Bringing toddler out in the rain

[RainRainRain123]

Just started a new nanny position. Mother of the child (20 months) is quite insistent that he should be brought out twice a day even if its raining. He has rain gear, I do not. Just arrived this morning to be told he loves the library, its only a 30 minute walk each way, it's lashing rain here. I said if it eases of later I will get out with him. Questioned me yesterday if we went to the park. Has sent me numerous groups, all of which are at least 20 minutes walk away, not allowed take him out in the car. Where they live is also quite hilly and buggy isn't the best.

Mam seems to walk everywhere and always has her rain gear on. AIBU to not want to go out twice a day when the weather is bad.

@RainRainRain123

if it’s really chucking it down YANBU to want to drive or stay in.

lots of mumsnetters are weird about the weather - they love to pretend that they and their kids love nothing more than wearing lots of ugly rain clothes and walking about in the pissing rain and wind for hours on end “cos there is no such thing as bad weather if you’ve got the right clothes!!”

yeah, no

@LuckySantangelo35

It's lashing rain since 6am this morning. As I was driving to work many of the roads are flooded.

So important for little ones to get out and about most days, in all weather. I actually have always loved being out in the rain. Used to love going out with the buggy when they were small, too. Then the lovely feeling of coming home and warming up.

I haven't heard of many children missing school because it was raining that day! Surely it's basic to make them used to be out in all weather?

Since when is life stopping because it's raining. Can you imagine? No sport, no school, no nothing?

I applaud the mother not to rely on cars for small distances, it's so unhealthy and lazy.

I am not a fan of the rain, but no ,it has never stopped me from going for a run, my kids to play sport or having a normal life. Rain clothes just make being outside more comfortable, how hard is it to understand.

I live in England of all places! Who in their right mind stay stuck indoors everytime it rains?

It's terrible for your mental health to be stuck and inactive. It would make me fat too 😂

30 mins in the pouring rain to the library and back sounds miserable, yes on a dry day.
Seems odd she's so against the car.

I actually think it's unreasonable of the mother to not allow you to drive occasionally. If she cares that much, she can do it. Oh no, wait, she's too busy and has given the job of looking after her child to someone else... Surely they get to decide if they're walking or not. You're her nanny not her slave.

seems odd to me people find "30 minutes" an impossible task because it rains.

Each to their own. I just buy the right clothes.

YABVU- this is your job. It’s what you are hired to do. If it’s not suitable for you then quit and find a different position. It’s absolutely not unreasonable to expect you to go out with the toddler in all weathers (severe weather warnings aside). The benefits to you and the child are endless. Buy better clothing or find a new job.

congratulations for insulting all the working parents in one sentence.

I think that looking at rain and dashing always to a car gives you a strange idea of what it's actually like just walking in the rain - which isn't anywhere near as bad as people imagine from that dash

Exceptionally good for everyone's health if we all walked anywhere within 1.5 to 2 miles

Would also reduce congestion

It's so odd. Everyone would laugh at a dog walker refusing to go out in the rain. Dogs need to walk, run and do their business outside.

Business aside, kids (and adults!) need to be active and outside too, but somehow that's seen as less important.

No wonder the school runs are always such nightmare when people are so lazy they need a car so much and the kids are unprepared to do a normal walk.

Golden rule for living in the UK…..there’s no such thing as bad weather, just poorly prepared humans! (Unsafe weather is something different, before anyone pounces) Raincoats, wellies, umbrellas, covers for pushchairs, a warm under garment and a degree of determination. 😁

I don’t think either of you are wrong, but perhaps you are not the best fit for each other.

YABVU. There is no such thing as bad weather, just bad clothes.

with a decent rain coat and wellies, you barely get your nose and possibly your hands wet. I really can't see why people make such a big deal.

A lot of car owners genuinely don’t. I was baffled when I realised this 😅

🙄. The OP isn't providing free childcare (in which case it would be unreasonable of the mum to dictate), she's being paid to care for the child in the way the parents want. And yes, within reason, employers do get to dictate to their employees, the caveat being that of course nannies who have some degree of autonomy within their schedules tend to be happier and stay longer, which is better for the kids. But that depends on trust being built up and the parents broadly agreeing with the nanny's approach.

As someone with a physical outdoor job, I absolutely fucking hate that saying. It always gets trotted out on threads like these in a twee way.

I have good gear. I've also spent all day in the pissing rain to the point of my waterproofs being saturated and leaking through. It's absolutely miserable- they need a chance to dry at some point. And I don't think wellies and a waterproof can protect you from taking a branch to the dome in high winds.

I do feel so sorry for kids with such lazy parents.

Imagine the shock at school when they have to be outside in the rain for the first time 😂

For example, swimming is part of the curriculum in primary school they don't go near enough but that's another debate
The local schools here go to the local swimming pool for their lessons. They all WALK there. It takes them between 20 to 45 minutes each way depending on the school.
Picture the kids who have never walked in the rain until then! It's shocking.

I am mentally making a guess at where the OP is living………….

Do you feel the same way about what they eat and how much screen time they get?

Of course the parents can set some rules. It just might not be the best fit job for the OP

Even during a storm where cars are being crushed by falling trees and there is flooding and weather warnings?

People on mn just love absolutes. In relative life is about adapting to the situation.

Ask her to purchase you some rain gear and a more suitable pushchair, or a bus pass maybe?

not sure that compares with a walk to the local library?

No one is saying they should go camping in the pouring rain or comparing with army exercise going on for weeks at a time.

I have spent hours and days in the pissing rain standing on the side of a rugby/football pitch for my kids among other things, I never got wet. It's not the same at all!