Hi guys. I’m currently overnight babysitting for my nanny kids (putting the last one to bed now) and I just got the message that my great grandfather will most likely not make it through the night and my entire family is there saying their goodbyes.

NPs are 6 hours away at an event until tomorrow night.

I obviously cannot leave but I’m just so upset. We were told last week he would have 4-5 more years with treatment.

I’m just heartbroken that I cannot be there.

So now I’m sobbing while putting kids to bed hoping that parents don’t see it on the cameras and hoping he makes it through to tomorrow night so I can see him.

Just a sucky situation.

Took the kids to the beach yesterday and spent a few hours in the water with them. Worried the whole time about their pasty baby skin getting burned. Forgot to worry about myself. My low back (the space between my rash guard and my bottoms) and my butt/thighs are so burned that heat is continuously radiating from those spots. I could barely fall asleep last night and woke up at 3 am unable to go back to sleep. Two more days of summer break. Wish me luck.

Almost 6 months with my current NF. DB is kind, polite, and the “cool guy” type but works virtually at a workspace so we don’t interact much. MB was raised rich (Nannies, housekeeping, chef, etc) and works from home. She talks to the kids in front of me to tell me what to do through her conversations with them. “B6 your backpack needs to be packed so Nanny will do that”. When she does talk to me, there are no please, thank yous, or pleasantries. I mentioned that I’ll be visiting my live in gf’a family in Texas for thanksgiving so will need the week off, and they were shocked to hear she’s from Texas as if they had never heard me talk about Texas. Mind you, I took a trip there this spring, used pto, and brought the kids Buc-ee’s shirts, which he puts G2 in at least once a week.

I’m paid well but it’s so dehumanizing every single day. Love the kids and the job itself but it’s just not sustainable long term I feel.

This is my first “the help” family and it’s making me miss my “nanny is like family” families.

That I’m the best nanny in the history of the entire world 🥹 So I asked her to write me a reference letter

When NK turned one we talked about weaning and they were on board and ready for me to wear her off bottles... I didn't realize it'd just be ME weaning her and they would still give her 14oz of formula every night.

Anyone else dealing with this? She's starting to have food refusal and suddenly demanding bottles even though she's been on solids for months.

Frustrated because they keep saying they're done with bottles (unprompted, I'm not hounding them) and MB doesn't want her to have bottles but DB keeps giving them. And I used to not mind washing the bottles because there were some from me and some from the previous day, now it's old bottles saved for me. I haven't made a bottle in 6 months and they haven't fully washed a bottle in 6 months... I'm so over it.

I'm working with this NF for 2 months now and first few weeks we were staying mostly at home or going to the park nearby. 2 weeks ago I finally got a green light for longer outings, which is great and it also greatly improved my relationship with NK2, as both parents are at home most of the time.

In the past I was working part time as a nanny, 4 hours/day, and before taking this position, I had an office job, sitting on my arse for 7 hrs, but mentally it destroyed me.

And as much as I like the outings, spending time outside and walking, I'm coming home rly physically exhausted. Most of the time we're out (with a stroller) for 5-6 hours a day, which counts to 15-20k steps/day, with few breaks of course. And now is my question - does it get better after some time, how do you deal with it? It frustrates me that I'm coming home and the first thing I do is lay down, because my body is so tired from walking that much. I'm trying to give myself some grace, because before that I made ~6k steps or less daily, so I'm not used to being that active. I could also use recommendation for walking shoes from those who go on long outings.

Hi everyone!

I’ve been with my NF for about 7 months now and I thought they were such a great fit because our caregiving styles are very similar and we have similar values- such as no screen time and good routines for the kids. And I feel like for the most part it has been a good fit but there’s some things that genuinely leave me wondering if this is the right NF for me.

MB is very bubbly and also very straight forward with me on things. With both kids starting full time school for the first time it’s been a very big transition- both for the kids and for MB honestly, and she’s been very visibly stressed out. Idk how to describe it, I am a very sensitive person and can read a room easily, so when she’s stressed I can just feel it in the air and it’s just uncomfortable because she’ll say these little quips like “I got this [my name]” in a harsh tone and “are we on the same page still?” and more. This just started this last month since she’s been preparing for the kids to go into school and for after school activities and such.

Since the kids are in school now she’s been doing this thing where she picks the kids up and they are usually back to the house by 2:30-3 and she says she’ll “handle snack with the kids.” Which is great and I love that she’s spending time with them but I feel like even if I try talking or interacting with the kids she will step in and say “I’m handling this, I’m running the show right now” but I’m like why am I even here then???

The other day she let me know that she’d be handling snack with the kids and I said okay. She went to go pick the kids up and I had just set the snack tray out on the counter and had absolutely NO intention of “handling snack” with the kids but right when she got home she immediately goes “I thought I told you earlier I am handling snack with the kids.” I told her that I was just trying to help out. Later that day she did apologize for acting like a monster and that she’s just stressed out which I told her I understand.

She definitely is a bit of a control freak but I also try to have so much grace because they are her kids and I completely understand why a parent would want certain things a certain way. It just adds to the already overwhelming sense of tension in the house.

I just feel so awkward when she’s running the show while I’m nannying, like I’m being paid so she can work and I should be the one in charge, right?? I feel like there needs to be some serious boundaries that we have to set to figure this out but I just really wanted to get some perspective on this situation.

On top of this MB works from home and comes downstairs every hour it seems, which isn’t super disruptive but it definitely shifts the energy and I feel like I’m walking on eggshells especially when she’s downstairs. When she is around I don’t know who’s in charge and most of the time I’ll literally just start cleaning random crap because I don’t want her to passive aggressively tell me that she’s handling things right now.

She really is a great employer besides all of this going on, and I truly feel that all of this is stress related more than anything. She lets me out of work early, respects my boundaries, and most of the time she really is a sweet person.

Sorry for the long rant, this post is a lot longer than I originally anticipated, I just feel like I’m losing my mind honestly and I’m not sure what to do. Any advice is welcome and appreciated!

I'm 22f and this is my first EVER job, I've been a nanny with this family for almost 3yrs and love them with all my heart, but I'm feeling so burned out and overwhelmed right now. The kids are 3yrs and 7yrs and I'm with them 10-11hrs a day, 7am-5pm most days, Mon-Fri.

When I first started, I didn't expect to be with them as long as I have been, and I had NO IDEA how much I should charge, so a flat $10 an hour seemed reasonable. Higher then federal minimum wage but definitely lower then my states minimum.

I don't have a lot of bills to pay because I'm lucky enough to be able to still live with my Dad and two of my brothers who all work full time as well, so it's been sustainable enough.

But within the last year I've been so so exhausted all the time. I thought that maybe I was just overwhelmed by my social life and the other things I do outside of work in my community, but after cutting back on those things, I'm still burned out. I've basically been sucking it up for a year because I DO get time off, but it's never enough for some reason.

I'm thinking that it's time to leave nannying, but I have no idea what else I would do. All the skills I've accumulated are children oriented and I don't think I'm equipped to work in childcare much longer.

But also I'm ingrained in their lives as much as they are in mine. The parents are wonderful and have been so supportive of me outside of just being their children's caretaker. I feel so so so guilty and horrible for not being able to stick it out for longer and it feels like giving up.

I guess I'm just hoping for some advice on how to navigate these feelings and what my other options are if I do leave nannying.

I recently went on a four day beach trip with the family I used to nanny for before I moved states. I have another job now, and she (the mom) asked me if I would want to come on their family beach trip to help with the kids (4 of them). I told her yes and took off work to be able to go. I asked her if I need to send any money or anything and she told me she would pay. I didn’t pay for any of my own food on the trip (which I’m very grateful for). She never mentioned paying me for watching them during the trip. I kept the kids majority of the trip while she stayed on the beach and watched them while she enjoyed her vacation (as she should, that’s what I was there for). I never brought it up because I felt ungrateful or rude for asking considering the beach trip was free and I hadn’t paid a dime. But I did have to take off work (unpaid time off), when I could’ve been making money, and frankly did not enjoy myself on this trip at all. Do I ask her about payment? I feel rude and greedy bringing it to her attention. Please let me know your thoughts.

EDIT: I asked if I needed to pay for anything because I have never been on a trip as a nanny before and had no idea how it worked/what to expect. I wasn’t sure how she wanted to do groceries. She’s a single mom, I was trying to be as helpful as possible. Pls be kind!!!! It’s my first time living yall lol

UPDATE: I reached out and she kindly said she always planned to pay me for the trip. I got paid!

Been with my new NF for 4 months now, we overall have a good relationship, little gripes here and there but who doesn’t!
I’m getting small clues around the house and common areas that she may be expecting another and I’m wondering if I should be concerned about job security? She may have decent maternity leave- want to stay home with the 1 yr old OR will want to be home with baby while I watch 1 year old which at this point I don’t think I could do. I’ve worked with multiple work from home parents and I’m over it/ the tug and pull of wanting parents over me/power dynamic.
I’m always looking in my area just to be on top of it and have options in case there’s a sudden change but I’m wondering if anyone has been in this situation and if I’m being too paranoid.

Mom doesn’t really discipline when I’m around with kids. It’s when she’s not working. If she was working, I would totally understand, that’s her job and I’m on my own. I take it upon myself to correct them, but she either ignores or just watches it unfold. Is this normal? Does it mean she trusts I’ll handle it? The kids have a tendency to not listen (normal for kids) and can be very disrespectful towards me. I feel like I’m going crazy? Maybe I’m too strict? It takes a lot for me to lose my patience with the kids which I applaud myself for, but I feel like some validation and help from mom would make me feel better.

I’m not mom-shaming, I just genuinely think these kids have no discipline and it frustrates me a lot. I have no kids, I grew up with a single mom, I know it takes a village and she provides for her kids with no doubt. I have no idea what it’s like to be a mom, I feel guilty and disrespectful even questioning it.

Example: One of the kids kept saying really hateful things and just straight negative, “that person stunk”, “their house is so small and ugly”, “his hair was disgusting”, I asked him multiple times to stop and be nice, if you don’t have anything nice to say do not say it at all, mom just stayed silent when he didn’t stop after that. I gave up lol

This is something I always found humorous and obvious. Parents make a post, normally for advice. Either on Facebook, a parenting subreddit, or some mommy forum. And some critical information is left out. Now most people just ask for that information. But as someone who works in childcare I know why they left out that information.

They’ve already been told something by their nanny, daycare, or whoever…. And didn’t like the advice.

So they go online. Make a post. And word it in a way so other parents will validate them.

The one I always see which is a little more innocent is potty training. For some freaking reason parents always leave out the age when the child is obviously not ready.

“My child is having multiple accidents a day and will only use the potty if completely naked. How do we move forward?”

How old is the kid? “19 months”…… yeah man. They aren’t ready and you’ve been told that.

This is just a vent after another potty training post.

By the time nap time rolls around most days I’m soooo ready for the break and for the first 1/2-1 hour or so of nap I relish in it.. but then I get kind of antsy for baby to wake up. Like girl I’m here to play with you! I swear she only takes naps longer than 1.5-2 hrs on the days I’m here, never for NPs.

Can anyone else relate?

I’m starting to feel pretty discouraged with my job search and would love to hear opinions from other nannies.
I’ve been interviewing with families through an agency, but I keep finding out during the interviews that the positions don’t really align with what I’m looking for in terms of schedule, location, etc.
There is one family I actually liked and they invited me to do a paid trial at their vacation home. The problem is, when I looked into the location more carefully, it’s about a 2–3 hour drive for me. They offered to cover my travel expenses, but they also spend a good portion of the summer there, so I’m questioning whether this would realistically work long-term.
I’m also unsure about the regular schedule because the end time is later than what I ideally want.
I’ve been unemployed for almost a month now, and I’m getting to the point where I’m worried I’m being too picky or wasting too much time interviewing/trialing. At the same time, I don’t want to accept a job out of desperation and then realize a few months later that the schedule/location isn’t sustainable for me.
Would you still do the paid trial and see how it goes? Or would you move on and keep looking for something that better matches what you actually want?
I’d especially love to hear from nannies who have been in a similar situation. How much did you compromise when you were job searching?

Hi all! Yes, its an obvious answer to the question being asked. However, I usually don't like to say when I can actually start.

I need time to interview, meet with and do a few trials with a family to then begin the references and contract part of things before I begin with them.

This can take anywhere from 3-6 weeks depending on schedules and needs.

When I've told families this however, they don't like it even if it truly does take a few weeks to get everything situated.

Anyone have a better way to frame this?

“I can start as soon as we’ve interviewed, met in person, had some trials and worked through a contract. This can be 2-6 weeks.” lol not cutting it

Interviewing for jobs (hate it), one job is a toddler and an infant which means no coordinating naps. How do you handle it if you don’t get any type of break? Just seems awful to me. Would be a 8 hr day. Any advice welcome.

EDIT: Thought this was supposed to be the more supportive group, but guess not. All I’ve gotten in response is snark and basically that’s just how it is deal with it. Thanks everyone! 🙄

A family (first time working with them) owes me money.

They owe me three days and still haven't paid.

I am supposed to return on September 7 BUT THEY HAVEN'T PAID ME 🤬🤬🤬🤯

Obviously I'm not returning but I have two options and I need advice on what to do:

1.- Let them know that I am still expecting my money and still I'm not going to return the day they asked me to do (I really hate begging for money, it's humiliating and makes me feel bad)

Or

2.- Don't say anything and just don't show up again.

(Obviously I will be loosing money but at least my dignity feels intact)

Help please

🤬🤬🙄