The Out of Control Child

Everyone has seen it.  The child that both parents and Nannies cannot control.  He knows that he has the upper hand in every situation, but as an onlooker, you can't help but stare and shake your head.  Parents, it could be your kid, or a friends kid.  But let me tell you, everyone knows this kid.  No, I'm not talking about anyone specific, but it's the kid that you don't like your kids hanging out with because his manners are God awful and if he doesn't get what he wants, the lives of anyone surrounding are miserable.  

Why does this happen?  Well, let's take a look see.  The kid probably has two working parents who rarely see him.  If he has a Nanny, she probably ignores him most of the time and isn't stern.  And if he doesn't have a Nanny and is in school, the only people he respects are his teachers.  

I have seen this firsthand and actually experienced a child like this.  By the end of my time with him, he was an angel with me.  He literally went from a crazy prick little boy to when I snapped my fingers, he was standing next to me, ready to leave Church Square.  Everyone has the ability to do what I do, but it has to be learned.  Not everyone can have such strict boundaries.  I know especially with parents, it's hard.  But try.  No one wants to be around the Out of Control Child.  No one wants to HAVE the OOCC.  Not even a Nanny who gets paids the big bucks!

Hoboken Restaurants and The iPad

 

Everywhere I go, I see Parents hand over the iPad so their kid sits nicely in one of our awesome restaurants here.  Really?  This is what you turn to just so your kid sits in a restaurant?  I get that it's 2013, but teach your kid to sit in a restaurant and color.  Why do they have to be plugged in so much?  Giving them the iPad preps them to always want to be plugged in to their phone as they get older.  Good job, Parents, good job.  Another excellent parenting skill!

Confessions of a Nanny 

Part IV

A few years ago, I nannied for a family where the parents sucked and the little girl was on the autism spectrum.  I knew from the beginning but I wasn't really sure because the parents didn't give her the life tools to survive.  She didn't get enough sleep, her diet consisted of junk food, and she was run ragged everyday.  The parents worked full time and felt guilty.  So, they gave her what she wanted and didn't know that sleep was essential for growing.  Part of me thought it was just poor development due to the parents, but when I came to the picture and got her on as best of a schedule that I could, she still wasn't "right."  I became very attached and worked well beyond my hours to help this little girl.  I would google ways to cope her tantrums and how to help her get over her food issues.  I became VERY attached to her and actually worried about her when I wasn't around.  I absolutely adored this little girl.  I felt that her parents did nothing to help her and I was the only person in her life that made sure she got enough sleep and ate balanced meals.  When I found out that they were moving, I cried for days.  I almost wanted to call childrens services because I was so extremely worried about her future.  Her parents were not bad people, they just shouldn't be parents.  They are friends to her.  The day of the move finally came.  When they left, I went home and sunk into my couch for the rest of the night.  I missed the sweet little girl that had such an impact on me.  

Even though it doesn't seem like Nannies get attached, there's always that one family that we will never forget.  I will never ever forget her.  If I could adopt her, I would.  

Napping on the Job

 

Sometimes kids are so exhausting that 4 cups of coffee can't keep me awake.  I have two cups in the morning just to jolt me awake.  And then when the kiddos are mixed in, I am ready for bed by 2pm.   Especially since I have to be at work so early.  There have been a few days where I need to take a nap while the kids nap.  Is that acceptable to parents?  I've always set an alarm to make sure I'm up when they are up.  When you're as good of a Nanny as I am, I am always on the go.  So, I feel that if I need to nap while they nap, I should be entitled to it.  

 But I want to know your side, Parents.  Are you comfortable with your Nanny napping while your children nap?  Why or why not?

Does anyone have any juicy babysitting stories from the weekend?  

I do.  

 My friends family called the cops because the mom vandalized one of the bathrooms in the apartment! The parents are going through a bitter divorce.  My poor friend.

 

How would you like to be involved in that one?  

Confessions of a Nanny

Part III

When I first met this mom, I didn't think she was bad.  Then when I met the kid, she turned into a Devil.  Not only was she the Micro Manage Mama, but she just got downright mean when I would try to help her kid do something.  So, before I started, I gave her my hourly rate, and she came back with an offer that was 50 cents less.  5-0 cents!  Which came out to like $10 less per week.  Now, ok.  I've got a lot of experience and when it comes to negotiating, my rate is my rate.  I don't mess around.  So, I said "my rate is my rate, take it or leave it."  Obviously since I'm the shiznit, she accepted.  But man, did that leave an awful taste in my mouth about this family and I did not want to work with them.  But since it was the highest paying, I accepted it.  But I absolutely dreaded every single day.  

And sure enough, their cheapness showed at holiday time when they gave me $0 for a bonus and didn't even say thank you after I gave the kid a present. 

I ignore them everytime I see them walking around. 

Wake the Baby Up

The more I come in contact with first time parents, the nuttier I think most of them are.  "Make sure you wake the baby up around 10:30pm to get the last feeding in."  Uhhh what?  Wake a sleeping baby just to prevent YOU from having to get up at 1am?  Why would ANYONE do such a thing...seriously I want to know.  

I find that first time parents prevent their child from sleeping just to accommodate themselves from not getting sleep.  Put it this way, if your   baby fall asleep at 7pm and is still sleeping by the time their next feeding "should" be, there's no need to wake them up.  YOU should be sleeping when the baby sleeps.  Therefore, if the baby wakes up at 1am ready to eat, get your butt up and feed it.  You are setting your baby up for disaster by waking it out of a deep sleep.  

Let the baby sleep.  Do not wake the baby up.