Pee Girl at Madison Park

I'm not sure what made me think of this but I have to tell you.  Over the Summer, I take my charges to Madison Park to play in the water.  And while I was applying sunscreen to the kids, I looked over and not 3 feet away from me was a little girl.  This girl had to be at least 6 years old.  She was nude from the waist down and she was just standing there peeing.  No, I'm not kidding.  Next to her was either her Grandma or Nanny.  I could not hold back my disgust for what was going on.  So, for the first time ever, I yelled at not only the girl, but the old hag watching her.  I was not nice because there is a Port-o-potty there for a reason.  

I get that every child in that park in the summer most likely pees in the water area.  That's fine because it goes down the drains(hopefully).  But what's not okay is when a kid, this girl, decided to pee near the fence.  But it wasn't even in the dirt area near the fence.  It was on the sponge part where people lay their things.  I felt bad for the people next to her because they only had towels on the ground.  

How f'ing sick is that?

My Mouth Dropped Wide Open

I was at Church Square Park earlier.  This other Nanny and I were talking and she asked me what to do about negotiating pay for a new child.  Before giving my advice, I asked her what she wanted to do. She told me that she's going to ask for double.  I asked her to say it again.  She said double.  I said "as in double per hour?  So, say you make $15, you're going to ask for $30 per hour?"  She said yes.  And my mouth dropped.  I told her good luck and I moved on.  

While, yes, Nannies should be making that amount.  Honey girl, no one will ever pay you $30 per hour here.  This is not NYC.  This is Hoboken.  While we were 1 mile away from NYC.  This is Hoboken.  

Does ANYONE, I mean ANYONE that is a child Caregiver make more than $25 per hour in this town?  

If you do, I want to hear from you.  

Comment below or email me at HobokeNannySpy@gmail.com

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2013 BONUS SERIES

The Dogwalker

Man's best friend.  Your pup and it's dogwalker.  The person comes everyday and walks your number 1.5 in your life.  Or maybe the pup is your number 1 and your kids are 1.5.  Anyway.  Your dogwalker is also your employee.  You can't forget about the person who makes sure your dog doesn't pee or poop all over your floor or mink coat, or Tory Burch shoes while you're at work.  

So.  What to give?  

A dogwalker's holiday bonus is one week's pay. 

If there are a couple of different people who walk your dog, then split it, $50 a person.  But that all depends on how often each person is there.  

Don't forget to thank him or her in a card as well.  The card doesn't have to be as mushy as your card to your Nanny or Sitter because afterall, you probably never see your dogwalker.  But they are still a part of your puppy's life.

2013 Bonus Series

The Babysitter: Often or Occasional

Many families in Hoboken have a Babysitter.  Whether it is for after the Nanny leaves for the day or for a family with a child in daycare or school, and even when a stay-at-home Parent needs time away from the kid. Most Parents wouldn't be able to do anything without their Sitter.  So, they should not be forgotten at holiday time.  You may see your Babysitter once or a few times a week.  You may see your Sitter a few times a month, but that doesn't mean you can forget the holiday gift.  Does your Sitter love your kids? Is he/she reliable? Then, yes, you need to give a gift.

First, write a card. The same type of card as you would a Nanny(see below.) 

Second, the monetary amount should be, in my opinion, at least $100. Feel free to give more if you really love your Sitter.  What the Today Show said in my notes from 2009 was "at least one night's pay." But do NOT think it is acceptable to go out the night you give a gift and it be a cheap night. Say if you go out for 2 hours.  No.  That's like a slap in the face.  If you appreciate your Sitter(s) then show it.  If you have multiple sitters, well, you should give everyone a nice tip.

And third, give a gift card to their favorite coffee shop/somewhere else they would enjoy. We have 3 Starbucks and 3 Dunkin Donuts in town.  Surely the Sitters would love a gift card to get a cup of coffee so they can stay awake to watch your brats. 

2013 Bonus Series

The Nanny/Manny

Here's the person who looks after your kid(s) day in and day out.  The one person whom you have trusted enough to raise your little ones. It's almost holiday time and you want to know how to show your Nanny how much you appreciate her, right? Here are a few tips to ensure that your Nanny will feel appreciated and can guarantee she stays with you until you fire her!

First, you should get a nice card and write how much you appreciate her.  I've gotten a few cards that have made me cry because they were so sweet. You should make your Nanny cry like that.  She will love it.

Second, within the card, put some monetary value.  A Nanny should receive AT LEAST one week of pay as a bonus.  Should you feel inclined, you can give more than one week.  One family once gave me over $1,000 as a bonus and they were by no means wealthy.  They were appreciative.  In return, I was very very grateful.  Remember: this is a suggestion.  You can do what you want, but I recommend taking my advice.

Third, also include a gift. This is usually given "from the child" even though the 
kid didn't pick it out.  A gift can include: a spa gift card, a gift card to a store, an iPad, a designer purse, a piece of nice jewelry.  Anything of value.  I'd like a David Yurman bracelet.  Hint hint. But that kind of stuff is suggested.

Your love for your Nanny during the Holiday Season proves what type of people you are and your kindness.  Nannying is no easy job (and I'm sure your job isn't easy either) but Nannies raise the Number One part of your life.  

HAPPY 11-12-13 FROM HOBOKEN NANNY!

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