So, it’s the nanny’s third day today, and she didn’t quit yet. I’m so happy! (Amazing how my standards have dropped, isn’t it?)
Seriously, though, even beyond her not quitting, I’m thrilled with the new nanny. The boys ask every day whether Jen and Jordan (her one year old son) are coming today. She brings them to the park; she plays games with them; last Friday, she brought them to her house for the afternoon and they did fingerpainting and came home with home-made, car-shaped cookies. She’s got Simon on the potty a couple of times a day. She even emptied the clean dishwasher so she could put the lunch dishes in it. Really, I love her!
I’m not the only one who loves her. Friday night at dinnertime, Tristan had just finished telling us all the fun things they did with Jen that day. He asked if she would be coming back the next day, but I told him that Mummy and Daddy don’t have to work on Saturdays or Sundays, so we’d get to spend the whole day together as a family. “And besides,” I teased him, “would you rather spend the day with us or with Jen?”
He didn’t hesitate nearly long enough before answering, “Jen!” In other circumstances, I might have been peeved, but frankly by this point, I’m happy with that answer.
It’s still a little awkward having her in our house, though. We’re making up rules as we go along, because I hadn’t really thought any of this through. I don’t know if I should leave a list of suggested lunches for the boys, based on that week’s trip to the grocery store, or just let her root through the cupboards and make it up based on what she finds. I’m also not sure whether I should be buying stuff for her to make lunch for herself.
I was also thinking about leaving suggestions for activities, and leaving her our family membership card for the Farm and the Science museum. If it were me, we’d be going to the library, and playgroups, to parks in other neighbourhoods – anything to burn daylight! – but I don’t want to overwhelm her. I’m not sure I’d want to be doing a lot of field trips by myself with a 1, 3 and 5 year old!
So, day three and all is well on the daycare front. It’s going to nearly break us financially (her pay is barely $100 less a week than Beloved earns) but at least for the next year I’m willing to pay that price. Do you think this is finally the good karma I’ve earned after more than half a year of dreadful experiences?
A quick editorial aside comes to mind as I’m writing this post. When I refer back to old posts (which, I am noticing, I am quite fond of doing) should I be linking to the original posts back on Blogger or the ones in the archive here? The original ones have the comments. What do you think?
Having been the nanny myself for a couple of years, I’d say feel free to leave her a note if there are leftovers to finish, or if there’s a particular abundance of something in the fridge that needs to be eaten for lunch.
Just please please avoid the situation where she has to make a meal from nothing.
My little one often had suppers of “special pizza” (a slice of bread with tomato paste and cheese with the mould cut off) when we were at her asshole father’s house. Her father would then, as often as not, come home (late), and berate me for feeding her, since he had grocery shopped on the way home, and had planned supper for them.
Bottom line is communicate freely. I promise your nanny won’t find you overbearing, she’ll appreciate the guidance on how you prefer things done.
Looks She sounds like fun. Can I hang out with her?
Seroiulsy I’m glad things are workingout well and I will keep my fingers crossed for you.
Hugs
I’m glad things are working out well!
That sounds like a perfect set-up (minus the expense!), but as you said, it’s worth it to know that the boys are loving their time with her.
This is the first happy-nanny story I have ever heard. My “nanny friends” have been through sooooo many different nannies in a few years, trying to find the “perfect” fit. I have a feeling it is my friends who are the problem.
So glad to hear it is going so well.