further to my other thread (apols to those who have already helped) - would you be happy for your nanny to read a book when 'on duty'?

[Tutter]

(your nanny gets a break of at least an hour a day, btw)

am torn between thinking

"it's not a problem - i need MN time after all"

and

"she's being paid so shouldn't be doing her own thing"

Sounds like your nanny may be doing things differently when you are around and when you are not around.

Probably best to monitor it... ask someone reliable say to pop over while you are out, so you can have more reliable information (as cleaner sounds as though they may not be best for accurate info).

If you notice book laying around, then ask nanny about the book - take an interest in the subject matter of the book. Then add to the conversation that you find it hard to read a book when supervising ds, thus you wonder how she manages.

Also get nanny out and about a bit more... maybe she is getting bored at home, thus having the time to read.

thanks nick

yes re keeping her busy, although it was only her first proper day today, so i'd hope she wasn't too fed up

ok..... there is no way i would read a book on my 1st day in a nanny job!

(forget my previosue post on this topic)

Well I don't have loads of experience of nannies, but with the two I have had I have usually outlined when I think there will be slack times when they can get a break - i.e. 'after lunch dc's usually have quiet time with a bit of telly - this is when I normally read the paper' sort of thing. Implication being that I wouldn't normally expect down time at other times I guess.