Monday, January 31, 2011

I am here..

and discordant. I shall start sharing past happenings of families and the crazy wild wonderful world of nanny-ing. however- right now- I need to find a job.

Postings coming tomorrow!

Nanny out.

Tuesday, January 25, 2011

Cool things

So in my line of work, I am privy to some cool things. Of course, I am going to sign up for some things online.

One being Gourmet Mom! I love love love her website. Her post on twitter today http://quick-dish.tablespoon.com/2011/01/25/pbj-sushi/ HOW CUTE IS THAT? PBJ sushi? Are you kidding? I shall be trying this tonight with my monkey.

Another for today is Disney Family. I love this site because it has a lot of fun ideas. Crafts/food/entertainment. It is like an online magazine for those of us who don't have time to look at a magazine. Specific for tis the season: http://family.go.com/food/recipe-852461-snow-cream-t/ Snow ice cream!

Hence.. another. PBS Parents. Here is a yummy one that my daughter loves http://www.pbs.org/parents/kitchenexplorers/2011/01/18/solomon%E2%80%99s-quintessential-queso-dip/ Queso dip that does not burn the taste buds!


I am going to explore it some more- but I figured you could explore with me and report back. This looks pretty awesome: http://www.activekidsclub.com/


I will have some more "non-kid" websites to share with you in a few! Ciao for now.

You're not gonna die..

So many parents I have noticed are starting to go nuts. I say that including myself. I am a mother of a 5 year old and with her being my one and only child (so far) I of course had some of the spazz attacks about what should and should not use/do when it came to things. However, through the lovely use of technology- I signed up for a twitter account and follow a couple of things. One being these Daily Parent Tip. This was one of the many gems that came through today. http://www.tweenparent.com/articles/view/139 (read at your leisure...)

But I bring this up because of a few of them. I have had families that are on both ends of the spectrum. Ones that are so manic that I swear they bleach their children to ones that are a little to lax and let their kids poop on the floor and don't realize it until they walk in the bathroom later. (yes, this is true.. names withheld of course).  But what I wanted to point out in all of this is- there are some things that kids are going to do, no matter what age they are that will NOT kill them. Seriously. I promise you. Eating dirt is one of them. Of course not in excess, but if you are getting ready for spring like I am- and notice little Johnny over there using his shovel as a spoon... don't freak. Simply rinse out his mouth and go about your day. I have had some crazy things happen as a nanny- some that to this day still gross me out- but I do realize it comes with the territory.

Another thing- germs. Kids are gonna get them. Best of the best for kid hands is not the sanitizer you pump from a bottle. Wipes are the way to go. A study was showing that the amount of alcohol in those pumps along with the antibacterial notions included stayed on the hands and didn't absorb. This being said.. who knows a kid that does not stick their hands in their mouth- or a finger or whatever? Not I. Every single kid I know does. At one point or another. In the recent of a year and a 1/2 I had one family that was on the anal spectrum of germs. The mother would have her kids wash their hands before dinner.. as appropriately everyone should. However she would then douse (and I mean douse) their hands in the pump bottles of sanitizer. Mind you one was of an age knowing to wipe your hands after you rub, the other being a mere 18 months old and choosing to think it was cute to lick the sanitizer off her hands- while her mother stood by and just said "_______ don't do that".

......Uh no......

Don't do that doesn't suffice. I would of course have to be the one who was not crazy, go over and help baby rub hands together and then wipe them off because she would use her hands to eat. Utensils at this age are optional fare in their eyes. LOL. But my point being that dang... while your child is using her hand as a lollipop to eat this sanitizer? UH NO! It is a chemical. Just sayin..

Also- the 5 second rule.. yeah.. I am gonna say I am not one down with picking food up off the floor- however I do want to point out that Mythbusters did a whole thing on the 5 second rule. Depending on where you are of course- it will matter if you drop your lollipop on the floor where there are cockroaches and crap. However if you drop it on the kitchen floor (as long as you are not a crappy housekeeper)- grab it and rinse it off.  It is okay. It really is okay.

I guess what I am trying to say is, keep your kids healthy and make sure they are properly taken care of. Yet, don't over exercise the fact of sanitizing everything. Including your kids.

So.. in my point of everything.. germs happen. It is a moot point. But- please please please use wipes over the pump. Your kid could get sick and die if the ingestion of this germ killer becomes to much for their little bodies.

Friday, January 21, 2011

Just ask...

There are just certain aspects to the job that are included with being a nanny. Such as the general care and attendance to the children- but along with that comes anything involved with the children. This includes, but is not limited to cleaning any messes or finding the covert fingerprints in various places. To keeping their room tidy, making sure there are no hidden surprises in toilets and even doing the children's laundry. If it involves the child, then the nanny does it. However, anything over and above that is not, as a general rule the nannies responsibility. Yet, I digress, it is up to the nanny if she is willing to help with other things in the household if she feels inclined.

Where am I going with this? Well, I guess I am going to the point of it is not to be assumed that the nanny will run the household for you other than to make sure your angels do not burn down the house. However, if there is something you would like the nanny to keep up on- or do for you, etc etc you need to communicate. Communication is the key that opens doors. You cannot assume one might know what ESP's you are sending if you dont make it apparent.

Far to many times, I had run in's happen like this. Some quickly squelched when the point of contract came up, others not so much. Some had to be spelled out as to say "You didnt A-S-K, so I didnt K-N-O-W"... dont get me started on Medusa. She would just contemplate that it was a known fact no matter how many times you spouted common sense as a word in the dictionary. But, I digress, this sparked a point when I was reading this article Communicating with your nanny

The passive-aggressive nature with your nanny is just crazy. Out of all people you should want to be on a open basis rather than one that is a closed door. The majority of my families adapted to my policy very quickly. I even had one that would regularly email me every week with blessings and thanks in turn asking what she could do to make sure to reiterate any lessons or tactics to her kids when I wasnt there. Clearly this is one that was choosing to work with me, than holding "I am mama hear me roar". (trust me, it is not a competition, you are always mama and I dont hold that place.. that is another blog though).

Far to many times, I have had mis-communication build because there has not been the revolving door of "hey so yeah...". Luckily those times were not with different families (only 2).  In the article a counselor says that there have been parents who "get cramps having to think about asking their nanny to unload the dishwasher". My question is why? There is nothing wrong- as long as I am not running around like a chicken- or roll playing the farmer in the dell for that matter, that when little Susie is down for her afternoon slumber that I cannot put the dishes in or out of dishwasher to help you save some time to spend with your baby when you get home. Because generally when parents are away from their children- they want to come home to them- and I most certainly would rather you get that time with your child(ren), than having to say "Mummy has to unload the racks before we cuddle". No, cuddle is more important than your set of corning wear.

Yet, I must digress.....

...here is where the communication part comes in. If it doesnt get done- you cannot flip your lid and have the snakes come flying out of your roots. Stop and say "hey, what was your day like or wow you and Jack must've been busy" and then see what comes of it, instead of assuming that your Corelle didnt get unloaded.  I have done other things for my families that were above and beyond the natural duties. All just because they said hey- if you have time I am overwhelmed and I need help. K. So be it. I have had no problems doing the wash- throwing towels and sheets in, or running the vacuum, walking the dogs, etc etc. All because I was just simply asked. And truly with regard to how I would feel about it- not demanded or assumed.

The simple truth as stated in the article: Ask.

It might feel funny. But what is worse is the funny feeling I get that you are uncomfortable about something and or want to ask something but don't and then it becomes awkward. Or whatever the feeling is.. then the passive-aggressive starts and its just one big pile of poo that doesn't need to be scooped up if it doesn't happen in the first place. So.. in the right of saying "You don't know until you ask"... adopt that. Your nanny is someone who can obviously be trusted. While I am not your best friend- I don't mind helping out.
 .
anyway..read the article and see that I am trying to let you know it is okay to say "hey..."Now of course.. underwear... that is a different story....

So in recent events.. it has got me thinking.....

In regards to my profession: A Nanny.. I wonder why it is that the employers (parents of the children I nanny for) become so hostile when the notice is given. I ask this because I have noticed I am not the only one this has happened to. You are the best thing since sliced bread when you are working for the person- but then the notice is given and they turn on you like a swarm of bee's. While it is pretty true to self- in reading another nanny's blog, she says:

Unfortunately, most of the mothers who employ nannies would never "lower" themselves to take care of other people's children. As nice as these parents seem when their nanny is doing what they are supposed to be doing, they change when their nanny leaves.

While I know of 2 families that I have been with- would do it if they were able- the others I wonder why the hell is this profession thought of as "low" on the totem poll? Why am I any less of a professional in my job than you are for what you do. Aren't I the one who is helping to mold and protect one of your most precious assets? I am not trying to be pompous or come across as someone who is to be worshiped. Quite the contrary- I am just trying to understand as to why it is viewed- that the profession I choose is thought to be something of an indentured servant over a acceptable job in the world of business?

I guess what I am trying to say is: please explain to me this attitude, this entitled attitude these families have regarding their nannies. Why do they treat them like slaves? Why not wish them well and send them off with a smile and a good luck? Why are people such complete jerks?


A Nanny earns a child's respect by understanding what they say...
By listening to their problems, and being mindful of them every day.

Musings of a Nanny

Good Morrow... or at least that is what I think they say.

I have started this blog as sort of a project. Something in the forms of a recount and reconstruction of my days as a nanny to the reconstruction of the job as a whole. A position that is to be represented, yet given the right in the world as a profession.

I have been a nanny for a little over 8 years and have been through the good, bad, and utterly ugly. All of my families I still think of fondly- this mostly includes the children.. yet there are some of the parents who will resonate in the memories also. A lot of topics and memoirs will be covered, however I choose to make this an interactive blog and encourage feedback. To date I have been with 9 families. That may seem like a lot in 8 years however some of them were held dual (nanny share is the technical name). Ages ranged from 3 months to 13 years of age. Some with a household of 5 to a household of 1. All sorts, all backgrounds. Some quite interesting and some quite scary. Luckily I have only ever been put in a position where I would fear for my safety once. It was quite the bin of rubbish if I do say so myself.  Otherwise, I have only had one employer who I shall refer to as Medusa. She is the latest of my "iceberg" and had a sense of entitlement of Queen Elizabeth. Quite enough excitement at the position thank you!

By trade I am considered a "live-out" nanny. I prefer it that way, as I am married with a child of my own. Yet, I only have positive things that have come from the times of my child going with me to my jobs (sans the 2 crazy households). I have done everything from homeschooling to baking cookies. Outings to long excursions to even having those I have worked for find me on face book so that I might watch them grow over time. It is actually an amazing job if you think of it. These children are given to you a stranger and when you leave exchanging a piece of your heart with theirs.

So with that, I will say this is my first post. The musings of Nanny Poppins. While I do not carry a magic carpet bag and fly, I do have a "snaps" to make the job a game!