Oh bugger, I need a new nanny. Current one just resigned.

[AtheneNoctua]

Come feel sorry for me.

Then, send me a nice new nanny who wants ti live in Sunbury.

Actually, I am sort of contemplating an au pair and a childminder. DD is 6 and DS will be 4 in May. Am I mad? Probably. I think work is going to send me away 2-3 nights per week so probably au pair won't cut it, actually.

Damn! Back to the drawing board...

OP - I cannot bring myself to feel sorry for you: I have read too many of your posts and my opinion, which I am confident you will discount, is that your approach to recruitment and retention of nannies is the cause of your current problems.

I feel sorry for your kids. I agree it is a shame they will lose a carer they are fond of, and I hope you find another person or persons to help you look after them.

[pulls up a chair and waits for a flaming]

I must disagree Woodenspoon - Athene has been very honest about hiring shorter-term nannies, in order (partly) to avoid redundancy/maternity etc - and that's not a problem so long as everyone is aware of it going it! The problem here is the long hours and early start, but if that's what she needs then there's not much getting round it.

That's exactly my point - she explicitly hires short term nannies. She has posted about nanny pay and holiday as well. Why then does she expect us to feel sorry for her when they leave?

When they leave unexpectedly.

Hi OP I would ignore certain posters. You have been completely up front about the job and its requirements. Some of us have to recruit our own nanny as agency fees are expensive-some of us just don't have the money. Some of us simply cannot afford to pay £10-12 net an hour which experienced qualified London nannies seem to require.
Yes 6.30 is an early start but some people have jobs that require this however 'lightweight' a reason this seems to actual mothers (I am currently on ML-5 am starts not uncommon! No clocking off time! 24/7!!!) OP HAS NOT criticised her nanny and has in fact been very civilised about the whole thing. However the message from the thread which you in your last post have absolutely nailed is that with the possibility of even one overnight per week you need someone with experience and qualifications who comes very highly recommended-ie a nanny is the only option. Could you get someone fab (but expensive) on a short term contract until DS starts school and is settled into reception (say until Christmas) And then move to a less qualified younger nanny/au pair plus CM combo?? How long is your travel period likely to last? Could you beg borrow or steal a granny/godmother or aunty to come and park herself on a sofabed in the office on a Wednesday night so you would not be having kittens about leaving young nanny alone???? You have my sympathy anyway-and admiration!

Actually woodenspoon, I believe you are misrepresenting what I said. There was s thread about redundancy pay and I said something along the lines of Thank God I've always had shorter term nannies where I didn't have to pay this. I also cited some benfits to the variety of nannies we had had. This is not the same as hiring people speifically because you want them to leave soonish.

When I hired this nanny I had hoped she would stay ntil December when DS goes to school full time. Unfortunately and it is unfortunate this has not worked out. But, I believe I have been a good employer to her. And I think she would back this up if she were to read this thread. As I said earlier, I am disappointed that she is leaving, but there are no hard feelings. And, quite frankly, I thought there would be more posts on this thread like yours by now. I guess MN has softened me over the years.

To those commenting on the age, it's not really that big of deal. I'd jusy like to save a bit of mony on the gym membership. And, also, my budget can really only accommodate a nanny who doesn't have gobs and gobs of experience.

Is gym membership mandatory?

Can I ask what sort of budget you are looking at for childcare?

Live-in nannies pay tax and ni too, don't they?

personally, I'd rather have a nanny if both of you might be away at the same time. I just think your kids are still a bit little to be left with an AP/AP+ who will probably be a kid herself with not that much experience iyswim.

Just my opinion mind ;-).

I don't speak for athene, but from other threads we've been on together for nannies, she pays them properly!

Yes, of course they do, Willow. (or rather I do)

Live-in nannies pay tax from their gross wage then

Don't make me go to the gym and let me do a 4 day week and I'd happily be your nanny!

I cannot do 4 days. You cannot do 4 days. You need a gym membership to take kids to tennis/swimming : www.amidaclubs.com/home/hampton

Fox, yes, I think I've resolved another nanny and work out a way to get at leas a couple of days child free for the length of the school day.

I'm not really sure how long my travel will last or how many days. Fro now, it looks like I could manage just Wednesday night. But, Monday and Tuesday are also fair game. It is in my work contract. If my boss says "go" then that is what I will do. The thing I insist on is being home for the weekend. So the arrangement would have to be flexible.

Oh dear,

do you now delete the messages you dont like?

You dont like the truth?

Really feel sorry for your children Athene

Ooh the gym looks nice!

Early finish on a Friday?

How early is early?

I'm not sure really, quite early? - haven't quite thought it through! I moved out of London last year to move in with my boyfriend, but unfortunately have not found the nanny job market round here to match the London one. So if I am made redundant we're toying with the idea of me working away during the week and coming home at weekends. Ideally a 4 day week and travelling home (couple of hours out of London) on a Friday.

Why not try a 2 nanny job share then one might be able to cover if another is off sick, both work 30 hrs on rotation per week i.e
nanny 1 mon 6-7, tues 6-7 weds 6-1
nanny 2 weds 1-7 thurs 6-7, fri 6-7 and each does 1 babysit per week, they can swap if required? So still paid for 37hrs per week effectively for 3 full days?

Does this mean you can't work on Sunday? (just kidding)

Where do you live? hmm... Let me think. It might be doable if you we can organise an after school playdate for DS on Fridays. Then I (or DH) could pick up DS from playdate and DD from Dance round 5:30ish. So, actually yeah you could probably clock off when you drop them at school (if your work is done). But... I would have to think about how this would work in non term time.

To make it more appealing you could rotate one rosta pattern with the other so nannies would get 1 wk off every other week.

Thanks, Dilly. But I can hardly afford/manage one nanny. Two is really not doable.