It is 4 days until Christmas!

Nannies, what have you gotten as a holiday bonus?

Hi, my lovelies!  I have had such a rough week.  Sick kids, sick parents, and sick me!  Thank you, family!

How are you?

ONE WEEK COUNTDOWN UNTIL CHRISTMAS!

HAVE YOU BOUGHT YOUR NANNY, SITTER, DOG WALKER, HOUSEKEEPER ANY GIFTS YET? 

YOU HAVE ONE WEEK! 

WHAT ARE YOU GIVING THIS YEAR?

Sitter Stories

This email comes from a once-upon-a-time Babysitter named Jamie:

 
"I'm no longer a Babysitter but here's a story from when I was.  I was Babysitting for a family in the city who were pretty well off.  Nice apartment, nice cars, nice clothes.  The first time I Babysat for them, the Mom said to me "we don't have much in the house, but feel free to eat what you find for dinner."  I looked in the cabinets and there was n-o-t-h-i-n-g to eat.  I came after the kids ate so I'm not sure what they ate for dinner.  I couldn't afford to order in so I just waited hours until they came home so that I could go home to eat.  They never left money for me to get anything but it would have been nice to be surprised with that once in awhile."

Jamie, I feel your pain and have been in your situation.  It's nice to get $10 to order in dinner while you watch their kids.  The Mom didn't have to say what she said because that was a kick in the gut.  Parents, treat your Sitter right.

Sitter Stories

Ok, whew.  This one comes from an Anonymous Sitter.  I was laughing hysterically!

"I have been Babysitting for one family for over 7 years now in Hoboken.  The Parents are divorced.  The Mom is a little less involved than the Dad, but still has her days with the kids.  One time when I was there, the Mom went out for the night with her new boytoy.  The kids ran into her room/bathroom to brush their teeth.  As I walked in to help the younger one, I noticed that all over the floor were sex toys and condoms.  I was so disgusted!  I wanted to ask why the Mom kept these things out where her kids could see them but I didn't."

Anonymous Sitter, I love this.  You are a trooper! 

Sitter Stories

This email comes from a Hoboken Babysitter named Melanie.  

"It really bothers me when a Parent tells me what time they are coming home. A lot of times they say they will be home at X and then come home an hour or two earlier.  Then, the Parents don't pay me for the original said time.  I rely on any money that I make for bills.  Don't you think that Parents either shouldn't say a return time or if they do, they need to pay until that time?"

Melanie, Yes.  Yes, they should be paying until the time they said they would return.  I always find it disgusting when Parents do things like this.  Come on, Parents, don't you want to keep your caregiver happy?  What's an extra $30-$40 to you?  But, Melanie, do you say anything about it?  If you do, you probably don't hear back from them.  If you don't, then you probably do Babysit a lot for them and it continues to occur.  It's one of those problems that us Nannies/Babysitters face.  I just think that the Parents need to pay and everyone will be happy.  

Sitter Stories 

If you're following me on Facebook, which you should be: Hoboken Nanny, I told you that I  am going to do a series of stories that just babysitter's have emailed me about. Some are hilarious and some are just downright sad that they have to work with these people.  C'est la vie!

Let's start with this one.  From a Sitter named Rachel.  

"I have a full time job in the city.  I like to babysit on the side, not just for the extra cash but because who doesn't like hanging with a cute baby or kid from time to time?  My hours at work are 9-5.  I get back to Hoboken and often go to meet families for a potential date night or whatever.  I'm in my early 30s and have been babysitting for 15 years.  I've got the experience.  I want to know why when I give people my rate($18 for one kid), I never hear back from them?  Can you help me with this one?"

Rachel, here's my answer: people are cheap as F%#@.  I once read this quote "If you want an average Babysitter/Nanny, you pay for an average Babysitter/Nanny.  If you want an amazing Babysitter/Nanny with experience, you pay for an amazing Babysitter/Nanny with experience. My advice is to just keep truckin.  I loved when I used to interview and I would go to these million dollar brownstones and lofts and the Parents wouldn't budge on the hourly rate that they wanted to spend on a caregiver.  With your experience, you are worth the $18 an hour.  If the families you meet don't want to spend that, then find a family who will.  They are out there.  Some Babysitters price themselves low, not because they don't have experience, but because they want a steady family who can rely on them.  That's fine too.  Think about it like this: would you rather make $18 an hour one time, or maybe $15-$16 with a family who loves you?  But you could also find a family who relies on you and you can make $18 all the time!  It just depends on how much a family is willing to not be a cheap bastard.  

BAD DAD SIGHTING

I was walking on Hudson Street past a daycare on 4th Street last Wednesday.  I saw a Dad taking one kid into the daycare.  The other kid was sitting in a stroller.  While the Dad went in the daycare to take the one child, he left the other stroller child outside.  Last Wednesday was pretty damn cold.  I stood there watching what the lousy Dad was doing.  He didn't just drop the kid off.  He went INSIDE to the room area.  Can you believe that?  The kid wasn't wearing a hat, just a jacket, and was left outside by himself in the stroller!  

Look, I know you feel safe in this town, but Jesus.  How about you take your kid inside with you?  Not good, Dad.  I didn't get a name but Dad, fess up and tell your wife because I guarantee you didn't tell her you did that!

 

Christmastime

I love Christmas.  Not just because of the holiday season feeling and the happiness(for the most part) that people have.  But also because I love the imagination part of Christmas.  I love telling my charges about Santa and seeing the pure excitement about him.  I also love telling them that Santa will not bring toys if they are bad.  Well, maybe, I only tell that to the older boy.  

But really, Parents and Nannies, you should be using that "Santa is watching" reason for the entire year.  I wonder how much more well behaved kids would be if Santa was watching them all year???  

I'm going to try it this year. 

Also, a tip for you Nannies and Stay-at-home-Parents:

The Elf on the Shelf goes to the North Pole to report to Santa at nap time.  You'll thank me for this tip!

Thanksgiving Wednesday

(get the picture?  Haha!)

 I worked my usual hours last Wednesday.  And of course, the Dad was home all day and the Mom got home early.  They are usually good about letting me leave when they are home, but for some reason, I had to stay until my regular time to leave.  That annoyed the hell out of me.  Why?  Because the brats got brattier, the Parents sit there and watch TV while I slave around, and why should I have to be there anyway? Can someone tell me?  

Anyway, the Mom wanted to let me leave early but the Dad said "Why should we let her leave?  She's a full time Nanny."  Ummm what's up your ass today, Dad?  And by the way, yes, he said that right in front of me.  I was appalled.  I think the Dad was pissed because he had to take care of his brats for the rest of the week while they were out of town.  Actually, I am confident that is why he was pissed.  He didn't work all day, he literally did nothing but make my life crazy while being home.  

Anyway, what an A-hole. 

 What do you think of his comments?

Comment below!

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I'm Sorry!

I have lacked in my posts but have so much to tell you. 

How was your Thanksgiving? I will tell you all about mine later today.

If you celebrate Hanukkah, did you get anything good? Email me at 

HobokeNannySpy@gmail.com and let me know!

Did you get a Thanksgiving bonus??

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