To expect my nanny NOT to feed my two year old a McDonalds Happy Meal?

[coolbeans]

I know it's not the end of the world and he is nearly three but I don't think it's unreasonable to expect her to ASK me, at least, before takes him out and stuffs him full of chicken nuggets and chips for lunch.

I'm not against McD's as such, but he's still really little and there's no need to take him there yet - it's not a bloody treat - as she seems to think.

I think that's what has annoyed me most. It's just food, I don't want him associating it with being a "treat" outing.

Very funny Fio!

I wouldn't employ anyone I had to micromanage.

Either you like someone, trust their judgement and let them get on with the job (and they won't necessarily execute it the way you would, but they will do it to a standard that is acceptable to you, and that very variety is good for all concerned) or you do not trust them. In which case you will do your head in trying to anticipate their every bad move.

I wouldn't want to work for anyone who was going to have to write a booklet on dietary requirements-unless there was a medical condition.

I don't think giving them a few basic facts about your preferences and rules is micro managing.

Where do people get these wonderful psychic nannies from?

Anna

You give your DD chocolate for breakfast which you find acceptable.

Therefore, berating someone for giving a child one happy meal is over the top, over-zealous and disproportionate to the non-crime commited.

Micromanage?
Surely its quite simple to write up a list if rules?
Most places of employment have them, whether it's a clothes shop 'Don't try on the clothes', an office 'Don't use t'internets when working' or a nanny 'Don't give child any fast food'

As an aside, would the same complaints be said if the nanny had spent the afternoon cooking homemade burgers with the child and then eaten them would it have been so bad?

It is not micro-management. It is called communication - a good idea for all relationships, not just employer/employee.

quite right Falcon. dd has respite carers so I tell them she's veggie, she can't chew but can have crumbled cake but might choke and what she likes and dislikes. Basic facts.
When she starts her new diet after Xmas I'll tell them no food whatsoever as she can only have what is on the diet.
If we ever got rich and had a nanny I'd do the same thing.
I wouldn't assume a nanny was telepathic.

Giving instructions on minutiae is not the same as "communication".

I used to have a cleaner that needed micromanagement. Having had lots of cleaners who didn't, I could tangibly feel the difference. I communicated much less with the cleaner I needed to micromanage than with the others because the normal vectors of communication weren't there.

but I do feel the words 'get a grip' floating about my head and about to pop out of my mouth. You have a normal 2 yo. One happy meal isn't going to kill him. Be grateful and chill a bit.
Wait until he's a teen and eats everything you hate!

lol, to expect nannies to think along the same lines as me. I could not do a nanny's job and a nanny could not do my job. I would expect that we would have different cultural and educational backgrounds. Why would I expect her to read my mind about whether she needs to consult me to take my dcs to McDs for an occasional treat?

spokette - you too are very confused

I am not berating anyone for giving their own child a Happy Meal. I am shocked that a professional child carer would do this without consulting the parents.

I think I'll just follow NMC around going You are so right.

Anna, a cleaner has a far more defined role and job-spec than a nanny. Nanny is in loco parentis. Do you know 2 people who parent in exactly the same way?

blueshoes - and does your manager micromanage you? Or does he/she trust you?

"Obesity is a greater health problem than undernourishment in the modern world"

Tell that to someone who cannot feed their family.

National foodstuff in Belgium is chocolate, beer and of course "frites" smothered in Mayonnaise. They are not all fat, and not all dropping like flies, as the key to these things , as with all things, is moderation.

There is nothing wrong with the "occasional" chicken nugget. I think some people on here just don't have enough to worry about.

Personally I'd give the kids a bottle of coke and a packet of crisps each, stick 'em in front of CBeebies and spend the day in the pub.

Point number 1033b: Do not allow child to be within 400metres of a working class person at any time

Anna, I almost feel you resent having to communicate your needs to nannies and cleaners.

How difficult is it to say to one's nanny that you object to fast food or have no problem with them eating on occasionally?
The same goes for sweets and various other issues.

FioFio

You are making my sides ache.

Paranoid mummies you lack the ability to communicate their preferences should not have nannies or use other forms of childcare because nothing is ever good enough for their off-spring.

However, without said nannies etc they would have nothing to be supercilious about.