Boff needs chocolate. Nanny has just resigned.

[SnowyBoff]

So folks, there we were being nice, supportive employers to someone who frankly with hindsight has a major attitude problem, and she's just resigned on us and leaves in a fortnight. I am sure Christmas is a brilliant time to look for a new one (not).

This nanny thing is so angst-ridden it's untrue. It also means we may have sacrificed another agency fee for a mere 10 weeks' work as well. And the kids will be really upset and go all funny on us for a bit because they will be so confused about everything.

I am not a happy Boff.

Sb. I couldnt agree more. Fun is an added bonus. Why do young girls pitch up for an interview to earn 24k a year ( which is a bloody good wage in the country ) and think that all parents want to hear is that she will be fun....GGGGGGGGRRRRRRRRRRRRR.

Hope somebody fab comes along soon and in the mean time I pass a large G and T.

As a working mother this time of the year is horrendous enough as it is with everything that has to be done and not having your childcare sorted is a nightmare.

MP

I don't believe "fun" is an essential component! Some days are most definitely not fun at all! That's just how life is. Instead I make sure my charges are loved and secure, everything I do is for their wellbeing (not necessarily their happiness though - telling them to eat their veg for example LOL) and if they (or I) have a crappy day then we hug and it's forgotten and there's a clean slate the next day. I could not be happy happy joy joy 24/7 and so I do not expect my charges to be. I encourage positivity and enthusiasm for sure, and dealing with negative emotions in a healthy way, which means letting kids experience boredom, disappointment, anger etc. Children need a balanced day not a sugary sacharin sweet life is perfect day.

Agree with all that newborn nanny + others

I'm really sorry you are having a tough time. Must be very stressful.

I hope you don't mind me saying but I think your advert could be attracting younger candidates. The mention of Guitar Hero, and mean boy racing machine, Wii fit etc.

I am not a nanny, have never done childcare in my life (so feel free to ignore) but am 35 and have never played Wii or Guitar Hero.

I know it's tongue-in-cheek to communicate what a lovely family you are but as a career nanny I would want a serious description of my role. I'd look for other good things, like sensible parents, who are good at communication, plus all the other perks nannies look for.

Obviously could be wildly wrong and you've had loads of replies in desired age bracket!

I've got two versions of ads out there at the moment - one terribly sensible and formal, the other jokey. The jokey one has been an unmitigated disaster with only inexperienced teenagers contacting me. The formal one has attracted one or two decent nannies, but who only want four days a week and so on (which as it states the job is full-time, makes you wonder if they can read).

Boff, is this position live-in? If so, have you tried greataupair.com? (unless you specifically want a British nanny)

Morning , cannot see your add on Gumtree, been without my laptop for the past 3 weeks!!would love to speak to you. Don't meet all your needs, not ofsted reg, non driver, but willing to walk etc, nneb trained etc. my email address is [email protected]

Oh dear

Fun is most definitely not part of the job. The job is keeping them alive, safe, well and healthy. If you can squeeze some fun in there then fair play, but half the time it's not fun and people who expect it to be fun all the way are going to be rudely disappointed...

This is the nanny who schedules 'boredom time' speaking though.

sends Boff a lovely nanny for Christmas

tbh boffy no one seems to read ads properly - i get people ringing/emailing me asking if i want a full time job and my ad clearly says thur/fri work

Blondes, if I had one hour a week of your nanny time I would count myself lucky indeed.

awwwwwwwwwwwww that is so nice - thank you

and if i lived closer to you i would help you out if i could xxx

If we're going to do all this snuggling, we should probably think about doing a Christmas bedpeace protest in the Amsterdam Hilton (like John n Yoko)against crap childcare, with a tin of Roses and a vat of mulled wine to keep our strength up .

Im in........

Any more responses Boff ?

Hope you get something sorted soon.

Two contenders from an agency and one from Lady ad (who hasn't responded to an invitation to be interviewed so maybe isn't serious).

Luckily DH is home because of the snow so at least I won't have to do the fake jolly all seeing her off thing all by myself.

is it her last day today?

im finally home -was working thursday/bs last night/this am to 1am - mb tried to make me stay but after being snowed in jan this year when pp for them (and they went skiing in switzerland, yet gatwick shut and couldnt get home) decided lesser of the 2 evils to go home - then have 3dc+woofa on my 4days off

took forever to get out of their drive/down hill/country lane and then couldnt actually get to my house so went via my parents - took 80mins to do a 8/10min journey and stayed there, luckily i still have a key, tho havent lived there for over 10years and crept in and suprised my mum this morning

so i got totally spoilt with tea+biccys in bed and then a fry up breakie - took 5 men to push my car out of their road and finally home with mr blondes

not back at work till tuesday so hopefully all snow gone then

sorry for complete hijack/woffle but you know me boffy+mp

and yes would like to join your gang - hate mulled wine but brings champers and choccy biscuits and mb homemade brownies

Have you bought her a leaving present?

OMG Blondes. We dont have any snow here at all !!!

Good luck snowyboff. Breathe a sigh of releif when she has gone !

Have been following your posts Boff, can't believe the shit you've had to put up with!!

Are you in london by any chance? have 2 weeks off work for xmas and could come and give you a hand if you needed it for 2 weeks?

really hope you find someone that won't let you down/hospitalize your DC/crash your car/etc etc!!

You really deserve it! I'll put a nanny for you on my letter to santa x

mp - no snow

bloody hate it, got a good 7/8inches at home and parents had possibly more - work prob 10+ unless stopped snowing now

milk - not london, cambridge but agree we will ask santa for boffy xx

Can we also ask santa for warm weather!?

Oldest charge has wanted it to snow for WEEKS so he can have a snow day as even though we're in london many teachers live outside london...and i snows on the last day of term

Actually am really going to miss them over christmas !

back on the subject! have you had any vaguley promising replie?!

"a three hour a day commute and a five hour a day commute respectively in opposite directions"

How utterly hideous. Deep sympathy. I would move!

god yes - want sorching sun to get rid of my snowdrifts!!

mp - you are soooooooooooooooooooo lucky to not have snow

bah humbug