Irritating things that au pairs/nannies do...

[Tanzie]

Following on from the other thread, and apart from seriously evil stuff that my last nanny used to do, I would (perhaps rather pettily) include the following:

Piling up the rubbish in a huge pyramid on top of the binbag so she doesn't have to change it yourself.

When the pile topples over, scatter carrier bags full of rubbish from the kitchen bin randomly around the overflowing bin (so someone else will deal with the mess and not her...)

Diluting the washing up liquid (an Eastern European thing I think)

Removing the cardboard tube from the loo roll holder and chucking it on the loo floor, but not bothering to move three feet and replace it with a new loo roll.

Saying "It depends what you're having" when you ask if she will be eating with the family that night.

Dumping clothes in a crumpled mess on top of the tumble drier so she can get her stuff in it, instead of folding it so that it doesn't need ironing.

Having to be asked every week to do one simple thing (eg use the brush when you've had a poo, put the children's clothes away if they're clean and folded on top of thewshing machine...)

Feeding children processed crap that she has bought herself (eg microwaveable burgers) rather than grilling fish fingers and making mash to go with them (too much effort).

Aero, I have great respect for nannies. I couldn't do the job! I think I am a reasonable employer as well - am still in close contact with 2 of my 3 nannies. None of us wants to see the cold stew and microwaved fish finger nanny ever again though!

Current au pair has just been discovered writing in DH's art books - making notes in the margins, underlining text etc. Must admit, had not thought to say "Please don't write in our books!" when we took her on! DH is v v

That's shocking Tanzie! I'm not surprised he's ! What's that all about? What on earth was she thinking of? I take your point about the microwaved fish fingers as well - yuk!!

I have no idea, but DH was incandescent with rage (but managed to remain calm). She is a lovely girl, but has been totally spoiled by her family (she is the youngest, and I know the family) and I suppose she has always done as she pleased.

But your books??!! I'm sure you've now made it clear to her that this isn't on!

Telling me, as I am in the suicidal throes of PND "I wish I could tell you it gets better, but I've been there, and it doesn't." I'm glad I wasn't standing on the ledge of a tall building at the time!!!

I agree about this not being a match between nannies/au-pairs and mothers. But i am a nanny and have been for 15 yrs, believe me when i say some bosses drive us up the wall as much as some of us do our bosses!
most of mine have always left rubbish to be taken out by me, and i can pack the dishwasher 10 times better than them. I never complain at working late even if i am given 10 mins notice
Things are about to change though as i am having my first baby and bosses want me to come back after the birth which i am. Trust me when i say my life will come first from now on, some bosses really think that their lives are more important and look baffled when we say no to another nights babysitting! Sorry don't mean to upset anyone but just felt i had to stand up for the nannnies out there! Don't know about Au-pairs, as far as i'm concerned, they are totally different kettle of fish. I am a fantastic nanny and my bosses are fantastic too, most of the time, but we all do things to wind one another up!

Yes i agree this is just a light hearted vent and this is the place. There are lots of threads about irritating MIL or DP, irritations are inevitable when you have some one living or working in your home or part of your family life.

I know our Au pair certainly sounds off about us, (i accept this) Like babysitting at a moments notice, kids playing up, my MIL, ect, likewise we give time off at moments notice, let her sister stay with us, or sympathize when she's having a bad day

Sorry if offended any Au pair or nannies, I know there are lots of good ones out there!!

Tanzie. Do you really use a loo brush everytime someone's done a poo? And did your au pair really do only one poo a week?

My nanny has started a thing with DPs eldest son and they spend their time hogging the living room playing rubbish on MTV and giggling. That's when they're not having a tiff and there are sulky teens slamming doors and huffing all over the house. When DPs son is at home and I get home from work I get a cursory glance before she leaves the room. No hello, handover etc etc. It drives me mad. She also spends all day looking after him with my daughter trailing behind. She is a good nanny but this is really making me cross. Especially the sneaking in and out of bedrooms in the night. Do they think I'm completely thick? I have a 23 month old. I'm up and down like a yo-yo in the night .

Hoppy, how unprofessional. It's just not on. Can't you and dp talk to her/dp's son together?

hopping - i think i would introduce a few ground rules about conduct in your home, and definitley speak to DP.

Our current Au pair is a really stunning girl, her photos on her application did'nt do her any justice. We have had to put up with BIL making the slightest excuse to visit, just to drool over her. Even spotty teenage neighbours sons, peeping over the garden fence and quizzing DH about where X is from? how old is she? he never use to utter good morning before.

Poor girl is totally unaware of the stirr she's causing.

Somehow I can't imagine her staying single for long. Will have to cross that bridge when It happens.!!

Carla, yes, if there are skidmarks, I would expect someone to use the brush and a bit of cleaner and get rid of their poostains. I didn't say she pooed only once a week!

Hello Tanzie, hope you didnt think by my previous post that I had taken offence in any way, or that I was having a dig at you.
Feel free to rant all you like - my post was just a joke too. I find it funny to hear some of the stories - |'d be so embarrased if I had to be asked to use the loo brush after going to the loo - my employers seeing my skids - how ambarrasing!!!

Well I've had to tell an au-pair to wash and use deodorant every morning. I don't know if I'll ever be more embarrassed by anything else in my life.

Oooooooh Tanzie! Skidmarks from dd's are bad enough ... but alien ones ... yuk yuk yuk. I tend to just chuck a load of bleach down as I don't want my loo brush 'soiled'. Had the woman no shame?

Oh yes I had terrible problems with my nanny, I mean the annoying girl used organised all my childrens toys into boxes with labels on them can you imagine anythung more irritating And she used to clean the house if she was bored I mean what planet was the girl living on

Actually I wish I had something funny to add to this thread my my ex nanny was brilliant and I am sure she would be theone on the other thread bitching about me (actually probably not as we got on great) I think my only thing was dh leaving all HIS toast crumbs out for her to tidy. I miss our nanny as everyone really loved her, thank god we see her regularly.

Crunchie - stick her on Eurostar would you please?!

Got home late tonight, after going to doc's, felt like crap. Made tea...no milk! Investigated further...no bread, no butter, no binbags. Rubbish gaily abandoned on floor next to bin. I have asked her goodness knows how many times to let me know if we are running out of essentials, and if we run out during the day, to use some of the money I leave her for such things. Asked her why she hadn't bought (at least) some milk for DDs to have tonight. Vacant look, shrug of shoulders, returned to MTV.

I really like her, she is fantastic with the girls, but she has NOT ONE OUNCE OF COMMON SENSE OR INITIATIVE!!

Except that...she rearranged the furniture in the sitting room today and dumped what she thought was unnecessary furniture (table and a couple of chairs) downstairs in the hall. DH was incandescent with rage and went round muttering "Whose F*ing house is it anyway?"

and and

What planet is she on?

Would it help if you made a shopping list for her to help her get organised?

How is Tanzie going to make the list when she isn't there when things are used up. I've been communicating to my nanny (and DH) this very same message recently. I think I've got the message through now. If you use it up, put it on the list. If you don't put it on the list, I may or may not notice that I need to buy it.

Oh, and I don't run out to the store that day to buy things 'cause people forgot to tell me they needed it. I go to the store onec, maybe twice, per week. If you need it before then, you'll have to go get it yourself.

I don't know the history of Tanzie's au-pair - just thought perhaps the a-p doesn't know how to make a list & could do with showing. Sort of if you see milk is all used up write milk here on the board/paper/tick box - what ever. Fix a piece of chalk/pen to board so no excuse for losing pen. Could even bulk buy loo paper, milk, tins etc to avoid some of this. Just my experience

We have a list on the fridge which people add to when things have run out - things like "orinj joos" and "pees" and "peeza" added by DD1!

I agree Uwila - DH too!!

I don't know why i did'nt think of the list in the kitchen for A-P and Kids. Good idea!!

Even if i have to do translation. A-P left me a note the other day saying 'The jingle not working so mr fix it not come'

translation ' the door bell is not working so the man did not fix the washing machine'

she does try

Hello all,

This thread is hilarious, I have really laughed and laughed about some of the things posted

I have been a nanny for about 8 years but worked in childcare for near 12. I have worked with and learnt from some amazing mothers and their families and have always kept in touch with the good ones, but by jove have I also come across the neurotic power mad career mothers . If it wasnt for my placid and patient demeanour I could have comitted murder, the children were always delightful and the mothers, NOT fathers, terrible.

I am a qualified professional person and I have to say the wealthier the family is the worst the mum is and more you feel like the hired hand that aint worth a dime.

They would try to make me work without paying my tax or NI. - Who do you think needed it most me or them?

One lady was home late every single day without exception and then would expect a thorough breakdown of our day, alhough that she had already rung 4 times through the day and I kept a very detailed diary, I never left less than 30 mins late each day.

She would make unreasonable demands on me and be cross if I said no, like suggesting that I stay the night on no notice as she wouldnt be back until 11pm so what would be the point in me going home?! Like I have no life.

I actually have a rule now whereby I will not work for the obscenely wealthy as they are nothing but a pain in the jacksy At the time I would have had a list of complaints as long as my arm but I guess I have chosen to forget most of all that.

I think the problem some of you mothers have is that you hire au-pairs! Au-pairs are NOT nannies, legally they are just foreign students wanting to study here whilst lodging with a family and mucking in with the household chores and childcare, but I know for a fact that many mothers exploit them and have them work like slaves for some thing like £40 per week in exchange for food and lodging, I would argue that if you pay peanuts you get monkeys!

In the jobs I enjoyed I was a thoroughly respected member of the family who knew all members of the family far and wide and I still am. Many mothers have told me that they dont know how i manage to do everything and that they look forward to work and me on the Monday morning! hahaha!

I am not insulted by any of the posts I have read, they're very entertaining.

I will though admit to one flaw in my nanny perfectness I have always been addicted to chocolate and both of my dearest families knew this, so they quite literally had to hide the kids chocolate, but alas not very well. If I was desperate I would search for it and I very rarely didnt find it. Of course the kids and parents would chastise me after the event, which was actually quite embarrassing. One time to make up for my no-good-chocolate-eating-behaviour, for a crimbo pressie I bought the kids one of those HUGE Cadbury bars of milk chocolate, anyways they went away for cristmas so didnt have time to eat it, so guess who polished it off during the month of January? They still call me the chocolate fiend!! haha.

Tamula, I'd love to have an au-pair/ nanny with a secret chocolate eating habit! It would mean that the kids' teeth would be safe, and I wouldn't be able to eat it either!