If you agree or disagree with something that I write about...say it!

I want this to be an interactive blog. 

Comment below or email me at HobokeNannySpy@gmail.com and I'll post it anonymously.  Heck, YOU can post anonymously, too!  

Start the convo.  I'm confident that there are many other people who want to say what you have to say.  Be the leader, not the follower(good advice that I give all my charges.)

Paying Your Caregiver What They Deserve

I know that a lot of my posts are about money and that might make me seem greedy, but really, I'm not.  I just think about this subject a lot.  I come across a lot of Nannies(as you know) and I always wonder if the next Nanny makes more than me.  Any normal human being thinks about this topic.  In the corporate world, Parents, would you want to be paid more or less than the same person doing the same job?  I can guarantee that 100% of you would say "more." Especially if you have more qualifications like a higher degree or more experience.

We live 1 mile from the greatest city in the world.  Manhattan(along with San Fran) has the highest Nanny/Babysitting rates. So, naturally, Hoboken comes to a close second with those rates.  So, why are Parents so hesitant to paying your Nanny/Babysitter the rate that we deserve?  I totally get it if your caregiver doesn't have much experience, therefore, you shouldn't pay them high to start.  But if your Nanny comes with a resume and fantastic references, why not pay what they ask?  

Many moons ago when I decided to be a Nanny, I had experience.  Not nearly what I have now, but I had enough.  I would say more experience than a first time parent.  Now I am a veteran Nanny.  When I would meet families back then, sometimes I wouldn't hear back from them.  A few families actually told me because my rate was too high.  And the best part was, one of those families asked me to be their date night sitter!  My rate was okay then.  But too high to be their Nanny.  

My thoughts on this are: if you want a Nanny who is 150% into being a Nanny and loves their job, pay her like she should be paid.  A Nanny isn't just a slave because she works in your home.  If a Nanny has loads of experience and can supply a reference at any given time, you know you nabbed a good one.  Pay her like a great one.  If she has the experience in raising a child, knows how to deal with special needs, food issues, has CPR and first aid certifications, all of those have taken her time and money.  If she doesn't have a college degree, that's ok.  If she does, that's amazing.  Pay her because she has one.  A Nanny job isn't a BS job.  It's my job that I love.  I'm tired of not being paid up to date wages just because I don't work in the corporate field.

Do You Have a FANTASTIC Nanny?

I came across this amazing list of traits of an amazing Nanny.  I fit every single one of these.  Does your Nanny?

1. A great nanny genuinely loves the company of children. Nannies spend a majority of their day with little adult interaction and must truly enjoy spending their time with children.
2. A great nanny has a basic understanding of child development. Nannies are childcare specialists and are responsible for providing the children with developmentally appropriate experiences.
3. A great nanny advocates for the children in her care. Nannies are willing to speak up if their charges’ well-being is compromised or if something is not in their best interest, while recognizing the parents have final say.
4. A great nanny has lots of energy. Nannies are responsible for actively engaging the children in their care and must have the energy to do so.
5. A great nanny has a reserve of patience. Nannies spend countless hours with children and must be able to handle children’s moods and behaviors without losing their temper or becoming outwardly irritated.
6. A great nanny is safety conscious. Nannies are solely responsible for the children when they are on duty and must consider the children’s safety first and foremost.
7. A great nanny is a good communicator. Nannies have to effectively relay and receive information from parents and children. Solid communication skills are required.
8. A great nanny is flexible. Life with children can be unpredictable. Nannies must be able to adapt to the situations they face.
9. A great nanny is understanding. Nannies are in the business of caring for others. Compassion and understanding are paramount.
10. A great nanny has a nurturing spirit. Nannies are responsible for supporting and encouraging children and must be able to foster their development.
11. A great nanny is reliable. Parents rely on nannies so that they can fulfill their obligations. Nannies must be able to be counted on.
12. A great nanny is responsible. Nannies are accountable for the children in their care. They must be capable of proving quality childcare.
13. A great nanny is trustworthy. Parents depend on nannies to meet or exceed the terms of their working relationship. Nannies are trusted to do their job well and to provide outstanding care.
14. A great nanny is respectful. Nannies and parents may not always agree on childrearing practices or decisions. Nannies must be respectful of the parents and their practices and honor the authority they have.
15. A great nanny has sound judgment.  Nannies share responsibility for the children’s health and development and must be able to make choices that are in the children’s best interests.
16. A great nanny is organized. Nannies have many responsibilities throughout the day and must be organized to ensure that they fulfill their duties and complete their tasks.
17. A great nanny is self-motivated.  Nannies don’t have someone constantly looking over their shoulders offering praise for a job well done. Nannies must be motivated to always do their job to the best of their abilities.
18. A great nanny is prepared to handle an emergency. Children get hurt and natural disasters and accidents happen. Nannies must know how to handle an emergency if one were to arise.
19. A great nanny is creative. Nannies must engage the minds of the children in their care. To work as a nanny, imagination is required.
20. A great nanny is proactive. When it comes to discipline, safety and meeting the children’s needs, nannies must be proactive rather than reactive.
21. A great nanny has a clean criminal background. Nannies help raise children to become good, law abiding citizens and serve as role models to the children in their care. Because of the intimate nature of the job, nannies should not have a history of criminal activity.
22. A great nanny has strong morals. Nannies help shape a child’s worldview and set their internal compass. It should be evident nannies know right from wrong and must be of sound moral character.
23. A great nanny is able to form a connection with children. To develop bonds with the children in their care nannies must be able to connect with children. Nannies naturally make connections with kids.
24. A great nanny wants to be a nanny. To work as a nanny a caregiver must love the nature of the job. Those who look to nanny because they can’t find other types of employment rarely stay in the field for long.
25. A great nanny is committed to making a positive difference in the lives of the children in her care. Nannies influence the children in their care and must acknowledge the importance of the role they play in the lives of the children. Nannies must commit to making a positive difference in the lives of the children for whom they care.

Bad Nannies Sighting

Yesterday, Friday, me and the turds were playing baseball on the turf at Church Square near 5th Street.  It was around 3pm and there were 3 Nannies but not near their kids.  They were a little older, maybe 5 or 6 years old.  They were playing by themselves, so my older charge went to go play with them.  I ended up spending the entire time playing with these kids while their Nannies did absolutely nothing.  I just kept looking over at them while I was pitching the ball to the kids.  What were the 3 Nannies doing?  They were on their phones for the whole two hours that we were there.  The only reason I heard the two boys names was because one of the Nannies would occasionally tell them to share the ball.  

Hey Nannies, how about you play with the kids you watch?  Or is that too much for you?  I hope the Parents of these boys reads this.  You are awful Nannies.  

Bonus season is almost here!  In 1 month from now, I will start my bonus series!  This is very important for EVERYONE.  Parents with Nannies, Parents with Babysitters, and Parents who send their kids to daycare need to read this! Gift giving and bonuses are not just for corporate world!  Nannies, Babysitters, and Daycare teachers all take care of your one common thing: your most prized possessions, YOUR KIDS.  

TREAT YOUR CAREGIVERS THE RIGHT WAY, NO MATTER WHAT!

Email:

I Get Stiffed

"Dear Hoboken Nanny,

I babysit for a few families in town.  One family in particular never leaves me money for dinner and always stiffs me at the end of the night.  It's either they don't have cash and have to write me a check, which is fine.  But often when they do have cash, they don't have enough.  So, I'm not paid in full.  It's usually only a dollar or two, but I still get very annoyed since that's money that I deserve. This family sends their only child to daycare and don't use me that often, so maybe they think it's no big deal.  To me it is.  A dollar is a dollar.  I feel weird reminding them the next time because that makes me seem money hungry.  Any help on what I can say?  Thanks, Jessica"

Jessica, I hear you on this.  Think about what is more important to you.  A dollar or the possibility of losing a family over a dollar.  I know it is VERY pathetic for Parents to stiff their babysitter...the person who takes such good care of their child(ren).  I truly believe that Parents just don't get the whole babysitting aspect.  Some do, some don't.  At the same time, if it annoys you that much, talk to them.  Say "The past couple of times you have shorted me (X amount) and it adds up.  I rely on this money for bills. I know to you that it's not much, but even a dollar can help me." But really, I know it stinks, but to me, a dollar isn't worth the lost of a family because this could make them angry.  

Thank you for your question!

Have any questions or comments?  Email me at HobokeNannySpy@gmail.com

YAY...Daddy's Home! 

The dad ambushed me today and stayed home from work.  YAY.  The kids were awful!!!!!!!

The best part of it was that the dad told me he was "too tired to babysit" his kids.  Yep.  I know that I'm paid to do this, however, a dad does not "babysit" his kids.  A dad is the dad, not a babysitter.  WTF!

What did he do all day you ask?  I don't even know.  He wasn't sick.  He just made the kids crazy by walking in and out of where the kids were which then made them cry every time he left the room.  COOL BEANS, DAD!  

Please go to work tomorrow, PLEASE.