Childcare Mistakes

Part II

There are a lot of working parents in Hoboken with very serious jobs.  In the evening and on weekends, when I'm walking around town and see these parents, I often see them on their phones.  Whether it's at the park or a restaurant, most parents rarely have interaction with their kid...at least from what I see outside of their apartment.

Which brings me to childcare mistake 2: Not having fun with your offspring.

Your kid looks up to you and always wants your attention.  Have fun with them!  Act silly and messy. If you have a baby, let them play with crap that your type A personality may not like.  If you have older kids, go roll in the grass with them at the pier.  Weekends are for fun!  

Kids will remember whether you were always on your phone or if you put the phone down and had fun.  

Make M-E-M-O-R-I-E-S!

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??