cause to be concerned about their nanny's behavior. The OP stated several times that they 'were all talking' and 'were all behaving badly'. Seems clear enough.

Anonymous said...

Personally, I would have confronted the nannies and told them to quiet down. Or had a talk with the librarian about banning them. I have even on occasion gotten up during storytime to go make the rude, unatteded child who will not sit down, sit! Usually the parent/nanny is a few feet away just watching with a blank stare while all the little ones start fussing because they can't see thru the obnoxious child.

And fg, I too will tell people to shut up in the movie theatre. Opening night of Star Wars Eps. One, some rude girls behing my husband and myself would NOT shut up. It was the first time I ever yelled at someone. I'm embarased to admit this, but I screamed "Shut the F#$# UP!!" Scared the heck out of her. Yeah, the theatre was really quiet after that. Ah, youth. I would never be that rude anymore, and have since calmed back down to mere shushes. Don't mess with me and my $12 ticket, $15 combo meal and anticipation of a new movie. (oh, and on the record, i don't shush at childrens movies...that is to be expected)

Anonymous said...

I have been a nanny for almost 10 years and I take exception to the person who said that most 'nannies' dont speak english!! Maybe you should get out more often, and see who is actually out there, because I speak english pretty darn well, and so do all of the other nannies I associate with. After reading the first posting again, where did the person mention that they werent speaking english.

It seems to me like you were prehaps done down by a nanny in the past, maybe you need to let go of your anger??!!!

Anonymous said...

I also am insulted and disgusted by these comments. I work in Los Gatos and have been for 10+ years. I am native born, speak English, and am insulted by the ignorance of the OP. I have multiple college degrees in CD, child psychology, and more. People like you that have no respect for others is disgusting. Try to think before you speak or make assumptions. I have met many "mothers" who do the same if not worse. Instead of assuming... confront them and make a change. It doesn't matter if your a nanny or a parent. If anyone is being rude or not treating children correctly, I will always confront them and make change. I also would always give people the benefit of "not knowing or realizing" that what they are doing is disturbing to others. That makes it alot easier to address people if you think that way.