Leaving Hoboken

Parents, do you let your Nanny take your child out of Hoboken to do something fun?  I have taken my charges to Battery City Park, the Liberty Science Center, and the Central Park Zoo. I am curious if you let your Nanny do the same?  If you don't let your Nanny leave Hoboken, why not?  I understand having a schedule of activities, but if your child doesn't have loads of activities.  It can also be frustating if your child is young or if you have an older child and a newborn, but it's nice to get out of Hoboken once in a while.  I enjoyed it!

Parents & Nanny Discussion

I am thinking about having the first ever  Hoboken Nanny and Parents discussion.  I am curious to know how many people would attend.  Place is TBD and time would be in the evening when Parents get home and Nannies leave to go home.  However, it's not going to be a negative discussion.  More informative with questions and answers.  Also looking at situations, but not towards a specific person.  Any takers?  

Please email me at HobokeNannySpy@gmail.com or comment below if you are interested in attending.  I don't have a set date.  I am just trying to get a feel of how many would attend.  

Rainy Day Activies in Hoboken

First of all, it's not raining yet, so you should be outside.

But when it does rain...

1) Go to the library and read new books.  The library is on Park and 5th.  

2) Have a playdate at another apartment.  If the kids are over their own toys, go play with another kids toys!

3) BAKE!  If the kids aren't old enough, then don't bake.  

4) Have a dance party like I did.  The kids LOVE it. 

5) For an older kid's imagination: tell a fun ghost story.  It's a great way to get a child to ask questions and also amp them for Halloween next week.  And doing the story in a fort is even better!

6) If the Parents allow you to leave Hoboken and the kids are old enough, go to Liberty Science Center.  The Light Rail takes you right to it.  

And for you, Parents, tonight, let your child watch a fun Halloween movie.  Especially if you can't go to the park due to rain this evening, it's okay to let them veg once and a while. 

Confessions of a Nanny

Part I don't remember

A child's development is my biggest concern.  I spend 50 hours a week with your children.  The least that you people can do is notice how well your children have done over the years.  I have taught them to sleep well, eat well, and now talk and read well, yet you have the balls to try to compare what I've done versus what you've done.  This is not a competition of who teaches what.  We are a team.  I don't care if you taught your kids to say thank you.  WE taught your kids to say thank you.  I also don't care if you took your kids to Pier A to kick a ball.  


Your competition contest makes you look weak and unstable.  Save it.

The Incapable Parents

Sometimes I wonder if the Parents that I work for are as incapable in their jobs as they are as Parents.  Like for instance, they ask the dumbest questions in the world.  "Do we have to bathe him every night?"  And this isn't their first kid.  "Do we need to brush his teeth at night?"  Umm, do you brush your teeth at night?  Did you brush your teeth at night as a kid?  Then, yes.  "What kind of food does he need to eat?"  Umm, he should be getting exposed to everything possible.  And the best is when the older one tells me that his Parents give him soda with dinner!!!!!!!  (By the way, no child should ever be drinking soda.)

I mean, seriously, Parents.  I know that we live in Hoboken and you probably work late, but are you that dumb that you don't know these basic facts of raising a child?  ESPECIALLY when you have multiple?!  You decided to have these kids.  I raise your kids.  It's not that hard.  I tell you what to do.  You do it.  It's that simple.  Follow my directions and your kid will turn out nicely.  Continue down your path and your kids will turn out to be the smelly cavity filled teeth kid.  Not kidding.

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.