To ask how on earth you do it?

[laanndaaannanny]

I'm still in my first few weeks of being a nanny and have no idea how to fit everything in the day! I've just about got down getting everyone out the house with all that's needed in the morning. But am struggling to fit things like hoovering and mopping the floors and walking the dog whilst entertaining a toddler and 7 y/o I have an hour whilst the toddler naps to tidy up, put on washing, iron clothes, sort out tea, scoff some lunch myself but there just doesn't seem enough time to do everything else. How do you all do it!

[Anonymumous]

I don't - I do the fun bits and leave the boring bits like hoovering, mopping and washing to hubby! :D

[laanndaaannanny]

I can't really leave out the boring bits if I'm getting paid though! They had a nanny previous and I feel like I'm not managing to do everything that she obviously fit in the day though she drove and I don't so we spend a lot more time walking places.

[Anonymumous]

Well if I was employing a 'nanny', I would think that her job was to look after my children for me - not do the hoovering, washing, mopping, cleaning and walking the dog as well. I think they are taking the mickey. Get another job and don't agree to be the general skivvy next time!

[HecateLarpo]

You don't entertain the kids all day, that's how You can't hoover at the same time as cooking the lunch and sticking glitter onto things. nobody can. So you have to do one thing at a time. And that means times in the day when you are not entertaining the children.

I assume the 7yr old is at school? So you've got the school day with you, a toddler and housework? So you divide up the day. 15 minutes to hoover the house while the toddler watches tv. play with them for half an hour. have a lovely walk with the dog. Let them play while you do the floors, etc, etc.

Why not write down everything that needs doing and make a schedule. Get a bit of paper and draw blocks on, each block represents 15 minutes. Plan your day.

Being a nanny, you probably feel you have to entertain the kids more than your average parent does

[HecateLarpo]

That's a good point, anon. Nanny come cleaner come laundromat come dog walker...

Hope you're well paid, laan

[BegoniaBampot]

There might be more expected of you as you are being paid and it is a job. Many let little bit's go here and there or it would just be a life of total drudgery. if you are a nanny, looking after the children and cooking for them etc should be your main priority. Does your employer expect you to be superwoman or are they taking the piss?

[Anonymumous]

Or start training the toddler to mop floors and use the hoover. (Actually, my children quite enjoy skating around on cloths on a wet kitchen floor...)

[Inneedofbrandy]

You are the nanny not the cleaner. I don't mean never clean up after you and and dc or wash dishes. But being a nanny is your job.

[OHforDUCKScake]

I had no idea the cleaning/washing/dog walking was expected of a nanny.

[laanndaaannanny]

Thanks for all the responses the walking the dog is what I generally can't fit into the day. And then I feel awful for not taking him out. But l usually go to some kind of class or activity in the morning with the toddler and then leave at half 2 to go back to the school for pick up. I'd walk the dog to school but we generally get the train/ bus back and I just can't cope with a dog a toddler and a 7 year old on public transport. :s

[laanndaaannanny]

Oh and the dog needs cooked vegetables with his daily meal which makes life even more complicated.

[JacqueslePeacock]

Wow, I hope they are paying you well!

[laanndaaannanny]

Btw I do genuinely love this job and the family, is just teething issues I suppose. It can only get easier with practise

[saggyhairyarse]

What time do you start and finish? What time are your school runs from and to? What time are your activities and how long are they for?

[saggyhairyarse]

Oh, and are they employing you as a mothers help or as a nanny?

[laanndaaannanny]

I start at 7.15 and finish about 6.30. We have to leave for school at 8 in the morning, and will generally get back between 9 and 11 depending if there are any activities etc on. We leave for school at 2.30 in the afternoon and will get back about 4. I'm a nanny in my contract.

[MsVestibule]

Having never been a nanny, or had one, I'm perhaps not very well qualified to know what you should/shouldn't be doing. Are cleaning and dog walking in your contract? Your employers may be nice, but I think they are seriously taking the piss.