Polling All Nannies

Received Wednesday, December 10, 2009
As for everyone, our funds are very limited this year. We have an amazing nanny and are trying to figure out the best form of raise/bonus to give her. Christmas is also her two year anniversary.

Her starting net salary was $600. After 3 months, it went up to $625. At one year anniversary/Christmas 2008, we gave her a bonus of one week's salary and raised her weekly pay to $675.

This year, I am trying to decide the best combination of raise/bonus to give her. I can't really afford either, but she deserves them so I need to find a way.

Should I do:
1. Raise to $725 and one week's bonus
2. Raise to $700 and bonus of 1.5 weeks
3. No Raise, but a bonus of 2 weeks salary

Option 1 will work out to the most money for her over the course of the year, but I don't know if she will be offended at not having an increased bonus.

Any thoughts?

Glen Mills, PA

Received Wednesday, December 9, 2009

Where: Oasis Family Fun in Glen Mills, PA
Who: White nanny with orange-died hair, wearing camouflauge hat on her head, tight cargo pants and black sweater and army style boots.
The Child: A brunette, white toddler with very blunt cut hair, wide face, freckles, approximately aged 20-28 months wearing a tigger sweatshirt, dark blue pants and brown shoes.
What: The nanny completely ignored the child as she tried to text on her phone and make plans. If you don't know this nanny by her description, you will know her by the fact that her boyfriend's birthday is tomorrow and she is trying to get off at 5PM. I heard it all. She called, texted and ignored your child. She bought a drink and when the child came to share with her, she was greedy and yanked it from the child. There was nothing else offered to the child. Bad, bad nanny!
When: Tuesday, mid afternoon.

Gifting Required?

Received Wednesday, December 9, 2009
I know that there is an upcoming posting about holiday bonuses, but I'm wondering what families expect from their nannies around Christmas time. Generally I give gifts at birthdays and such, but am always at a loss around Christmas since most of the families I've worked for don't celebrate it due to religious reasons. This year however my situation is a bit different and I need some advice.

I recently quit my job (an entire other posting that maybe I'll share someday), and have been lucky enough to find a new one quickly. However it doesn't begin full time until January 4, 2010. This month (December) I am going to be working for them for 2 weeks as a transition. They have a 3 month old baby and he is their first child. I'm really excited to work for them, I believe we are going to be well suited for one another.

So my question is this, what do I do for a gift? They are Jewish (not strict) and I'm unsure what the tradition is with Christmas. Should I do a simple card? Possibly buy the baby a book? What seems appropriate since I'm not even working for them full time yet? I don't expect any sort of bonus or gift from them, but I want to at least acknowledge the holiday.

Explaining to a Child the Difference Between Mom and Their Beloved Nanny

Received Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Sorry this isn't a sighting, but I'm hoping to get help with a situation I'm having. I've been a nanny for my current family for about a year and a half. I watch two wonderful kids ages 2 and 4. Overall it is a good work situation and I adore the children, and they are very attached to me. That's part of the problem. We've gone through several phases of the kids wanting me not their parents, or crying when I had to leave, and though I'm sure it hurt the parents' feelings, they've understood and eventually the phase ended.

However, now I have a bit of a problem. The parents have always referred to me as part of the kids family. (They used that word, not me, because I didn't want to put myself into a position I did not belong in.) So the kids now refer to me as part of their family, and I'm honored, but with the holidays we're having a problem. The day before Thanksgiving while I was doing a Thanksgiving craft with the kids, the 2 year old asked about me being at their house for Thanksgiving dinner. I tried to explain that Thanksgiving is a good day to spend with family and that they'd be with their parents and grandparents and I'd be with my family. She seemed okay with the answer, but on Thanksgiving day through a huge fit because I wasn't there to be with them (the parents told me about it Monday).

I'm wondering how to explain the difference between blood family and a nanny who loves them to the kids. I don't want her to have another fit at Christmas, but I don't want her to think I don't love her. How do other nannies or employers explain the lack of the nanny's presence at holidays to kids? Any help would be appreciated.

Losing Pay When a Child is Sick...

Received Tuesday, December 8, 2009
I have a question. I am a nanny for a family with one child. I love my job and the family I work for treats me very well. However, there is one area of concern. The child has been sick with a mild cold and MB wanted to stay home with him. Ok, no problem. But now I'm being told that she wants to stay home with him all week and that I will not be compensated for this week. This leaves me with zero income for this week. I have been a nanny for several families over the past 7 years and have always been paid for things like this. Things that are beyond my control. We do have a contract but it only covers my sick days. Any thoughts on this matter?

It's Back...

We have received many requests to repeat the annual Nanny bonus survey. If you are a nanny and would like to share with us what you received for a bonus this year, please email us or send us a text message using meebo. If you are an employer and would like us to know what you are giving your nanny as a bonus this year, we want to hear from you, too.

Please Include:
Bonus this year (2009):
Your Weekly Salary:
Any Supplementary Gifts aside from The Bonus:
Length of Time you Have worked for the Family:
City, State and Country:

We will wait to print the results until Saturday, Dec. 26 to make sure everyone has time to get their submissions in.
To read ISYN Bonus Surveys from previous years, click below:
Holiday Bonus Feature, Part I December 2006
Holiday Bonus Feauture, PART II December 2006
Holiday Bonus Feature 2007-Part 1 December 2007
Holiday Bonus Feature 2007 Part II December 2007
Holiday Bonus Feauture 2008- Part I December 2008
Holiday Bonus Feature 2008- Part II December 2009

CL-WTF?

Saturday, December 5, 2009

.... WHAT?!

1) After School Care Needed for Boy (Seattle)
Our situation: I'm a single mom who works third shift (11pm-6am) for Boeing. My son is an independent kid of 12, who if left to his own devices, would play video games, eat me out of house and home, and run all over to various friends' houses. Unfortunately, I have to sleep during the day and can't always be up to supervise! ;) What I'm looking for is someone to watch my son in the afternoons after school while I'm sleeping. You would need to make sure he does his chores, takes out the dog, does his homework, and does his laundry. No need to cook him dinner, as he's perfectly capable of doing it--I taught him how to cook and do laundry at an early age. Just make sure his "dinner" isn't 4 bowls of cereal. Feel free to play video games with him after chores, watch a movie, or just hang out with him. He's an interesting little soul--he's just 12 and he needs to be supervised to make sure he gets his responsibilities taken care of and he stays on task. He's extremely bright, engaging, and talking to him is generally like talking to an adult. This isn't "babysitting" in the classic sense--more like "protecting a 12 year old from himself." ;)
Your gender is unimportant--he may even relate better to a male. I would prefer, however, that mature people apply. No teenagers, please.
No housecleaning necessary unless you feel like earning extra (I certainly am willing to pay more if you feel like cleaning!) I don't mind if you have a child of your own and need to bring him or her with you. Alex is extremely good with younger children. You'll need to be familiar with pre-teen boys, if possible, and be okay with dogs (We have a small Pomeranian/Yorkie mix who loves to cuddle).
Pay is negotiable--I have no idea what to offer, so you tell me what you'd charge for 2-3 hours of care per day, and we'll go from there!
Original URL: http://seattle.craigslist.org/sno/dmg/1493691275.html
_______________________________________________________________
Special thanks to MissDee, mbargielski, hijabiniqaabi, live.moxie, missmannah, afnt81 and SFClaire for their help this week... we really appreciate the time you spent looking for these Ads... great job! Remember, CL-WTF will be Posted every Saturday. Please send next weeks Ads HERE or use MEEBO.

TO READ THE REST OF THIS WEEKS SUBMISSIONS: PLEASE CLICK HERE!

Good Nanny Sighting at CHKD - Va. Beach, Va.

Received Saturday, December 5, 2009
Every week my son has a speech appointment at the CHKD outpatient office at Kempsville in Norfolk, Virginia. Our appointments are set to the same time and date every week. I keep coming across a nanny and a little girl; she is about 6 or 7 and always well dressed. She walks in a yellow walker with Dora the Explorer stickers. (incidentally she told me her nanny helped her put the stickers on her walker and she is learning with crutches (hot pink!) and the nanny also helped sticker them.) I am always amazed at how skilled and professional this young woman is. The nanny is always well dressed for her job, in jeans and some sort of nice shirt. She is extremely attentive to her little girl and claims to have been with her for just over seven years! She is very quick to correct any negative behavior in a quiet, nonthreatening way. She was also quick to point out that she was the nanny, not mom. She then reinforced, to the little girl, that the parents missed her more than words and are very proud of her. When I asked my child's teacher about the nanny, the teacher did not know her personally but had nothing but wonderful things to say about her. The teacher told me that the little girl had been coming to the office for years, at times 3 and 4 days a week, and the nanny has kept her motivated through it all. She learned exercises, equipment, and development. Part of me hopes her family is treating her very well, but part of me does not.I will soon be having my second child and I hope to offer her a package that convinces her to move our way!

Madison Sq. Park by the Fountain - NY

Received Friday, December 4, 2009
Haitan Nanny wearing Levi denim jacket, red shirt, dragging a 4 yr old boy by his arm. The boy was blonde with long hair, wearing a green jacket and brown boots with a light up tractor on them. 3:30 PM, Thurs Dec 3.

Out With the Old and In With the New

Received Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Has anyone ever heard of such a problem? I am the stepmother to be of a father of three children. Mother has been in and out of their lives since the youngest was 1. She has spent time in rehab, time in a mental institution and has been living in Australia for the past 2 years with no contact to the children. She has no rights to the children. The oldest child is now 11.

They have had the same nanny for the past three years. She was also there nanny for two years, previously- with a one year lapse in service. The nanny is a good nanny. She is the sort of nanny many a family would be happy to scoop up. But as the soon to be stepmother of these children, I don't think she fits in. She has had Thanksgiving with the family the past two years. I suggested to my soon to be husband that she not come this year and he was not happy with the idea. We have not been together long and our engagement is expected to be short. He thought we should include her this year and gradually phase her out. The children are crazy for this woman. There is no question that they prefer her over me. The nanny that tries to make a big show about trying to include me in her activities with the children. For example, making mini pumpkin pies. I think she enjoyed that I was the fifth wheel. I think she enjoys that she knows there whole history and that the children go to her for their questions and everything.

I work full time now, so I have to decide what to do. My career is important to me, but if I go to work, I am rather certain we need to hire a new nanny. One that comes in to our life, rather than me coming in to their lives. Not that I think anyone should be made to feel like an outsider, but I definitely should not. From the youngest one, I have had to put up with such things as "I don't want you to be our mommy, I want (nanny's name) to be our mommy". My soon to be husband thinks everything will work out and keeps telling me how much the children have been through emotionally with their mother and that I should be more patient.

All the child books I have read say that children are resillient and we don't give them enough credit. I don't think it benefits the children to play in to their hands. I think they need to just accept how things are going to be and the nanny needs to go quietly. Back to my story about Thanksgiving. In order to not hurt the nanny's feelings, we all went away for Thanksgiving. We paid for nanny to go home to her boyfriend's family. The boyfriend just got sent on another tour about 2 months ago. Even without the nanny the children all said a prayer which included thanks to the nanny and how much they loved her. I had to sit there just steaming and appear gracious to be soon to be inlaws, (who also adore the nanny).

Again, I don't dislike the nanny, I just think she has served her purpose, done wonderful, but it is now time for her to venture on.

Pizza Hut by New Rochelle on Huguenot St - NY

Received Tuesday, December 1, 2009
This was a bad scene. The nanny was white, the child was white but I know the nanny was a nanny. The child was well dressed and had her hair just so and the nanny was a gigantess. She was enormous, when she walked by I could litrally see her thighs shaking. It was thunderous. I was consuming a sprite at the time and while the lid was on the bottle, when she passed by a zillion tiny air bubble mass appeared and sizzled and popped. The problem with the nanny and why her weight is tatamount to the story is that she could not keep up with the little girl she was supposed to be taking care of. The little girl, average build, brown ringlet curls, blue eyes, long eyelashes, wearing red cordoroy pants and brown cowboy boots with jewels on them. The little girl had to be caught by a member of staff because the sizable nanny just could not muster the physical strenth to go after the child when the child needed to caught. Then this whole thing became a spectacle. It was really bad. When the man brought the child to the heaving, out of breath nanny, the nanny was super mad. She whacked the child on the butt three times! With her bare palm. And this woman was like 900 times the size of the child. The child didn't cry, so I don't think it hurt but that doesn't mean that big ole beast should be smacking on the behind of a helpless child. And more importantly, I believe in spanking a child, but when they do something wrong and not when you just happen to be fat and out of shape and unable to keep up with them! Where did this happen you ask? At Pizza Hut by New Rochelle on Huguenot St. And yes, the nanny was gobbing out on Pizza.

Not Getting Paid When the Child Sleeps

Received Tuesday, December 1, 2009
I have a similar problem to ones posted about overnights on here and would like reader's input as I am on the verge of leaving my position, but need some advice first.

I get paid $10 p/h to watch a 3 yr old little boy. The father is a Dr. and has late night shifts so I am asked to do overnights every now and then. When we interviewed, he had told me he pays $70 for overnights and I just assumed an overnight was anywhere between 12-14 hrs. Flash forward 3 months later and I did my first overnight. I got there at 6PM, child went to bed at 11PM-8AM, then I had said child until 1PM when I was let go. Total 19 hrs. 9 asleep. And I got paid $70!! Now when I protested, the father told me that he had already informed me at the interview that overnights were $70, but he never mentioned my extended hrs..plus when I asked him why for 19 hrs of childcare, I only got paid $70, he told me that the 9 hrs the child is asleep he was not going to pay me for a sleeping child!!

My opinion is that if a child is asleep, sure I can flat-rate my pay...however to say that I should not be compensated for a sleeping child is crazy to me. It is my time, I am giving up time w/my own family to be there. When if there was a fire, an intruder, etc.?? I am still 100% responsible. It's not like I can just leave and hang out w/friends at a local bar while the kid is asleep. I HAVE to be there for the child' sake.

Please give me some advice and if you all think I should move on and how I should do it. For the record, I need this job as I need the $$, but at the same time I am growing more resentful by the day.

CL-WTF?

Saturday, November 28, 2009

.... WHAT?!

1) NEED CHILD CARE TODAY AND PERMENTLY (Chesapeake)
Hello, I'm needing Childcare for my son Staring TODAY!!!!!,(((((((I need someone in chesapeake only.)))))))) I know this is short notice, my curreent babysitter was turned into CPS today buy another parent and is no longer allowed to watch children.I need childcare startingTONIGHTat 4:PM til 1Opm or so, and than i will need you permently, my work schedule is crazy i mostly work nights. usually from 3pm till 11pm, and sometimes i get called in.so i wouldneed you on call, looking for someone to look after my 2 year old he will be 3 next month. he is a.d.h.d so i would need someone who can handle a lil one well...... need someone to feed him dinner,and give him a bath... (i know its hard to every night) but if u cant on certian nights i understand. and but him to bed,and when i get off i will come and get him, also some nights i do work tiil 1am or 2am, so if on those night if he can stay the night that would help alot, and i would come and get him in the morning,but i would let you know in advance, iam a single mother,so i asking for help........
(((((((((((I do get paid every other week)))))))), so i get paid on November 27th and i would pay you for one week, and after that, i do receive foodstamps so i will help to provide food and snacks..... I can only afford $70-80 a week and if i have to work late hours or a double i will pay you extra.......... please text me or e-mail me............ thanks, niki 757-803-****
Original URL: http://norfolk.craigslist.org/kid/1480418035.html
______________________________________________________________
Special thanks to: MissDee, MissMannah, Cinder38, JLow2474 and afnt81 for helping us put together this weeks Ads... all of you did a great job! Remember, CL-WTF will be Posted every Saturday. Please send next weeks Ads HERE or use MEEBO.

TO READ THE REST OF THIS WEEKS SUBMISSIONS: PLEASE CLICK HERE!

Thursday, November 26, 2009

If you have a sighting please send it to isawyournanny@aol.com or leave it anonymously on this ISYN POST. Thank you and have a great Holiday!

Fired Nanny Fired Up Over Dismissal

Received Thursday, November 26, 2009
I worked for family Y for over a year. I started when their daughter was 7 weeks old. The baby was born with some temporary, medical problems. I knew this when I started. The medical problems escalated...and sometimes were hard to deal with. But I was attached to the baby, and stuck it out. I have years of nanny experience, but no medical training.

The family did a lot for me while I worked for them...helped me buy a car, gave me wonderful bonuses and presents. I felt like I really was part of the family. I got along great with them.

Last May..at my 1 year anniversary mark..I found out I was pregnant. I told them this right away, and we discussed options a few weeks later. I assumed I could bring the baby to work due to previous conversations before I found out I was pregnant. They told me they didn't want me to do this. It broke my heart..but I said nothing. I felt I needed to collect my thoughts before saying anything. They also told me they planned on only working me 30 hours a week, but giving me a raise..so I ended up making almost the same amount as a 40 hour week. This was going to be nice..I would only work 3 days a week instead of 4 or 5.

I discussed the options with my husband..and decided I couldn't drop my own infant off with strangers to go take care of another person's baby so they didn't have to do the same. I also should mention they only expected me to take a 6 week maternity leave.

My husband and I decided this would be a good time for me to FINALLY go back to school full time. We were making plans for me to quit work in December, a few weeks before the baby was due. I would take internet classes in January. We were going to use financial aid as our financial backup. We were also on a strict savings plan.

I hadn't discussed this with family Y yet. One day the mother told me she met a former nanny who took her baby to work and said it worked out fine. She was reconsidering the option of letting me bring my own baby. I was so happy. This meant I could continue making income for our family and also not have the expense of daycare.

A month or so passes and the mother talks to me about hiring someone part time..just 10 hours a week so I don't have to be at work so early in the morning..I arrived at 7. This person would also be my backup if I couldn't come in for some reason and also cover me during my maternity leave. I told her I thought it was a good idea and I was fine with it. She interviewed someone who was fine with the situation..but the mother decided to not hire the woman because she smoked twice a day. Alright. Well. I kept asking her if she interviewed anyone else..and she hadn't.

In October..at my 6 1/2 month mark...I work my birthday weekend so the parents can go away for their anniversary. I should also mention that I have had an easy pregnancy, and it never hindered my job. I was fully capable of doing everything I did before for the baby.

They go away Saturday night..come home Sunday afternoon and wanted to talk. I assumed they found a part time person. Wrong. I knew as soon as she said ' I just want you to know that I'm happy for you and your pregnancy' that they were firing me. I started crying immediately. Pregnancy emotions. Blah. They went on to tell me that they were worried about what to do during my maternity leave and couldn't find anyone to cover me..so they hired someone to replace me period. I asked them if they realized that I was 6 1/2 months pregnant and the odds of me finding a job were slim to none? They just said...well..we had to think of our daughter. How was replacing the only nanny she had ever had thinking of her? They daughter is very attached to me..and me to her. How was me being pregnant hindering her? I feel I am fully capable of continuing to care for her and my child. She'll be almost 2 at that point, and getting on the independent side anyway. They told me they wouldn't expect payment for my car for the month of November..but would expect a payment starting in December. They wanted me to work until the end of October.

I told them I had to leave. I collected my things and got out of there. I called my husband hysterical. I have no idea how I made it home. WELL...I didn't call her on Monday...I have no idea why she expected me to. I didn't want to go back to work for them..but knew we needed the money for the next 3 weeks. She called me and left me a voicemail Monday evening..saying she thought it would end nicer than what it was ending...and she guesses I wasn't coming in the next day. I called her back..saying I was coming in...and told her..I'm upset. You have to understand that. She couldn't understand why I was upset? Gee. I wonder. She basically was asking me if I was going to be cruel to her daughter..I was dumbstruck by this..NO...I would NEVER do anything to harm your child. It's not her fault her parents are selfish stuck up people.

She called me back about an hour later..saying she talked to her husband and they didn't feel I was in a 'good place' and felt that I wasn't capable of caring for their child. They were going to pay me for the next 3 weeks anyway. WELL..bless their hearts. They wanted me to come on Saturday to collect the pay. I dreaded the day.

I arrived on Saturday..and had to listen to them 'explain' themselves one more time..all while he basically dangled my check in front of me. They still couldn't understand why I would be upset. They talked about me coming on weekends to work for them...toward my car payment...but they went on to say that they basically needed to learn to trust me again. How did they not trust me? I'm still confused by this.

I collected my check..and left.

I'm still so angry over this whole situation, but sad too. I really miss their daughter. The while finding a new thing semi-worked out. I work 10 hours a week at macy's for a whopping 80 bucks a week.

We'll see how the next 2 years of car payments work out. At this point..I have no idea how we'll make the next 6 months. Bastards.

Brooklyn Central Library in NY

Received Wednesday, November 25, 2009
I have heard that once the sun starts to set, nannies go off-duty. I was at the Brooklyn Central Library at Grand Army Plaza, Monday, 11/23, at 5 PM. There were two African American nannies in the youth section sitting by the Babies and Books reading room. They clearly just wanted to sit together. One nanny had a sleeping infant in the bottom section of a Phil & Ted's but the other had a 2 year old in a lightweight, blue, umbrella stroller. She kept the child strapped into the stroller for the half hour plus that I was there. The child screamed and screeched periodically to be set free. Maybe she wanted to have a book read to her?? The nanny occasionally reassured her that they would be leaving soon but didn't even placate her with pirate's booty. The child was a somewhat androgynous girl with severe bangs and very pale face. The nanny wore a cap and had black freckles and a self assured smile. I think that paying $12/hr. to have someone take care of your child is absurdly low. You get what you pay for.

Nanny's Tinkering with Son's Toys has Mom Upset

Received Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Our nanny has been with us for almost a year. She started out a solid 9 in terms of performance and settled in to a comfortable, reliable 8.5. Some of the things I like most about her are her reliability, and how many smart, educational activities she does with our son. I almost feel like he is in a specialized preschool program. Our nanny is a live-in and she seems happy. She is in her young twenties.

Now, the problem. Our family went away a short while ago and as is the case, when we don't need the nanny, she stays here, in our house. Everything seemed to be fine before, during and after our trip. Last night, on Sunday, I was searching for a jpeg copy of photograph on our home computer. When I could not easily find the photo, I used the search function on the toolbar and searched through all of the photos.

What I found was shocking and I am having trouble coming to terms with and understanding exactly what was going on, especially in the context of the fact that I think we have a pretty good nanny; particularly when compared to other nannies in the area or that I have known.

I came across a series of 62 photographs. The photographs were taken during the time we were away, as verified by the data on the photograph. The photographs contained my nanny and two other young ladies stark nude. My nanny only appeared in 5 or 6 of the photos. The photos were not sexual as in they were groping each other or kissing. But the content was disturbing just the same. The two other young ladies, neither of whom is known to me were utilizing my son's 200 piece tinker toy set. There were a few pictures showing them setting it up, but the series of photos was really focused on connecting each girl to the other by tinkertoy parts, parts that appeared to connect using ; how best to say this, each available orifice. Was it art? I don't know, my nanny never struck me as particular artsy. I don't believe she is a lesbian, not that I would care if she was. I do feel violated. The background of the pictures is our playroom, for reasons I will not mention, a playroom that clearly connects with our family and is readily identifiable. I also cannot come to terms with the use of a child's toy in such an obscene way. Last night, I did use a glove and retrieve the entire bucket of tinker toys from the playroom and through it away.

Last night, I was ready to fire the nanny. I was repulsed. I had written to ask about severance pay, cause for dismissal and what to do about her mother and brother who are arriving for a visit on the 17th of December. This morning, when I needed to go to work, she showed up with a big smile and greeted my child with the same enthusiasm and although I felt somewhat grossed out by the memory of what I had scene, it did not entirely quash my sense of comfort with the nanny as related to her reliability and the care she provides my child. I don't know that I could do better.

Can I get past this? Has anyone ever been in a similar situation?

What Should Nanny Charge for Overnights?

Received Monday, November 23, 2009
My employer wants me to stay over 3 nights next month, when she has to travel for work. I normally work 7 am to 5 pm. She said she felt 4 hours extra per day would be fair? The baby goes to bed at 7-730 BUT she does not sleep thru the night. (14 months old) I havent stayed over before but Mom tells me shes often up 1-4 times a night with her and some mornings is very tired due to only getting 4-5 hrs of sleep PLUS Im sure baby may be even more stressed and wakeful since mother will not be there. Dad will be there but hes next to useless and never gets up with baby plus he leaves at 6am and often not home till 8 pm. So Im thinking I may be working a lot more than 4 extra hours per day PLUS losing sleep and having to work the whole next day. Plus Im not at home with my things, my bed etc. I'll be off duty supposedly 12 hours but with TV, no computer, cant leave house ect because babies asleep.

What is fair seeing Im expected to deal with a crying child on and off the entire time?

Question About OT and Taxes

Received Monday, November 23, 2009
I am in my first year as a nanny. Im 19 and not too familiar with the laws pertaining to overtime etc. I make $16 an hour, which employer is on the books with as to taxes etc. I work 47-50 hours a week. Another nanny told me they legally have to pay me overtime for over 40 and so far, they have not.

If employers are on the books and not doing the cash thing, isnt it a risk to not be paying overtime when legally required? What happens if they are found out not paying the OT? I dont know what to do and dont see how I can go now after 11 months and say I want OT. No contract, as I said its my first position and I didnt even know nannies did that when I started. Thanks for any insight.

Fair Price Feedback

Received Sunday, November 22, 2009
Hi, I have a question concerning childcare. I have always worked with children, mostly full time as a nanny, and would like to continue doing so. However I am due with my first child in June and am hoping to take care of other children along with my own. My question is what do people think would be the most desirable option for parents looking for childcare? Just an FYI I live in Boston.

1. Starting a small home daycare (3 other children). The daycare would be run much like I care for single families. I would get children involved in sing alongs, story times, meet with other caregivers for play dates, go to playgrounds and really just make sure we were involved in the community. I would also of course have both structured and unstructured playtime. Meals and snacks would be provided. I was thinking this would be at a rate of $6/hr full time and maybe a bit more for part time.

2. Working in a nanny share. This would be out of one of both of the families homes and would include pick up and drop off of whichever child's home we´re not in. Same outings and structure apply as in the daycare. Additionally this would involve me doing dishes, family laundry, local errands and keeping children's clothing/toys organized. This would be at a rate of $8 - $9/hr

3 Working for a private family, very similar to the nanny share however the housekeeping would be everyday and would include sweeping, vacuuming etc... Also the outings would be geared towards the child's specific interests more often and generally just the type of care that comes with a private nanny. I was thinking this option would be $12 - $13/hr.

What I´d really like feedback on is are the prices fair? Are there any other responsibilities you think should come along with any of the options? Does anybody have any specific concerns about a parent bringing their own child? Just really any input would be fantastic! I don´t know any other nannies with their own children so my resources for advice are quite limited.

Thanks in advanced!