OK, when I arrived in Australia I got a nanny for DD, who was then 2.5. Over the last 2 years we've reduced her down to 2 days per week with DD at nursery for 3 days. The nanny collects her and takes her from nursery most days as she drives past it on her way home and I don't have a car (its miles away, only place in Sydney with places).
Well, I've just been thinking about our nanny recently and also our costs. I pay her $18 per hour and pay her 2 hours per day for the pick-up/drop off.
I'm starting to get a feeling, just a spidey-sense that my nanny is not putting DD 100% first, as I would expect, and fitting in her in around her life more than I'd like. She is good, and I'm not really complaining, but I think I pay quite a bit and I often hear that her boyfriend has been with them, or that she's been at the nanny's house instead of mine all day (why there? when her toys are here? what is the nanny doing at her house all day?) and that they're going shopping for to buy birthday presents for people. What also bothers me is that she literally runs out of the door when I get home and doesn't do a handover because she's always rushing on to something else. Sometimes she makes plans to do something at 6.30 (when I'm often home at 7pm) and then stresses about me not being there in time (which stresses me in return).
Anyway, returning to the point. Now DD is 4, do I still need a nanny? Should I be paying $18ph for the care she's getting? Would a live in au-pair be more suitable? I'm paying $750 a week for childcare and I'm not sure if I'm getting what I'm paying for really.
What triggered this is that I want the nanny to take DD to a class that's a 30 minute drive away and I know she won't like it because it will get in the way of her day. It just made me start pondering that perhaps now would be a good time for a change.
What do you think other mums and nannies? She doesn't do any housework at all, I prepare all of the food in advance and do everything really, she just 'has' DD. An aupair could do the cleaning and ironing too which would be fabulous and also help DD with her Italian ( yes, this is poncey but not as bad as the yoga at pre-school)