So this summer I am nannying for a 2 adorable kiddos before I student teach in August!
IN the process of finding my nanny job I met with several families in lots of different situations.
I wanted to share the craziest with yall….
First I must ask have you seen/read the book/movie, The Nanny Diaries? via
In short here is the amazon synopsis: Two former Manhattan nannies blow the lid off of the private child-care industry with a hilarious debut that pulls no punches as it recounts the travails of Nan, a hip Mary Poppins looking for a job to fit around her child-development classes at NYU. Mrs. X seems reasonable enough when she hires Nan to look after her four-year-old son, Grayer, but she quickly reveals herself to be a monster a bundle of neuroses wrapped up in Prada, whose son is little more than another status symbol in a fabulous Park Avenue apartment. Mr. X is just as horrible, although he’s rarely seen or heard, too busy navigating mergers and mistresses to make time for a family starving for his affection. Nan finds herself stuck in a low-paying job from which she can be fired on a whim, enduring a steady stream of condescension, indifference and passive-aggressive notes on Mrs. X’s posh stationery. Against the advice of family and friends, she stays because of her devotion to Grayer but how long will it be before she explodes? The pages fairly crackle with class resentment that might have been more convincing if Nanny’s own family weren’t as comfortable, and the finale delivers more whimper than bang, but it’s easy to forgive such flaws when everything else rings true. Especially impressive is the authors’ ability to allow the loathsome Mrs. X occasional flashes of humanity and pathos. Required reading for parents and the women they hire to do their parenting.
OK now that you know what the book is about here is what happened.
I pull up to this house that is about 3 blocks from the house I grew up in, in Dallas. It was GINORMOUS not like oh thats a cute house more like “who needs that much space unless you are the Duggars”
The mom opened the door dressed in workout clothes and with a diamond ring the size of my face…just kidding.
She seemed nice and we sat at the kitchen table to chat. This is what she told me the job entailed:
Take child to school
Take child to park, museums, play-dates, etc
play with child, read to child, etc
Feed child breakfast lunch and dinner
Clean up after child(he’s 3)
All reasonable right?
here is where it gets….disturbing
Clean parents trash
Make parents bed
clean childs room
mop kitchen floor
take out trash
take out dog
vacuum house 3 times a week
They have a maid 3 days a week, a secretary and another nanny…for reals
So what exactly do those people do?!?!?!?!
I also am expected to:
Keep grocery list
do grocery shopping
run errands
Seriously what do these other people do???
Also Christmas, Thanksgiving, July 4th and New Years are all…DAYS I WOULD WORK!
Oh and its over 70 hours a week…did I mention that?
The dad travels so of course the mom needs me there
Its not like I have a family, or a boyfriend or a life…
Pays well but seriously…NOT WORTH IT!?!?!?!
It was so hard to keep a straight face the entire time I was talking to this woman knowing I would never ever not if you put a gun to my head take this job…
I of course interviewed for other jobs and found the one I have but ….
What would yall do in that situation? If you have kids what do you think of people like this? I am really interested in comments…..
But I warned you to brace yourselves….cause y’all people is CRAZY!
Helllllllllll no. I’ve done nannying jobs before and I was never expected to clean the house. If I cooked I would clean up the kitchen but that’s just craziness. Hope you find something better so you can enjoy your spare time:o)
That is ridiculous! Those expectations are completely unrealistic unless they’re looking for a live in nanny. I especially can’t believe they would expect you to work holidays. Isn’t that one day that should be devoted to family time?
Oh my gosh!! Now that you’ve posted this, you really have to tell me what you think about Joss in Shoe Addicts Anonymous. That’s all I could think about while reading your post.
Wow. That’s a bit much considering they have a maid too. I can understand a little light cleaning (such as cleaning any mess the child may make) but making their bed takes it too far I think. Glad you were able to find something a bit more normal!
that.is.nuts. Does this woman work? Does she ever see her own kids?
I can’t believe the non nanny things you’d have had to do.
Once when I babysat in HS the parents asked me to do thier laundry and clean up after the party they had had the weekend before (aka the crusted plates and dishes that had sat for 3 days), I thought it was the weirdest thing ever. I am the babysitter, not the maid!
That’s crazy! I’m a nanny. and I’m expected to do the first part of your list, which is understandable. But they would never in their lives expect me to do the rest of it!
One of my college room mates worked as a Nanny in NYC for John Macinroe and Patty Smyth after college. She had some crazy stories!! I plan on hiring a nanny when I have a baby and I want her to clean when the baby sleeps. But I only need someone 20-30 hours a week while we are working. Dave does not work that many hours. I am not going to pay someone to watch tv while the baby sleeps. But I don’t need a nanny when we are not working. That is craziness.
That is crazy!! She wanted you to make the parents bed?! WTF. if i were you, i probably wouldn’t have been able to keep a straight faced and would have laughed right her in face. that’s ridiculous
We have thought about a nanny someday. I think I would have a hard time asking them to do anything and have no idea what to expect a nanny to do (other than watch the kiddos!) So glad to hear you will be doing it! I may be asking questions to you in the future!
You gotta wonder about those kinda people. Do those kids even know their mother? Probably not! Reminds me of the movie Uptown Girls w/ Brittany Murphy & Dakota Fanning.
I’d say if the pay was right and you could handle basically being a live-in nanny, sure. But with all those other helpers they already have, it seems like a bit much.
There is no amount of money on the face of this earth that would get me to do that job. Glad you didn’t agree to it (I would have asked you to seek professional help if you had!)
I guess some people feel if they have enough money, they can just be lazy. Good grief!!
Oh wow. Typical “new money” mom!! Seriously, can this woman do anything for herself??? And why does she have a maid if you’re supposed to do general housekeeping in addition to the nannying?? I guess what I would do in this situation is think about how long this position is and if it’s worth it for that amount of time. If the pay is good, maybe it’s worth a little less free time (which means you’ll save money if you’re not doing much, right?). Also, if it got ridiculous, I think it would be reasonable to ask for a slight decrease in pay in order to not have to do the housekeeping. Say you want to be a nanny and you’re willing to adjust your pay to do that. Maybe that will help you stay sane 🙂
I think money can make people crazy. Who makes their nanny work on holidays? And there’s one kid and they want two nannys? Why did they even have a kid in the first place??
That is absolutely ridiculous. As a new mom I see wanting extra help, but that much?! Whew! And as a previous nanny, I would’ve laughed in her face. I don’t think I could’ve contained myself. And the title of that job most certainly is not nanny! That lady needs a reality check.
Um personally I think that is absurd! 70 hours a week just for you, so how long does the other nanny work?!! And asking you to do housework after already having a maid there 3x a week?!! Light cleaning, yes. Especially if it’s where you are picking up the child’s mess or cleaning up after making him/her a meal.
So when exactly does she spend time with her child? I am all for help (if I could afford it) and maybe having someone to help with the kids every once in awhile when I had doctor appointments or errands to run (thankful I have a lot of family to help me there). But I couldn’t imagine having someone else raise my kid/s and let alone not spending any holiday with them.
Wow. There is nothing wrong with having some help, but that is ridiculous! People shouldn’t have children if they don’t want anything to do with them!
WOW! That is crazy! That is way too much to ask someone to do for a nanny especially if they have other help in the house!
Seriously, what does her maid do???? I cannot believe you would have been MORE than a nanny, something like a housekeeper. Jeez people are so strange.
Helllllllllll no. I’ve done nannying jobs before and I was never expected to clean the house. If I cooked I would clean up the kitchen but that’s just craziness. Hope you find something better so you can enjoy your spare time:o)
That is ridiculous! Those expectations are completely unrealistic unless they’re looking for a live in nanny. I especially can’t believe they would expect you to work holidays. Isn’t that one day that should be devoted to family time?
So baisically what she wants is a mother…
Sounds like she doesn’t know the different between a personal maid and a nanny. That lady is crazy…and completely unrealistic.
Wow! I got pissed when a mOm wanted me to do laundry!
and what does this lady do?
and a nanny should be for children; get a house manager/maid or something for all that other stuff!
I use to be a nanny, I could tell you stories that would make your skin crawl. : ] But I’m glad you found one that seems more…reasonable.
Love,
B
Oh my gosh!! Now that you’ve posted this, you really have to tell me what you think about Joss in Shoe Addicts Anonymous. That’s all I could think about while reading your post.
Wow. That’s a bit much considering they have a maid too. I can understand a little light cleaning (such as cleaning any mess the child may make) but making their bed takes it too far I think. Glad you were able to find something a bit more normal!
Woooow. That is cray cray!
That bitch is cray cray.
that.is.nuts. Does this woman work? Does she ever see her own kids?
I can’t believe the non nanny things you’d have had to do.
Once when I babysat in HS the parents asked me to do thier laundry and clean up after the party they had had the weekend before (aka the crusted plates and dishes that had sat for 3 days), I thought it was the weirdest thing ever. I am the babysitter, not the maid!
WOW!!! I was a Nanny in college, and had to clean up after the 3 year old, do her laundry, etc. But never anything like that.. That’s crazy!
WOW… that’s all I know to say. Craaaaazy!
Holy smokes. that’s insane! It must be nice to have so much money you can stay home and neglect your kids LOL 🙂
I would have very calmly and quietly stood up and walked out and not even let her finish talking!!
That’s crazy! I’m a nanny. and I’m expected to do the first part of your list, which is understandable. But they would never in their lives expect me to do the rest of it!
wow that is absolutely ridiculous.. if you’re doing all that what does the mom do? Rest her hand from carrying around that massive ring? Nuts.
Stopping by for the first time! Cute blog…definitely had me laughing. 🙂
Those people are nuts! No one NEEDS that much help.
One of my college room mates worked as a Nanny in NYC for John Macinroe and Patty Smyth after college. She had some crazy stories!! I plan on hiring a nanny when I have a baby and I want her to clean when the baby sleeps. But I only need someone 20-30 hours a week while we are working. Dave does not work that many hours. I am not going to pay someone to watch tv while the baby sleeps. But I don’t need a nanny when we are not working. That is craziness.
Seriously that is unreal! What does the mom do….workout all day long with a trainer?
I woulda said hell to the no! Glad you found something better!
Ok, I never understood why stay-at-home moms needed one nanny, much less two. That is just crazy!!!
Did we ever talk about your student teaching? Like, grade and all that? I cannot wait to hear it!
That is crazy!! She wanted you to make the parents bed?! WTF. if i were you, i probably wouldn’t have been able to keep a straight faced and would have laughed right her in face. that’s ridiculous
I don’t get it… you’re a nanny, not a maid or errand boy. I woulda laughed in your face! LOL
We have thought about a nanny someday. I think I would have a hard time asking them to do anything and have no idea what to expect a nanny to do (other than watch the kiddos!) So glad to hear you will be doing it! I may be asking questions to you in the future!
That’s insane. My maid comes once every two weeks and we do fine. What does she do all day?
You gotta wonder about those kinda people. Do those kids even know their mother? Probably not! Reminds me of the movie Uptown Girls w/ Brittany Murphy & Dakota Fanning.
I’d say if the pay was right and you could handle basically being a live-in nanny, sure. But with all those other helpers they already have, it seems like a bit much.
Um, I agree Neely….that is redic!! You are a nanny…..not a maid/personal assistant/servant!! People are crazy!!
There is no amount of money on the face of this earth that would get me to do that job. Glad you didn’t agree to it (I would have asked you to seek professional help if you had!)
I guess some people feel if they have enough money, they can just be lazy. Good grief!!
🙂
Rach
Oh wow. Typical “new money” mom!! Seriously, can this woman do anything for herself??? And why does she have a maid if you’re supposed to do general housekeeping in addition to the nannying?? I guess what I would do in this situation is think about how long this position is and if it’s worth it for that amount of time. If the pay is good, maybe it’s worth a little less free time (which means you’ll save money if you’re not doing much, right?). Also, if it got ridiculous, I think it would be reasonable to ask for a slight decrease in pay in order to not have to do the housekeeping. Say you want to be a nanny and you’re willing to adjust your pay to do that. Maybe that will help you stay sane 🙂
Btw, love the Nanny Diaries book.
Oh hell no. What is the purpose of the maid if she doesn’t clean? People are ridic.
They don’t wanted a nanny maybe, they pretend to be looking for a nanny but want a housekeeper ! LOL those people are so weird ! Great blog =)
Fashion and Cookies
They don’t wanted a nanny maybe, they pretend to be looking for a nanny but want a housekeeper ! LOL those people are so weird ! Great blog =)
Fashion and Cookies
I think money can make people crazy. Who makes their nanny work on holidays? And there’s one kid and they want two nannys? Why did they even have a kid in the first place??
This lady needs to suck.it.up. and pay for a nanny and a maid.
Hell to the no.
I’m glad you found something else.
The person for this job is required to not have a life.
Christmas, seriously? I don’t know how you kept a straight face!
why have kids if you pay someone else to do it. just saying! i hate ppl like her! man am i harsh! dying to know what the pay was
Seriously…That is insane. Did she need you to brush her teeth too?
That is just purely CRAZY! Why even have a kid if you are not going to care for him and the other things on your to do list…CRAZY!
Glad you got out of that situation!
omg… thats insane!!!! no thanksss!!! just cuz they got money doesnt mean they should abuse it!!!
Wow, that is insane! I’ve never read the book, but it sounds just like the movie! haha
That is absolutely ridiculous. As a new mom I see wanting extra help, but that much?! Whew! And as a previous nanny, I would’ve laughed in her face. I don’t think I could’ve contained myself. And the title of that job most certainly is not nanny! That lady needs a reality check.
Um personally I think that is absurd! 70 hours a week just for you, so how long does the other nanny work?!! And asking you to do housework after already having a maid there 3x a week?!! Light cleaning, yes. Especially if it’s where you are picking up the child’s mess or cleaning up after making him/her a meal.
So when exactly does she spend time with her child? I am all for help (if I could afford it) and maybe having someone to help with the kids every once in awhile when I had doctor appointments or errands to run (thankful I have a lot of family to help me there). But I couldn’t imagine having someone else raise my kid/s and let alone not spending any holiday with them.
Glad you were able to find something else!