I'm a Nanny/Governess, I work in a team taking care of 3 under 4s.
We visit the grandparents several times a week and the grandmother is always thrilled to see them.
Unfortunately, they are less thrilled to see her.
The grandmother is absolutely lovely but very, very loud and extravagent in her approach with the children. She swoops down on them, pinches their faces, grabs their hands, talks to them loudly and constantly, asking the same questions over and over, pulling them around the room.
As a result, they try and avoid her as much as possible. I have to force them to say hello and to talk to her, they will pull away as soon as she comes near them, refuse to play with her or even properly engage with her.
I'm trying to work on their manners, obviously, but they're only young and to be honest if someone was in my face, pulling at my clothes and harassing me I wouldn't want to be near them either.
I always prompt them to say hello, answer questions and I will not allow them to walk away from her when she's talking etc.
I'm with the children a lot (24/6) and have been with the family a while so I feel like I know them well.
WIBU to gently encourage the grandmother to back off from the children and let them come to her?
I'm so sad for her as she clearly is desperate to interact with them and I know that she'd be thrilled to pieces if they made more effort to talk and spend time with her.