Overheard in Church Square Park

While hanging with the kids today in Church Square, I admit, I was eavesdropping on these African American Nannies.  They were sitting on the benches near the baby park.  

What I heard: Not one of them can stand the families that they work for.  One of them was PISSED that she had to work one day this weekend to make up for a missed day in the past. She kept going on about how the parents should spend time with kids over the weekend.  

Ok true, but if that was what was agreed upon, then Nanny, suck it up and work. 

The Dog Walking Nanny

As I think back to my time as the Nanny in the Absent Parents family, I wonder how many other Nannies are asked to randomly take care of a pet.  Or let's say, how many Nannies are blindsided into taking care of a pet.  Because that's what happened to me.  Let's get it straight.  I am NOT a dog walker.  I am a Nanny and I do not ever want to take care of your animals.  Have a fish?  Fine, I'll feed it.  But do not ever expect me to take your dog for a walk and not compensate me for it.  A dog walk in Hoboken is $15 per walk.  If that's something that a family wants me to do, please expect to pay me $15 extra to walk your animal.  I think that's fair.  What do you think?

And I love when a family has said to me "Don't worry about the dog.  There are wee wee pads for the dog to go on."  Uhhh what?  You let your dog pee and poop on a wee wee pad with a baby that crawls on the floor?  Come on people!  Stop being so cheap and get a dog walker multiple times a day!  That is just rank and unsanitary!  And I have to work in these apartments!

 

TODAY IS...SEPTEMBER 8, 2013 AND THAT MEANS IT IS GRANDPARENT'S DAY!!

 

 

GIVE A HUGE HUG AND KISS TO YOUR GRANDMA, GRANDPA, PAPPY, MOM MOM, BUBIE, ZADIE, NONNA, NONNO, AND WHATEVER ELSE YOU CALL THESE AWESOME PEOPLE!!

 

 

Nanny Appreciation

As I sit here on the Pier on this beautiful Saturday, I wonder if the family I that Nanny for really appreciates me.  Sure, they always say thank you.  They gave me a holiday bonus last year.  But do they really notice everything I do for them...the little things that I do to make their life easier when they get home from work.  And best yet, do they see how much their children have grown and how much they have learned?  I want to believe that they do see all of this.  Like how much better the older boy is eating now that I've been in the picture.  Or that the baby reaches every milestone far ahead of "schedule."  Maybe they don't notice, but I think that they are hands on enough that they do.  But maybe they also think that THEY did these things for their kids.  That THEY got their kid to eat veggies and fruits and try things beyond grilled cheese and mac and cheese.  Or that THEY spent hours hanging on the floor while the baby did tummy time.  I don't know.  

But like any job, it would be nice to hear the acknowledgement. It's not just a Nanny that wants to hear this.  Every person who works loves positive reinforcement.  But when a family has a Nanny that develops their most prized possession, families should take a time to reflect and really think about how good or bad their Nanny is.  If your Nanny is amazing, tell her how much you appreciate her.  And even give her a gift.  

Children at The Festival

1) I saw a 7 year old sitting in a stroller watching a DVD.  Uhhhh...say what?  Your almost tween is too lazy to walk?  

2) A Nanny/babysitter eating while the kid was walking next to her...not eating.  It was dinner time!  Where is his dinner?

3) An unbelievable amount of tantrums.  Why?  Because it was late and the kids were sugared up on zeppoles and then crashed.  I understand a good time on a Friday night, but come on.  Go to the festival.  Eat. And take your kids home to bed.  Despite the awful music there last night, the sound of your crying kids ruins the Friday night fun.  

Any other fun things you saw?  And by fun, I don't really mean fantastic things.  I also mean annoying people, kids, Nannies!

I'm going to the Italian Festival tonight. 

Who else will be there??

CHILDCARE MISTAKES 

PART I

One thing I noticed about being a Nanny is that I am either the first or second mother to the children, depending how close they are with their own Mom.  If Mom is a great Mom, then I am second in command.  If Mom is more of a friend to her kids, then I am first.  It just kind of works that way.  Who instills the best values.  While I don't mean that in a bad way, there are parents out there who really rely on their Nanny to be a parent.  

That being said, let me talk about Childcare Mistake 1. 

When you have a baby, around 5-6 months, they start trying real foods.  And as they get older, it's up to the parents or Nanny to give them a variety of foods.  The biggest mistake is not giving your child different foods while they are a baby.  Expand their palettes.  If it were up to them, they would eat mac and cheese for every meal, every single day.  But it should not be up to the them. Who wants to make three different dinners as they get older?  Not this Nanny...and I'm sure not you, Mom and Dad!  Start it at 9 months old when they can start eating chunks of adult food.  Little pieces of pasta, little pieces of steak.  They CAN eat it. 

Kids should eat what the parents (or Nanny) eat!