Do you find it hard to say No when someone asks you to work?

[nannynick]

I've been asked to do some work and I'm not really interested in doing it. Finding it hard to say No. No reason why I can't decline the work, I'm not under contract to do it.
Do you find it hard to say No?

I find myself working crazy hours because I can't say no. I don't need the money, the parents don't pressure me - I just can't say no!

I think being a nanny you have to have a caring side - you can't say no because you know it would be helpful to the parents for you to say yes. That sort of conflicts with your naturally caring disposition. Maybe?

I can't say no either. Am working on a Sunday because I couldn't say no. I can't seem to draw the line between being flexible and available for my bosses (an essential part of this particular position), and being completely walked all over! They definitely appreciate me and pay me (fairly) well... but I really could do with more time off, or at least making sure my 36 hours off a week I actually take off!!!!

Just say no

No need to apologise profusely, or proffers reasons for declining; it's sufficient to say 'no, I have plans' and smile

No one will think any worse of you

I used to find it hard to say no, when I first started out;like NEL I did some ridiculous hours.

You have to find the balance between being flexible v being always on tap

Just been to church and in the closing prayer there was:
May the lips that have sung your praises
Always speak the truth

The truth is, when I think about it, No I don't want to do it. So saying No is the right thing.

Navy - think you are right, I find it hard to say know as I am caring and it will be helpful to the family if I say yes.

We shouldn't be selfish, yet we do need time to ourselves, time when we don't have set commitments.

You definitely need some down time, time to do all your own personal things, time to read, watch a film, go for a walk or simply do nothing if that is what you want.

Looking after small children is very demanding, I have had a really busy week with my minded ones, all under 2, and I am so glad that my DH is outplaying tennis, even though I only see him at weekends, as I can have a bit of peace and quiet to myself.

That's why God made Sunday is a supposedly a day of rest!

sometimes

my ads on internet do say that im an emergancy /ad hoc nanny, and there are times that i get a call wed 11 pm asking if i am free the next day as either child is too ill for cm/nursery or nanny/cm is ill etc

and sometimes i do lie and say sorry im already booked/working but i am not

does that make me a bad nanny/person?

but its normally after i have worked long hours for my mb/done pp/nn etc and want a day off

for example, last week i did my normal 3 days, then pp for 4 days_got home today about an hour ago,back to work tomorrow and then nn for a few nights, so come this thur i want to do nothing and if i get a call asking me to work, i shall lie and say sorry im already working

as i NEED time offf - i accepted a 3 day job as i dont want to or need to work 5 days every week

but i will always help out mb if she has a meeting on a thur/fri (previding i am not booked elsewhere) iyswim

but its easier doing your own job then looking after strangers

I've been asked to come in today for a few hours this afternoon, I normally have Mondays off.

It's a really long schlep into and back from work to go just for part of the afternoon, but it's for a very important reason so I said yes.

I'm in a nannyshare and one of my bosses puts much more pressure on me to say yes to things like this, or babysitting nights. I always say 'I will check with OH to make sure' and then the next morning before I'm even through the door properly she says 'So? So? Is X day/night ok?' Drives me batty.

I feel the same way. I worked all weekend proxy parenting and as much as I did not want to do it I felt pressured into it. Ok so yes I will get paid but I still could not say no.

I find that when I am a nanny all work related confidence goes out the window. When I was a civil servant I was mean and bossy. Now I hate asking for anything. Is it because I am basically a servant??

I think Lou if you had to be mean and bossy you would be - if it was really needed. I think we like to say yes because us nannies/childminders are people pleases!

I was supposed to babysit last night but the mum cancelled, I was so happy!!!

Yes I find it very difficult to say no, I do crazy hours for peanuts, drives DF totally mad and he's told me that he's not having it anymore () but actually I'm happy that he's got annoyed with me because I can say 'no' on his behalf but for some reason I just can't do it for myself iykwim. In the last couple of weeks I've got really good at it, I think I've turned down 4 requests (unheard of!!)!

actually relised i misread the question

no i dont have any problem in saying no if i dont want to work

but sometimes tell a white lie to make things easier for the mum, ie by saying im busy working/got plans etc