It’s been one month since I walked out on what became my worst job ever! Which is weird, because for almost an entire year it was one of my favorite jobs. I worked for a family that lived about 30-45 minutes away from me. And, it was foolish of me from the start to even think I would be okay with driving that far, even just three times a week. But, the family promised me gas and toll road money for compensation. The job seemed easy enough. One toddler boy, barely old enough to talk, which is one of my favorite stages. I just love that they learn new things daily, and every little thing, is such a huge deal to them because they are experiencing it for the very first time. The parents also seemed really nice and laid back, so I took the job.
The first year was amazing! Everyday me and the little boy, I will call Kyle, would go to the park, or the beach, or somewhere fun. I always looked forward to going to work and seeing Kyle. When I first got there we spent about 3 hours together and then he would go down for a typically 3 hour nap. Since I was only there 6-8 hours, I normally played with him for a little while until his mother came home, and then went home. During the 3 hours he napped I got to do homework, which was a total blessing, and also watch TV, or go on the computer. It really was a dream job. I was getting paid a total of $12 an hour which included gas and toll road compensation, which wasn’t great, but it wasn’t bad either.
About 6 months into my job, the mother got pregnant. It wasn’t planned, but they decided they could afford another child. In my opinion they really couldn’t afford another child, and I knew deep down that once the baby came, our arrangement wasn’t going to work anymore. But, she assured me she loved and needed me to help her. About 2 weeks before the baby is due she informs me that she can’t afford to pay me more money for the new baby, so she began taking the baby on her small business deliveries. I knew something like this was going to happen when I kept trying to bring up my raise for the new baby and being there over a year, and she kept putting it off.
When the mother was supposed to be on maternity leave, I planned a vacation with my boyfriend and told her I would be gone 3 working days. She got really upset and asked me what she was supposed to do with her kids. I told her, “I’m sorry, but I need vacation time, this is the first time off in a year and I NEED it!” After I came back from my trip she began treating me horribly. She was always late, and even when I told her I needed to be gone by a certain time she would still be late, sometimes even later. She was constantly asking me to take him places, and buy him things, and would never give me any money. And, when I would ask for money she would always ask me, well don’t I pay you? So, you think she was bad? Well, her husband was worse!
He was a pig of an old man, his wife being probably 15 years his junior. He had a son my age, but that never stopped him from hitting on me. He constantly made sexual comments or jokes about me. One day I came over in a white shirt, and he told his son who was playing with the hose to spray my shirt! Which, of course his son did, and then he told me I could always take it off and he would dry it for me in a very suggestive way. Another time I forgot my keys to the house and he told me he needed to spank me. When he said that I gave him the nastiest look and after that he pretty much stopped. Which was good, because I was 1 comment away from concerning his wife in the matter. To make this guy even worse, he would stay home smoking pot until about 12 or 1pm before finally getting in the shower and leaving the house. It was creepy the way he was always there, or hot boxing the bathroom!
On top of all this, they refused to parent their son. Kyle would be horrible around them, hit, yell, misbehave, be hysterical, and the second they left, he was perfect. But, whenever they were around he was a nightmare! The parents just flat out refused to parent him. If he threw a fit, they would hug and hold, and tickle him and then give into his wishes. I tried to give them suggestions on what to do a few times, but they were always too tired.
So, finally a month ago, I had enough of constantly being stressed over work and that family.
I came to work on a Saturday as a favor to the family for a few hours. She told me she would be gone no more than 4 hours. Needless to say, she was late, 2 ½ hours late! I had completely missed my favorite neighborhood annual event, that she had promised me I would be home in time for. No explanations, phone calls, or real apologies, I think she mumbled “sorry”. I showed her the her son had bitten me so hard it broke the skin, and she asked me why her son did it. I told her he got mad at me, and bit my stomach, and then refused to appologize. Kyle was 2 ½ years old and was fully willing and able to say sorry most of the time. But, not that day. That day he would not budge, so I told him he needed to stay in his room until his mom came home, which was about 10 minutes, and we would decide a punishment. Only, she didn’t want to punish him. So, I told her right there. I don’t want to come back here anymore. I can’t be in a place where the parent refuses to parent. I gave her the keys. She gave me a check, and we haven’t spoken since. It really breaks my heart not to see Kyle, but I know I had to leave for my own sanity! And, I’ve loved every minute of not having a steady employer!
Thursday, August 16, 2007
Tuesday, August 7, 2007
The voyeurs next door
A few years back I took a job working for one of my mom’s next door neighbors. I was 19 years old and a full time college student, and needed a new nanny job fast because my previous employers had left the country. I should have known this was not going to work out from the beginning because she actually haggled me down from $9 to $8 an hour, and then insisted on paying me under the table for “my benefit.” Her little boy, at 6 months old was a complete joy for me. He was a very happy baby and made my job so easy during the day that I began dismissing the weird things his parents were doing.
First off, both the parents were full blow alcoholics! I mean they would pop open beers at 9am, while they are supposedly home “working” or “doing things around the house.” These parents also had a fully stocked, HUGE bar. This due in part to the mom being a rep. for a MAJOR alcohol distributor! They would also tell me, “When the baby takes a nap or goes to bed, have a drink!” And, at 19 I knew it was wrong and totally ridiculous!
Not only was the mother an alcoholic, she was pretty much a voyeur too. When I got there in the mornings, she would have the baby and all his things set up in her room. Inevitably, she always wanted me to stay in her room with him and her while she took a shower to get ready in the morning. The first few times I figured, maybe she just wants to spend more time with her son, and be able to watch me with him at the same time. Only this didn’t change, the only thing that changed was she stopped trying to cover up when she was naked and was soon walking around her room completely naked getting ready! I mean she was naked for a good 15-30 minutes in her room with me there. I don’t know about anyone else, but I totally was not comfortable with this!
The final things that sent me over the edge and made me quit, was when the mom was away on business and I came over to watch the baby while the dad went out with a friend for the night. When I got there the dad and his friend were both drunk! He was on the phone with his wife, and when I came in he told her I was there. He then proceeded to tell her I was in my bra and underwear and was getting ready to strip for them! I was in complete shock. But then, they shocked me even more, when I hear the wife scream into the phone, not fair I want to watch too! I couldn’t believe it, and again being a naive girl, I just laughed and counted the minutes until they left.
A week later, I told the mother I was quitting to focus on school full time, and that I needed a job with more flexible hours. I knew I would have to see this family again on a regular basis, so I made sure to be a nice as possible until I left. After, she called me a few more times to baby-sit, but I always had an excuse, and I am sure she knows why!
First off, both the parents were full blow alcoholics! I mean they would pop open beers at 9am, while they are supposedly home “working” or “doing things around the house.” These parents also had a fully stocked, HUGE bar. This due in part to the mom being a rep. for a MAJOR alcohol distributor! They would also tell me, “When the baby takes a nap or goes to bed, have a drink!” And, at 19 I knew it was wrong and totally ridiculous!
Not only was the mother an alcoholic, she was pretty much a voyeur too. When I got there in the mornings, she would have the baby and all his things set up in her room. Inevitably, she always wanted me to stay in her room with him and her while she took a shower to get ready in the morning. The first few times I figured, maybe she just wants to spend more time with her son, and be able to watch me with him at the same time. Only this didn’t change, the only thing that changed was she stopped trying to cover up when she was naked and was soon walking around her room completely naked getting ready! I mean she was naked for a good 15-30 minutes in her room with me there. I don’t know about anyone else, but I totally was not comfortable with this!
The final things that sent me over the edge and made me quit, was when the mom was away on business and I came over to watch the baby while the dad went out with a friend for the night. When I got there the dad and his friend were both drunk! He was on the phone with his wife, and when I came in he told her I was there. He then proceeded to tell her I was in my bra and underwear and was getting ready to strip for them! I was in complete shock. But then, they shocked me even more, when I hear the wife scream into the phone, not fair I want to watch too! I couldn’t believe it, and again being a naive girl, I just laughed and counted the minutes until they left.
A week later, I told the mother I was quitting to focus on school full time, and that I needed a job with more flexible hours. I knew I would have to see this family again on a regular basis, so I made sure to be a nice as possible until I left. After, she called me a few more times to baby-sit, but I always had an excuse, and I am sure she knows why!
Sunday, July 8, 2007
The story I am about to tell you was only my second nanny job. I was still very young, 18, and naive. Looking back on the situation, I am surprised I lasted 5 months on the job!
The family I worked for had an 8 year old daughter I will call Sarah, and a 4 year old son, Bobby. The family was Asian, and I only say this because in the Asian cultures it is not uncommon for boys to be seen as prized and get away with EVERYTHING! This family was no exception! Sarah was an angel, and was the only saving grace of the job. If it hadn't been for her, I would have left after the first week!
Bobby ran that house! He was rude, he cussed at me and his parents, and he was extremely violent for his age, probably due to the fact that he watched WWF on a daily basis! He would have random outburts and get really cranky if he didn't take a nap. Yet whenever I would try to get him to take a nap, he would scream and cry. That would cause his grandma to come out of her room and scream at me in Chinese and take him in her bedroom, where she was 90% of the time!
The final straw came when he threw a steel toe boot at the back of my head. Luckily only the heel hit my head, and I wasn't injured. Right after it happened I put him in his room, and told him he wasn't allowed to come out until I told him he could. Which, I normally would never do, but considering the severity, I thought it necissary. I phone his mother who told me that she would take away his game boy for the night. EXCUSE ME! That's it?!? I told her he was in his room in time out and she told me to send him in his grandma's room. Later his garndma came out with him for dinner and he looked at the knife on the counter and said he was going to stab me with it. At that point, I lost it, and told the grandma I was leaving because I only had 30 minutes left on my shift anyway.
The next morning I gave my two weeks notice. I totally chickened out on confronting her like I knew I should, and told her I was going to focus on school full time. I think she knew the truth, because she told me if I didn't want to come back anymore I didn't have to. So, I left. For a while I still kept in contact with Sarah by letter or phone, but it's been years since I have talked to her.
I sometimes look back on that job and wonder why I staid so long. And, other times when I think if I had stayed, I might have been able to help change the family for the better. I guess I will never know.....
The family I worked for had an 8 year old daughter I will call Sarah, and a 4 year old son, Bobby. The family was Asian, and I only say this because in the Asian cultures it is not uncommon for boys to be seen as prized and get away with EVERYTHING! This family was no exception! Sarah was an angel, and was the only saving grace of the job. If it hadn't been for her, I would have left after the first week!
Bobby ran that house! He was rude, he cussed at me and his parents, and he was extremely violent for his age, probably due to the fact that he watched WWF on a daily basis! He would have random outburts and get really cranky if he didn't take a nap. Yet whenever I would try to get him to take a nap, he would scream and cry. That would cause his grandma to come out of her room and scream at me in Chinese and take him in her bedroom, where she was 90% of the time!
The final straw came when he threw a steel toe boot at the back of my head. Luckily only the heel hit my head, and I wasn't injured. Right after it happened I put him in his room, and told him he wasn't allowed to come out until I told him he could. Which, I normally would never do, but considering the severity, I thought it necissary. I phone his mother who told me that she would take away his game boy for the night. EXCUSE ME! That's it?!? I told her he was in his room in time out and she told me to send him in his grandma's room. Later his garndma came out with him for dinner and he looked at the knife on the counter and said he was going to stab me with it. At that point, I lost it, and told the grandma I was leaving because I only had 30 minutes left on my shift anyway.
The next morning I gave my two weeks notice. I totally chickened out on confronting her like I knew I should, and told her I was going to focus on school full time. I think she knew the truth, because she told me if I didn't want to come back anymore I didn't have to. So, I left. For a while I still kept in contact with Sarah by letter or phone, but it's been years since I have talked to her.
I sometimes look back on that job and wonder why I staid so long. And, other times when I think if I had stayed, I might have been able to help change the family for the better. I guess I will never know.....
Hi everyone! I'm Nanny Lexy! I've been a nanny for 6 years now, and have been caring for children since I was a child myself. I started this blog as a way for me to vent about the daily struggles in my life as a nanny! You wouldn't believe some of my stories over the years. I have worked for over 20 families now, as either a full time/part time nanny, or as a casual babysitter. The stories you will read in my blog, are all 100% true. Some have happened in the past, and are the reason I no longer work for them today, and some stories are of current employers, but the real identities of everyone will not be revealed. So read on and enjoy my stories!
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