Riverside County Park in Lyndhurst, NJ

Received Wednesday, October 25, 2006

One very nasty nanny yesterday afternoon in the park and was quite clueless as to how to interact with a child. The child who was about 8 with a thick matt of hair and a very light yellow polo shirt and blue jeans. While he was playing, she was sitting and reading which was fine because he is older. But her break did nothing to ready her for dealing with him.
When the nanny told him to go, she called out his name and snapped her hand quickly like 3 times. Seemingly okay with being summoned like a dog, he ran/skipped to where she was and asked for 10 more minutes. The nanny said "oh no". In such an unpleasant way. Then the child said, "Your mean" to which she said "Your ugly, whatcha gonna do to change that". I looked for signs that the nanny was kidding and did not see. With that the kid ran off to go play. She hollered for him three times and he ignored her until the boy he was playing with told him he should run back to the nanny. The little boy he was playing with seemed frozen and didn't want to play with this child, not in sight of this nanny who was anything but warm and pleasant. This child is old enough to tell his parents how the nanny treats him-which in my obersvation was not at all nice. I just hope the parents listen!

Wilton, CT - parking lot behind CVS drugstore

Tuesday October 24th, 2006
Time: Around 11:45am

Little blonde girl, maybe 3 years old or there abouts with her hair up in one or two ponytails, with an older nanny (maybe in her 50s or 60s) - nanny was short and stocky; she looked Filipina or Hispanic and had short curly black hair.
I was starting to back my car out of my parking space, and the little girl and her nanny must have just gotten out of their car. The nanny was distracted with something and the little girl was just standing in the parking lot.

The second Isaw the girl, I stopped my car, because I know kids can dash out behind a car that's backing up (I have a 2-year-old myself) .... and basically I was waiting for the nanny to take the girl's hand so I could safely back up. The nanny definitely took her time but finally took the little girl's hand and walked awaywith her.

So this wasn't a cut-and-dried case of "OMG abusive nanny," but if I were this girl's mother I would want to know that the nanny is not really paying attention in parking lots, and God knows the way some people drive in parking lots(speeding, backing up without looking, driving giant SUVs with poor visibility right around them) - I thought this girl was at an age where she should be better supervised in a parking lot. She was behaving well and staying close to the car, but the nanny really needed to be more attentive.

Daffy's on Madison & 53rd in NYC

Monday, October 23, 2006
Daffy's again? I had never noticed this problem until today when I ran to Daffy's on my lunch hour. I understand a nanny running her errands during the day, some of them work very long hours; so please take this in the spirit is intended. The nanny wore leggings with fringed boots, had a very phony red color of hair with a french looking hat on. She was very definitely the nanny as I heard her complain to her friend about the child no less than 5 times. This nanny was anglo, she had very trendy nail polish on in a dark berry color. She was carrying a trendy hand bag. She had her text messaging device out the whole time. She was in charge of the care of not one but 2 children. A boy and girl close in age. The boy was so obviously used to being just dragged around and denied interaction. The girl was younger, probably a year and a half. The nanny made such comments as "these kids are such a headache" and "It's Monday, is it Friday yet, please tell me I don't have 5 more days of this crap". Never mind this was all said in plain earshot of the children. They stuck near her which was odd because she didn't seem to take any extraordinary measures to make sure this happened. The boy three times said he was tired. Twice he said his legs hurt from walking and twice he asked if he could take a nap. The nanny and her similarly dressed friend winced in the general direction of the child but didn't respond. They were too busy talking about the weekend and tonight and a new guy that she had hoped to seal the deal with tonight. The stroller the girls sat in was loaded up with other bags. This isn't errand running. This is dragging the children out for way too long to suit your own needs. The nanny was in no hurry. Why would she have been since she ignored every plea the boy made? She didn't give a rat's a$$ about those kids and I was so seriously angry that it was all I could do to refrain myself from slapping her across her ridiculously made up face. It is the misfortune of a child to be born to a narcissist, but why would any parent hire on to take care of her children?

Garvey Park in Monterey Park, CA

Received Monday, October 23, 2006
Hispanic or Latina nanny driving a gold Ford Escape arrived and the child she had with her was about three and charged the winding slide right away. The nanny plopped down on a bench. Her body was terse. As she was ready to leap in action if need be. Or so I thought. In the time I was there, 2-3 other mothers and or nannies approached her and they had suspicious interactions. I am new to this whole area having just moved from Seattle. I wasn't sure what I was witnessing but I really felt like it was some sort of drug dealing going on. There was a white nanny, an African American Nanny. I can't be sure. I know it wasn't Tupperware. There was a lot of hush-hush talk and reaching in to pockets. Like I said, I am new to this area. I am a Latina myself and I don't intend to offend anyone but the tone of the park at this particular time (Monday 10/23 around 1230) was very near sinister.

Jeepers (indoor play park) in Baltimore, Maryland.

Received Monday, October 23, 2006
Jeepers in Baltimore, Maryland. On Saturday. Feel somewhat sorry for the nanny who looked exhausted. She probably works a 7 day week. She was taking care of "Evan". Jeepers is an indoor park with migrained inducing intensity. They try to reasonably ensure the safety but Evan was all over and his nanny was right behind him. She was there when my wife and I got there with our kids. We take turns. The nanny begged and pleaded with Evan to come and sit down and have something to eat. He said no. The nanny told Evan she was thirst and wanted to go get a drink. Evan said "go get one". The nanny did not leave him. She looked like she was close to tears and she fulfilled Evan's every wish. More money for Evan. "Hold my shoes", "Give me my shoes". As we were about to leave, the nanny was trying to get Evan to wrap it up to go home at which point he said "I demand that you call my mother, she will say that I can stay longer". The nanny didn't call too. Hell, even I knew why that mother would let Evan stay longer. I appreciated you nanny's patience. Do you? A saint would have lost patience with him but this slender African American, tall, with a very short pony tail, wearing levis and carrying a brown suede bag never left his side or even looked at him cross eyed.

New York Presbyterian Hospital

Received Monday, October 23, 2006
If you are a female doctor and have interviewed nanny candidates this weekend at your home in Brooklyn, know that one of your final candidates is counting on you NOT doing a background check. She thinks she has it in the bag and says of the interview "oh I was good. I was really good".

Brooklyn Heights Promenade

Monday, October 23, 2006
Sitting on Bench (city side) and later walking away. Opposite Side. Opposite direction. Blonde girl who was 2-ish in pink quilted jacket with feather like headdress around hood. Nanny was European. Very slim. Dark hair. No makeup. Wore a black vest over a grey shirt. The stroller was dark blue with bright yellow wheels. This was about 10:20 a.m. today (10/23). The nanny was sitting on the bench reading a paperback book with a blue-ish cover and had that writing that looked from the distance to be a suspense type novel. The child was parked so she could see out but she kept wanting to talk and ask questions about the water. And what she saw. Which building Daddy worked in. The nanny never looked up from the book and said "quiet now, shhhhh. shhhhhhh". When she did get up to leave with the child it was in a huff and she said to no one in particular (or to the child) "to get some peace and quiet I have to freeze my ass off. And even then". This was said with a European accent and punctuated with an annoyed sigh.

Kohl's, Port Chester, NY

Saturday, October 21, 2006
I saw a nanny shopping this morning at Kohls with a little girl. The little girl was white with curly reddish/brown hair and wore a white long sleeved red t-shirt with a red heart on it and words written inside the heart in script. This is not so much a bad nanny story so much as it as an amusing story. I was in the kid's section alone and leisurely looking through the girls clothing rack. The nanny was pointing out things and helping her pick something that would feel soft and was pretty. She was very in to the little girl, the word doting comes to mind. Anyway, a little boy was loose from his mother and kept going up to the little girl (who was holding the nanny's hand). The little boy would scream "argghhh" and "I am a monster and you're getting it". This little boy was a menace and his mother was not even in sight. He was about 6 or 7 and the little girl was about 4. The nanny, a middle aged African American with a strong build kept steering the girl away from the little boy as she was helping the little girl pick out pajamas. But the boy persisted. Finally the nanny told the boy, "you go on now". I exchanged exhausted looks with the nanny across the the clothing racks. The little boy disappeared for a bit and then was back. This time, he snuck up and stuck his arm out from between some clothing and tugged on the little girls hair. The little girl said "ohhh" and the nanny whipped around and grabbed his hand and bent down to him and said, "if you ever touch this little girl again, I will snap your hands off and boil them". A but harsh, but I was laughing my ass off. Who ever employs that nanny need not worry about her daughter being well taken care of. Maybe she deserves a Saturday off or a Kohl's gift certificate for herself?

Palo Alto, California

Received Saturday October 21, 2006
This is to the family who has the heavyset middle aged caucasian women with the dark curly hair and the hippie outfits as their nanny pick up their kids at a small private school in Palo Alto, California. She is very inconsiderate of the drive through lane at pickup time. She insists on not pulling all the way forward. She parks in the shade and reads before pickup and lets cars back up into the busy street. Tell her she needs to have more consideration. I know that the admin that patrol the parking lot have asked her on more than one occasion to move. She does not seem to care that other people have to cause a huge traffic jam on the road.
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But is she good to the children? -Jane Doe

Brookfield, Wisconsin

Received Saturday, October 21, 2006
Have you seen my nanny? She is a retired teacher and social worker who helps me part time so I can still work enough to provide my family with insurance benefits. She is kind , loving, patient, imaginative, and sooooooo wonderful to my daughter. I do not ask her to do laundry, cleaning, errands, or cooking. I always have enough food prepared so all she has to do is heat it up for my daughter. I always encourage her to eat what ever she wants from our home yet whe always takes time to pack her own lunch with treats she thinks my daughter will enjoy. I do not have a lot of money so I am sure what I pay her is not what the high powered NY and CA nannies earn but I try to give as much as I can. She rewards my daughter with the best care in the world. She packs a play bag with her every time from her home with new and exciting toys that stimulate my daughter. You know how other people's toys are always more exciting. They go to the park, the museums, swimming, the zoo, and the library. Any one who sees her tells me how great she is with my daughter and I thank God for her every day. I always leave my car for her to travel with my daughter if they want to take an outing. I make available to her our country home so her and her partner can get away and enjoy. All employers are not evil and misuse their helpers and not all nannies are lazy and in turn abusive and uncaring. My daughter has an excellant role model when I am gone (about 6 days a month) and if she grows up to be half the person my nanny is I will be blessed. I hope she sitcks with us and that as my situation improves I can pass it on to her. THANK YOU Barbara a million times over. Your saved us!!!!

Larchmont, New York

Received Friday, October 20, 2006
Sharon. White Nanny. From Texas.
Drives Subaru red Forrester.
Has had 4 nanny jobs in the last year.
Now taking care of a baby between 4 months-8 months.
Drives car WITH baby from her boss's house in Larchmont to White Plains where she buys "northern lights" (allegedly good pot) from a dealer named Rudy. Never met her. My nanny knows her. She picked up my nanny one Saturday in Sept to go out. My nanny ended up calling me on a Sunday at three in the morning to ask if we could leave money for her to take a cab home since the driver was incapacitated and she was afraid to ride with her. I have requested that my nanny not have her at our home.
**PS Am told, she only smoked AFTER work.

Pacific Heights, San Francisco, CA

Recieved Friday, October 20, 2006
Corner of Sacramento and Laguna at the bus stop.
Nanny: Asian, 30-40 yrs. old.
Children: 1 caucasian boy ~3-4 yrs. old.... caucasian infant 9 mos. -
1yr old.

My wife and I were walking toward the bus stop when we noticed that the
3-4 year old boy was carrying the infant horizontally across his
outstretched arms and really struggling with the weight of the infant.
The 3-4 year old was shifting the infant around, and having real trouble
such that we though the infant would be dropped on the cement sidewalk
(head landing first). The nanny saw what was happening, but turned
around to wait for the bus.

I have a 6-year old and have seen plenty of falls.... this one would
have been really bad. I was really afraid for that infant. I was
astounded the nanny saw what was going on and didn't see the potential
danger there.

Armonk, NY

Received Friday, October 20, 2006
My brother used to date this nanny who was a live-in and worked in Armonk. The family that she worked for treated her really nice. She made/makes a great salary and really has it made. I won't say her name but she is white, American and attractive and not quite 25 and likes to spend the weekends in the city. My brother with says that he used to sneak in their house, climbing through a laundry room window. He tells some pretty sordid stories involving the misuse of the house. But this is what cracks me up. He was helping his best friend fix up this house his mother had bought up in Peekskill. On two different occasions when the nanny's Armonk employers were away, my brother and this guy drive over to the Armonk house and rip out some of their shrubs, flowers, vegetation, tree seedlings, etc. I can't imagine the size of the property these people had but he claims he totally landscaped his mother's house. And these people didn't notice? Thank goodness for them the nanny at least seemed like she was in to the kids. Wake up parents!

Help Shape the Future of National Nanny Credentialing- Janice St. Clair

The NANA, the National Association for Nanny Accreditation, is now NANC, the National Association for Nanny Care.

Goals of NANC
-To raise the overall quality of nanny care.
-To raise the public's awareness of the nanny as a childcare professional.
-To provide real world guidelines regarding hiring practices, working conditions, and compensation for nannies.
-To maintain an inclusive, responsive professional organization that represents the needs of all segments of the nanny profession.
-To develop and maintain a comprehensive 3 tier nanny credential system built on research-based, generally accepted standards of care and essential core knowledge areas.
-To promote the credentialed nanny as the standard for in-home childcare providers.

Join now, if you're not already a member! Help make quality care the norm, give parents an easy way to recognize and select a qualified nanny as their child's caregiver. YOU DO NOT HAVE TO JOIN IN ORDER TO GIVE YOUR INPUT! We invite all visitors and posters to this site, as advocates for quality childcare, to connect with us and give their thoughts on our proposed system.

On October 7th, the National Association for Nanny Care introduced the template for our 3 tier nanny credential system at Nannypalooza. It was welcomed with great excitement and enthusiasm. We'll continue introducing the credential system to the nanny community and public through a series of conference calls. Click here for a complete schedule. This is the time to become familiar with the credential system, ask questions, tell us what you like and what you don't.Your input is very important to us so please take the time to join us on a call. This is your opportunity to have a real impact on the final credential system. Call NANC at 202 318-9156 or email us.

Sincerely,
Janice

Outside Ridgeland Common in Oak Park, Illinois

Thursday, October 19, 2006
Leaving indoor playground located at Ridgeland Common, Oak Park, Illinois.
AA nanny in silver slicker type jacket and blue jeans with little girl who had yellow jacket on and yellow boots. The little girl's hair was long and very staticky so maybe she was inside tumbling around? The little girl was white and looked Irish. Freckles. Between 3-5. There was a man passing by with (large, black) a dog who said something like "Hey". The nanny was attractive and dressed in neat and trendy clothing. She stopped and chatted for like two minutes. During which time the child cowered in fear of the dog. The nanny and the guy spoke about the dog and he told her the dog would not hurt her and that she could pet him. The little girl did not want to pet the dog and the nanny MADE the little girl pet the dog. Don't know if that is how nanny types score points with guys trying to pick up or what, but don't make a little girl pet a dog! I mean the nanny took her hand and made her pet the dog. She was TREMBLING. WTF? Even the guy looked uncomfortable with the nanny's conduct at that point.

Tuesday Morning in Walnut Creek, Ca

Thursday, October 19, 2006
Your nanny (Hispanic, med height, huge smile, long eyelashes, about 40) was with your child (boy, white, curly hair, blue eyes, wearing a Cubs t-shirt and possibly 4) were buying a Blender. The four year old had so many questions while in the store. About irons. Toasters. Garden Equipment. It was clear the nanny had a time constraint but she tried to answer every question. She joked with the child. He was laughing hysterically at one point. If you have a nanny that can make an errand that much fun for a four year old, hang on to her. Watching her with your son made me smile!

I saw your nanny ..... leaving...for good

Received Thursday, October 20, 2006
I am your nanny. While it is technically impossible to see myself. I do. I seem myself starting earlier and earlier and working later and later. I see that this does not register on your face. You know- that my time is valuable. I see myself every afternoon helping your six year old son with his homework because God forbid, there be some left over when you walk in the door. He is afraid of your screaming intolerance, you know? Everyday, I see you leave lists for me. The tasks grow more and more menial. I signed a contract. It didn't involve setting the table or starting dinner or making dinner and it certainly didn't involve staying until after dinner so that I could wash your dishes. Isn't it enough that you leave your crusty hodge podge of la perla and target undergarments heaped on the washer knowing that I will wash them without even being asked? For ten months, I have done everything that you have asked of me and more. I work late without notice and without pay. I take phone messages, supervise other workers who show up. I washed your car last week. Here at the house. With a hose. Just like you asked. I take your son to school. I keep your daughter with me always. I take your daughter to the park every day. I seek out adventurous places to take her. Places that might capture her imagination and stimulate her mind. You did realize that on your birthday I got you a bottle of your favorite perfume? Granted, it was only $70 dollars but would a thank you have been so hard to muster up? When for my birthday, I received a $25 dollar gift certificate to Sam Goody, I hand wrote you a thank you note. Every day for ten months I have walked in to your house and given 120 percent only to have you look down your nose at me and think of humiliating tasks to assign to me. Tomorrow is Friday. And the next time someone see YOUR nanny, (me) she will be working for a family that will be paying her $200 more a week, with zero housekeeping responsibilities and only one child. I hate to leave without notice or anything, but your just so cruel and unpredictable. Ciao.

San Ramon, California

Received Thursday, October 20, 2006
I work as a nanny in San Ramon, California. I have observed a nanny who lives *quite* nearby on a regular base, encouraging the two boys that she nannies for to fight. I have seen them *around* their house. This play goes beyond the normal fighting as the nanny acts like a WWF coach and encourages them on. Because of the set up of *the homes* in this area, this does not happen in plain sight. Rather this is the kind of thing that is revealed when you hear a noise and check further in to it. My boss whom I have worked for for three years and am quite close has also noticed this behavior. She and I have even talked about it but neither of us wants to be slapped with an MYOB. Reading this blog, I am shocked that even anonymously, people are screamed at for submitting what they feel is a concern to the child's well being. But here it goes, the nanny you have had since the end of the summer is encouraging your children to fight on a near daily basis. This goes beyond usual fun and games. Listening to her comments and whooping and hollaring, I feel she gets some sort of sadistic delight from these fights-which she stages. Your boys are in second and fourth grades. I hope this is enough information for you the parent to look closer at the new nanny.

Jack in the Box on Mission Street, San Francisco, CA

Received Thursday, October 19, 2006
Saw this just yesterday at the Jack in the Box on Mission Street. One nanny who I would guess was Puerto Rican based on her accent. She wore a yellow t-shirt, olive green pants and black tennis shoes. She had a little boy with her who was in the neighborhood of three and they were sitting at the table next to us. The nanny had an angry look on her face the whole time. She had an argument on her cell phone with someone when she sat down with the child. Then she got up to order and left the child at the table. Then she sits down. He got a hamburger with catsup and said "but there's catsup" on it. She huffed and grabbed the burger and using her dirty finger just swiped the catsup off the bun. The catsup glob that remained on her finger, she flung AT the child. And not in a funny way. The boy said "hey". I give him credit because he tried to sound happy with it. She said back "hey yourself". They sat eating in silence EXCEPT when her cell phone rang. And guess what, it was you. How do I know this? She didn't swear or shout in the phone. She spoke in a kind and gentle voice. And that 30 second conversation was the only time I heard that voice. The boy asked her "what can we do later" and she made some lame remark like "I don't know what you can do later, but I aint doin nothing". If she was trying to be funny, it was not funny. When the child had to go to use the restroom, she told him to "go one now" but didn't even glance in his direction. When my daughter turned around to say hi to the little boy, the nanny screeched at the boy (who had said nothing), "you leave that girl alone now and eat your food". Is this harshness necessary? I am guessing this is what a 400 dollars a week gets you in the nanny world. No thank you!
If she can turn it on to talk so nicely to you, why not for your child? Because she doesn't think she is being watched, right? Wrong.

Central Park picnic

Thursday, October 19, 2006
Nanny and child on Blue Striped Beach Towel or Blanket at around 11/12 today. The nanny was laying on her elbow enjoying the day with the child. The garbage can was about 200 feet away. The nanny and child were eating lunch and all seemed well until clean up time came about. The little girl who was in my best estimate 3 or 4 was charged with throwing out the garbage. The first time the nanny pointed to the garbage can. The child made three trips. During the last two trips by the child, the nanny was facing the opposite direction (watching a shirtless man, BTW). Anything could have happened to that child. The nanny was plain lazy. Even after they sat for a while longer,I could see that. When they were ready to go the nanny sat up and pointed at things scattered on the blanket and the child scurried to get them and bring them to her so she could pack them away. Don't we lead by example anymore? One last note, I had my eye on the girl the whole time because it was a crowded environment and I felt obligated to watch out for the child since the nanny was not. The nanny was wearing blue jeans and white Keds. She had a knee length sweater on and the child had dark hair, medium complexion, huge brown eyes and was wearing a pink corduroy skirt and white sweatshirt that zipped up and had decorations on it.