Nannies- what do you do when kids in school/nursery?

[Hardandsleazy]

Currently have nanny for dd 2 - nanny contract is based on nanny plus some housekeeping (not clraning - but small chores like picking up dry cleaning etc)to be done when dd in nursery. All diacussed and agreed.This was all with view to fact that dds hours in nursery will increase (she does 2 mornings a week currently) and job is long term so was looking ahead to next year when will do more
Mornings (and eventually school). I wouldn't envisage changing salary or terms and know that paying a nanny for possible down time is just what I have to live with. the other thing was I hoped that would have another and was explicit that would retain nanny on current pay etc through this.

Anyway in gwneal chat today re dd nanny basically said she was happy that I was rethinking when to send dd to nursery more days as she would be bored and was thinking that would look for another job. We discussed that she was keen to be with dd an agreed some changes to her routine (dd) so nanny could have more time with her (and her days doing other stuff would be when I was around).

I know am sensitive as am ttc no 2 and failing and irrationally I feel this another slap in face about potentially not having another (I know I am
Massively projecting but I am undergoing tests and possible ivf so I hate idea that another possible consequence of failure is I have to find a new nanny with all the hassle this involves. Nanny is aware of these issues .
Huge long post but basically is there am I being unrealistic to expect someone to want to do this type of
Job as worried about prospect of finding someone else If nanny does leave? Also is there anything I could
Do differently as an employer- although part of me feels very annoyed that this was all clear and agreed and now it's not ok.

By another mean child not nanny- sorry for long post

In my last position I had a charge at nursery 3 mornings a week 8-1 - I worked 7.30-5.30.

Whilst dc was at nursery I would; pick up groceries, do general housework ie preping evening meal, do washing/ironing of dc's clothes/bedding, pick up gifts for parties or do prep for art activities, run errands for boss ie post letter/pick something up from town, sort through toy box, facebook, drink coffee, meet up with friends, run personal errands - depends on my mood/what needs doing/what my boss has asked me to do.

:)

Oh and in this current position eldest dc goes to nursery 2 afternoons but I have the baby - and I do the same as above - run errands/do jobs around the house/go to groups/meet up with friends or chill out at home whilst the baby naps.

Thanks life- that was sort of what I
Envisaged . Am relaxed about how she uses time and if wants a bit of coffee chat time within reason when kids in nursery that is ok(it's same as if I take a long lunch or something when I am not busy).

So it's not like job completely hideous- was worried

When I've been in that situation I use the time in all sorts of ways. Cooking, grocery shopping, errand running, cleaning toys/ playroom, doing nursery duties such as ironing etc so the children can have my undivided attention when they get in. Plan activities, walk the dogs, make sure everything is as it should be.
TBH the time always passed so quickly I don't have time to 'be bored'
Of course the job does not sound hideous and given the age of your child it's perfectly normal for them to maybe do a nursery session a couple of times a week.

I used to do nursery duties, laundry/ironing, prep lunch ahead of time or batch cook to freeze, prepare activities, go shopping for supplies and yes, fit in coffee with friends/personal errands/catch up on study if I had the time. The care was still needed as a backup in case of sickness/closure and I was quite grateful for the downtime!

Today, charge at nursery 9-12, I have: put on dishwasher, changed her sheets, put washing through machine then ironed& put away, been to Waitrose (picked up some personal shopping there too), cooked a batch for freezer and hoovered downstairs.

Next week I won't cook but will sort through toybox, clothes, pick up any groceries they need, maybe plan some crafts for Christmas hols.

i used to have a similar situations

so long as my phone was on, and the nursery duties were done my boss didnt mind if i went to the gym / went shopping / met my mum for lunch / friends for coffee etc etc

so i used to make sure i was there all Monday morning, and get all the ironing done, the beds changed the playroom re-organised etc, and also do a lot of cooking so i had some more complex home made meals for the week. (will stress i ONLY fed the children delicouse home cooked food, all the time, but used this time to make things that are less easy to do with children at your feet)

this gave me most of the rest of the mornings free, and we kept on top of tidy bedrooms / playroom when we tidied together before bath.

The children were at independant school so had long holidays (during which i worked full time) and i also covered if they were sick.

My bosses were happy to pay me, i ensured my jobs were always done, so neither of us minded me using the free time to do what i wanted, so long as i had my phone.

Also i often walked the dogs, or took the dogs to the doggy hair dressers, and did a supermarket shop or something

I have always stayed on when the children have started school,We are still needed full yime in holidays ,during illness and before and after school.when the twins in my current job joined their brother at school I started doing the family ironing as well asthe childrens and added changing the parents beds as well as the childrens,added to most of the activities mentioned above ,I must admit I don`t get bored there is always something to do.

Thanks for all posts- this is all helpful ESP bits on holiday, illness etc so I guess will have chat with nanny as sounds from all this as if it's not unusual to fill this time.