can't believe nanny has just done this. Help before I self combust with rage.

[motherpeculiar]

some of you may remember I had a few teething probs with new nanny a while back - we had a review and she seemed to have taken on board what I said and be getting better. We have been feeling quite happy with her in general.

However DH has just phoned from home - he is working from home today - it is my first day back in the office to tell me that nanny has just left the house with DD2 for a walk in the park, BUT LEFT DD1 AT HOME
Dh has now put her watching cbeebies while he tries to get on with work

wtf?????

She is contracted to look after both kids. Ok DH is at home and she mentioned this to him beforehand (but he thought she was joking, and just using this as a ploy to get DD1 to hurry and get ready) but this is outrageous.

Any ideas on an approach to take? I am tempted to call her mobile and find out what the hell she is thinking of but DH doesn't want any confrontation until we have DD2 safe and home.

DD1 can be slow to get ready to go out and difficult (she is three afterall) but surely nanny needs to find strategies for this rather than just leaving her behind in the house.

I have to admit, I am completely gobsmacked. If we had cover I think I would fire her today for gross misconduct.

Hey there MP,

Let us know how it all goes!!! I do hope your new nanny is wonderful and your children both love her! Good luck and do keep us informed!

sorry mp i am such a plonker its kevindonna

Oh that's great that you could find someone so fast. I'm really pleased for you.

Your comment about live and learn is SOOOOOOOO true.

thanks Uwila - fingers crossed this time!

thanks Pol too! and donna, will email you with revised address ( no harm in finding out about your friend, just in case)

MP, Sounds brilliant and hopefully relatively painless (setting aside the terrible week you had last week ....). Really hope the new one is as marvellous as she sounds. Glad the old nanny confrontation went so well and seemed so civilised. Sorry that nanny's cousin never got back to you... Celebratory glass of wine called for tonight (always tastes better than the drowning ones sorrows glass I think...!)

thanks Orangina - did actually have some wine last night in relief - on a Monday too

sooner nanny moron is gone the better. she seriously pissed me off yesterday again. She came to look after DD2 only. DD2 slept for about 3 hours but even still when I got home nanny was gone and DD1's (who had been at nursery all day) room hadn't been done. No bed made, no tidying NOTHING. Says it all really. I was so tempted to call her last night and tell her not to bother coming back after all. After I felt we had been so reasonable too.

OOooooooh. Get her gone!!!!!

mp whenever the kids slept when i was a nanny i either ironed their clothes or cooked,normally for freezer.you should tell her when dd2 sleeps can she do -.i know shes going soon but she sounds so lazy what did she do in 3 hrs.

she gives nannyies a bad name..argghh!!!

Ooh MP, that is maddening! She's taking the piss. Would be tempted NOT to just let her go with all the nice terms you have agreed, but have a few serious words... if she can't even be bothered to do the basics during her notice period, perhaps you can let her go with NO notice/holiday pay or whatever you have agreed with her.
Feel rather cross on your behalf .

Well, I don't suppose it's much consolation, but it certainly confirms your decision to let her go. Seems you've had a babptism by fire into the world of nanny employer.

On another (happier) subject, my nanny took some pictures of her nanny diaries for you. Now I just need to work out how to get pics from digital camera into computer and I'll e-mail them to you... that is if you are still interested.

Well, I have certainly learnt a lot reading all this. I am about to interview for a nanny this morning, and am a bit nervous about the switch - ds1 is in nursery and ds2, who is 8 months, is starting there next week, but think I need a nanny to take stress of commuting away. However reading your comments makes me a bit worried. Any tips (not that there aren't loads in this experience!)

ps had worked out that £7 ph net was c. £9.60 gross (and had that confirmed by Nannytax).... have I missed something?

ginso - you may be right about the gross amount I am not sure - I worked it out myself as roughly between 11 and 12 pounds - but ours was a nanny share so we weren't getting benefit of a full tax allowance iyswim

wrt tips - god I don't know - work out in advance what is really important to you (in our case as it turned out that nanny had enough energy to deal with lively DD1) and ask questions about that in a million different ways n the interview. Tryto make sure candidates meet your kids and be guided by how they interact, the kind of effort they make. Check refs but by no means think that because someone gets a glowing reference they will be perfect for you. Build in 3 months probation to any contract. Ensure nanny focusses more on relationship with older child at the start if the younger is too young to tell the difference.

good luck