Would this put a nanny off?

[wolfe1]

I am thinking about starting work again next year. My youngest will be 18months old by then and i also have 4 other kids - a 4yo (will be in school), a 14yo, 15yo and 16yo. The nanny will be there to look ager my youngest during the day and pick my 4yo old from school (either me or DH will drop him off probably) and look after him after school for a reactively short period as i should be home by 5.

The problem is that my 14yo doesn't go to school. He is taught at home by a tutor and does 3 hours of lessons a day (9-12). He is relatively low maintenance, doesn't make a mess and happily sorts his own food out ect. Occasionally he becomes difficult about doing work ect and is reluctant to do work set sometimes however this won't be the nannies responsibility to sort out. I will be working from home a lot of the time so will be on hand but sometimes i won't be there. I think it might put potential nannies off to have a 14yo in the house all day but DH doesn't seem to think most people will mind.

I wanted to just ask opinions as if most people don't think it is a good idea i will look into other alternatives rather than a nanny.

I think it would put people off, so will need explaining well.
You working at home will put some people off. That may well be the bigger factor. Will you be able to distance yourself enough from what is going on in the rest of the house? Will you be able to ignore the noise. Have you given that a dummy run - such as say by shutting yourself away somewhere for a few hours and seeing if you can concentrate enough with the children in the house.

You are always going to put some people off, it just means the pot of applicants is smaller.

If you are not at home, DH is not there, who stays with the 14 year old? That may restrict nanny, may mean they can't do their usual routine activity with youngest child. May mean the 14 year old has to go along to something the youngest child does. However how many times a year is that likely to happen, if it is just a few times then whilst it is an inconvenience to the nanny and your 14 year old, it is something they just have to put up with.

To be honest, the whole set up isn't going to be 'ideal nanny job' material. You working from home is likely to be the biggest 'thanks but no' factor - it's generally a nightmare and then add a 14 yo hanging around the house & then some days a tutor too into the mix... unless you can pay really well, I doubt you'll find anyone terribly keen for this gig - sorry.

Any idea where your DH got the idea from that 'most people wont mind'?!

I think you would be much better off looking for a childminder who does pickups from your DS's school.

Thanks both, i thought it would be a nightmare . I Will think about a childminder.

No one has to stay with my 14yo, he is perfectly okay on his own for a few hours - when i take the little one out to playgroups and things now he stays on his own. He also does his own thing a lot of the time so is out the house for a few afternoons a week visiting people.

I must admit though i didn't think the working from home would be a problem. I have done it before with little issue. All i really need is someone to entertain the one year old while I'm working and keep my 4yo entertained for one or two nights a week. I was hoping not to have to look in to something like a childminder while I'm at home but looks like i will have to.

Oh and our last nanny spoilt us which is why DH ha no clue what so ever. She was with us for 8 years until we moved and was fabulous. We adopted the 14yo and 16yo a few years ago and she was really welcoming and more than happy to have him around the house and the two had a great relationship (though at this point he was at school 3 days a week so probably easier). I think he just thinks everyone will be like her which isn't true.

It might be worth advertising and seeing who comes forward. In your second post you explain your unique situation and I'm sure there are some nannies that would enjoy working with your family.

Things to keep in mind from a nannies perspective when a parent works from home is clear working hours for yourself. Eg unless one of children had a broken limb the children were not to disturb parents, this could be hard to enforce but much easier for everyone if you keep it clear. It doesn't need to be all day eg the parents I've worked for that worked from home we often all ate lunch together. You may want to plan to have snack with 4 year old when he gets in from school etc. also a good idea to have clear guidelines with 14 year old eg you say not nannies responsibility. However what would happen if nanny was taking 1 year old for a playground visit and 14 year old wanted to go? What if he hasn't finished his schoold work? Might be an idea to play out some scenarios that could happen.

In regards to 14 year old I'd want clear guidelines to make it easier and for insurance purposes eg might need to look further into if you were out and nanny was going out with baby would she legally be able to leave 14 year old alone.

I wouldn't think you job is a definite no for a nanny just a have to think carefully about it.

Like others have said I personally think it will put a lot of people off. I would never take a job on where the parents work from home but that's my preference some nannies it doesn't bother them at all I would suggest either a childminder route or definitely an older nanny who will be able to handle the situation with you home and teenager and all that will bring with that.

If your 14 year old is quite nice company and the nanny has no responsibility for him, it could work out well. Is the 14 year old a boy or girl

Working from home will put many nannies off - plus the 14yr ha him
About even tho the nanny won't have to look after them

I think you are better off with a cm as you can work easily from home and you can keep an eye/ear for 14yr

I agree that mum working from hone is the bigger issue.

working from home may be a problem because e.g. if your nanny is disciplining your toddler or he is crying etc etc can she be assured you wont intervene... I can tell you from experience it only takes a few times of you taking a look for the child to lose all respect for the nanny and become a nightmare to deal with. add to that the difficulty trying to stop the child wanting to see you and play with you at inappropriate times (for you) which can be upsetting for your child.

the 14yo wouldnt put me off but you working from home would have to be a carefully managed situation.... I think you would still find people who would be willing though as long as you make the rules and routines very clear

Legally a child under 16 years is still the adult's (usually the parents responsibility ) if left in the home alone.
So as a professional nanny I'm not sure if I would be happy to go out, leaving a child in the house alone. If an accident were to occur would I want that to reflect on my profession? How would Ofsted feel?
What parents don't realise that when childcare is a profession you can't afford to cut corners or take any risks.
Re parents working from home it depends on the parents. Iv worked for families where it is a problem - parents not supportive of nanny , bit like when mums and dads are not consistent , children soon learn that what nanny says doesn't count because mummy will say different.
But my present job mum works from home and is lovely. She sometimes joins us for lunch. The children know not to disturb her when she is in her office.
So I would say it could work for some nannies.

This would not put someone off who also has experience with teenagers and alternative education. They could actually support your teen as well.