Nanny spotted reading magazine whilst child at playbarn

[zebedeethezebra]

AIBU to be annoyed at my nanny for reading a wedding magazine whilst 3 year old DS is at a playbarn, or do all nannies think it is reasonable to behave like this??

She was spotted by one of my friends the other week. I don't mind her having a coffee or something whilst she is there, but I expect her to keep an eye on DS, not have her nose buried in a magazine. Particularly on the money we pay her.

[Echocave]

OP don't worry I bet she was keeping an eye on your DC at the same time. It comes down to trust. But if she was genuinely not keeping an eye out then YANBU. I think your pal sounds a bit of a stirrer (sorry) but equally the frothing that goes on here sometimes when people criticise a nanny is ludicrous. Some are great and some aren't. Live with it mumsnet!

[PearlyWhites]

Is this a wind up? If not yabu

[sittinginthesun]

I know this sounds unreasonable on the face of it, but doesn't it entirely depend on the child, the play barn and the circumstances?

There are local soft play centres where I wouldn't let a three year old play unsupervised. Big, unsupervised spaces, older children tearing around. Others, I would happily have a coffee, and watch from a distance.

I know a lot of nannies, although I have never employed one. Several I know would happily leave a child to run around a park or play area with far less supervision than I would like, if it were my child.

I don't helicopter, btw. I just watch from a distance, but I am aware of where they are and if there is any problem.

So, OP, I actually don't think you ABU, unless the nanny was literally glancing at a magazine and watching at the same time. presumably your friend thought the nanny wasn't playing close enough attention?

[JiltedJohnsJulie]

Yes, perhaps the OP is too busy reading Daily Twat to reply?

[ThePigOfHappiness]

Yabu. I suspect you know this by now though and won't be back

[zebedeethezebra]

Gosh you lot are evil. I hope you all feel pleased with yourselves. Actually I've been at work, which is more than I can say for most of you lot. I suspect you are mostly nannies / childminders yourself.

I keep a constant eye on DS when I'm at the playbarn actually. DS is only just 3 years old and in my view they are not completely safe environments where you can just ignore what is going on.

[HesterShaw]

Yes I am a nanny. Tis true, you've got me there.

And no one on MN works. We're all housewives with nothing to do except go on MN.

[JiltedJohnsJulie]

Are we being a tad judgemental there zebeedee? I've been at home all day looking after a very sick child, and no, I'm not a cm or nanny .

[DreamsTurnToGoldDust]

Im being a bit stupid here, but at soft play with over threes is it not normal then to sit with a coffee, have a chat or read a book/magazine glancing up when you remember, (therefore averting eyes away from child/ren) or are you meant to go into the thing and play aswell? Because I find all those adults climbing around the thing a bit bloody annoying.

[DreamsTurnToGoldDust]

x posts

hahahahahahahahah op, your a one ar`nt you.

[StealthPolarBear]

I actually thought this was a joke thread from the title
seems not.
If you want to interact with the children, then don't take them to soft play :o

[DreamsTurnToGoldDust]

Also, whilst your friend was spying on your nanny, she was not looking at her own children, bad bad mother.

[StealthPolarBear]

"they are not completely safe environments where you can just ignore what is going on. "

If you're waiting for a completely safe environment, might as well buy shares in cotton wool now. In a year or so he'll be going to school you know and they tend to frown on parents sitting in.
Although I do believe there's a siren going off after the nannies/childminder comment...sounded just on the wrong side of the goady line for me

[sittinginthesun]

I think it is just me and the OP then - as I said, there are soft play areas around me where I would always supervise. Not climb up myself (although I have been known to), but to WATCH from a distance. You are responsible for your child whilst in there. It's not supervised child care.

[morethanpotatoprints]

OP, yes we have all been at home looking after our dc, not complaining about somebody else looking after them.
Keeping an eye on them by the way doesn't keep them from harm. What do you expect the nanny to do, go in with your child?

I looked out for mine too, but at the sign of rough and tumble I didn't go dragging them out, or confronting other dc or parents.

What do you expect your nanny to do, other than keep an eye open.
If she doesn't do what you want her too you could try taking your child yourself.

[shewhowines]

nope. Not a cminder or nanny. Just not over protective.

[RandallPinkFloyd]

Ah, see now you've ruined it.

You were almost believable up til then, but like all wind up merchants you just couldn't resist taking it that bit too far.

Still, lesson learned for next time.

[valiumredhead]

Ha ha ha ha ha ha funny thread

Just in case you are genuine YABU, nothing wrong with taking a magazine to the play centre, in fact it's much healthier than hovering over the child, let them have some independence!

[shewhowines]

And I would be on here complaining if parents didn't intervene when necessary, but it is possible to keep an eye on them without devoting your eyes entirely to them.

[JiltedJohnsJulie]

Although I do believe there's a siren going off after the nannies/childminder comment...sounded just on the wrong side of the goady line for me

There are soft play centres near to me where I wouldn't take my eyes off my children too. That's why I don't take them to those centres. I'm assuming that as the OPs friend was there and the OP hasn't bitched about the play barn in question, its one of the better ones?

Does she get official bread then zeebeedee?

[EggsitPursuedByAChocolateBunny]

There are some real loons on here at the moment.

[JiltedJohnsJulie]

Breaks not bread, unless you are paying her in sliced white. She probably wouldn't appreciate those lovely little artisan loaves you have though would she

[SoupDreggon]

Isn't the while point of a Play Barn that you can sit and read something whilst your child/charge plays? Looking up occasionally to check where they are (something that won't be obvious to someone spying though)

[cornyvin]

She was probably looking for a new job.

[pleasestoptalking]

I agree. I don't think you are being unreasonable. I wouldn't sit at my desk at work and read a magazine. She is being paid to look after your kids.

I also wouldn't sit and read a magazine when I was at soft play. I would be keeping an eye on my children. It's a pet hate of mine that some mums absolve themselves of all responsibility as soon as they walk through the doors at soft play.