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Original poster

Started new 'nanny' job and hating it

38 replies

Scottishaupair · 08/09/2015 20:27

I started a nanny/mothers help roles yesterday and I'm hating it so far. I've only had 30 mins of childcare so far - obviously I know she'll want to suss me out before leaving her little ones with a stranger, but that seems very little for two shifts. She keeps referring to me as her nanny (she introduced me to the neighbour and her friend) but I seem to be doing more of a housekeeper job? I have all the household tasks to do - all the washing and ironing, making everyone's beds every day, making lunch, having their dinner ready to eat at 5pm when I leave etc. Do I quit whilst I'm ahead or keep going and give it a change? I came home yesterday and today dreading going in, I'm not sure if I need to give it a bit more time or if to just say it's not for me?

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Anon2309 · 08/09/2015 21:44

A mother's help does most housework but she isn't a live in cleaner. If she's like that the first day, I'd run. If I'm having a stranger clean and take care of my kids in my house, I'd make sure my kids get to know them first. Not shy them away and then make them do shitloads of cleaning jobs.

mabythesea · 08/09/2015 21:40

Sounds like you want a sole charge nanny job rather than mother's help.

Original poster
Scottishaupair · 08/09/2015 21:32

I was an au pair abroad for two years. I loved it! I had sole charge of a 2yo, 4yo and 5yo though and very little household chores. Just tidying really.

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mabythesea · 08/09/2015 21:04

What was your last job?

Original poster
Scottishaupair · 08/09/2015 21:00

No contract yet. I'm on a trial just now so either party could walk away at any point. We agreed childcare and housework - mainly ironing on the household side of things. She's reducing the cleaners hours so I can pick up the slack there.

I did think it was silly to judge it after a day, but is it really worth being miserable over?! My boyfriend has said he's noticed I don't seem happy about it, he says with my last job I was tripping over myself to tell him about the day and now he can barely get a word out about it. Granted it's only two days in and my feeling may change about it.

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QuiteLikely5 · 08/09/2015 20:49

It is quite silly to judge a job after one day. Give it a week at least!

mabythesea · 08/09/2015 20:47

I would think about whether you want to be a mother's help, because this sounds fairly standard. It will probably be more than 2 days in before she leaves the kids with you while she goes to the gym.

onthematleavecountdown · 08/09/2015 20:46

What was agreed in your interview, do you have a contract?

She may just be taking some time to trust you but I think you need to have a proper sit down and chat.

Original poster
Scottishaupair · 08/09/2015 20:43

The dad works but the mum is stay at home, so it's an extra pair of hands.

I knew they'd be unlikely to leave me with them straight from the off but there doesn't seem to be any suggestion of me getting left with them at all now. She said in the interview that I'd have them so she could go to the gym and run errands etc but she gets her mum to look after them 3 times a week ands goes to the gym then. She keeps talking about all the playgroups she's going to go to with the youngest whilst the eldest is at nursery so I have a free house to get on with things...

The kids are 1 and 3.

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Duckdeamon · 08/09/2015 20:36

How old are the DC?

mabythesea · 08/09/2015 20:36

Do the parents work or do they just want an extra pair of hands?

To be honest in any mother's help role your boss will be unlikely to leave you with the kids straight off.

Original poster
Scottishaupair · 08/09/2015 20:32

I was expecting around a 50/50 split I think...

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mabythesea · 08/09/2015 20:29

What were you expecting the job to be?

For a mother's help I would expect mostly household tasks and some childcare alongside the parent.