I’m a Nanny AMA

[runningpink]

Been a Nanny for over 10 years if anyone has any burning questions!

I’m a Nanny too and always wanted to do this. Will watch in interest.

How long have you been a Nanny @HOkieCOkie?

What’s your favourite and worst part of the job?

Worse boss and best boss and why?

Ooh! What’s the best thing families can do to make your work easier?

Best boss was the family where we were very much a team. If I said xyz then bosses agreed/followed up with that and vis versa. Makes all the difference.
Let me away early if they happened to be home earlier than normal.
Gave me bonuses and gifts relating to my hobbies and likes.
Took the time to ask how my weekend was etc.
Very much part of the family.

Worst family would probably be my first nannying job. Lasted I think 4 years and iv no idea how!
We definitely weren’t on the same page! They wouldn’t follow through with what I had said so was undermined constantly.
Little discipline in place.

Left the kitchen a mess/dishwasher unloaded all the time saying they ran out of time to fill it. I had no choice but to do dishes as I needed the plates etc for feeding the kids.
Laundry was mostly left for me, I was only there two days and could easily do 3/4 loads. (All stuff from previous week) Clean, folded washing that i hadn’t had time to pop away was left for me to do until following week!

Kids were very difficult, but a lot of that stemmed from parents. Tended to buy stuff rather to keep kids happy rather than spend the time needed with them

Had another hard family where one child would regularly hit me which I could put up with but the day he spat at me nearly finished me off.

Best things families can do for me are I guess just treat me as part of the family.
and work together as a team.

Letting me away even 5mins early if you happen to be home is good!

If working from home have clear boundaries in place that both adults and kids understand.

When iv made the effort to leave the kitchen/playroom clean abs tidy at end of day then do me the curtesy of me arrive to the same. (I don’t mind the breakfast dishes etc but loads of stuff from evening before is annoying)

Most importantly though a simple thank you goes a long way.

@runningpink hi, 10 years! Flown by and favourite part is the freedom to go out to museums or the parks. Obviously not atm tho. How about you?

@runningpink any tips for a family about to employ a nanny? I don’t know what is off-putting to a potential nanny aside from not leaving all the washing up/ washing. I am so anxious about leaving my babies, am I going to scare nannies off?!

The freedom is definitely one of the things I like the most. Being able to do this specifically for the kids depending what they are into. I love doing arts and crafts, we do loads!
Most importantly the best part is being able to make a difference to the whole families lives. Sometimes in a really small way and other times in a massive way.

@Redskyyy I will send you a wee PM

What conclusions have you come to from your work as to what (A) you would not do with your own family and (B) what you would do?

If there was one bit of advice you could give ,what would it be?

Oh @ItsDinah that’s a hard one! Let me have a think and il get back to you!

In terms of the advice question. Can you be more specific? Advice to parents on raising their kids? Advice on employing a nanny? Or something else