Nanny disobeys
This morning, my wife told our nanny not to let our younger son, who's 2 1/2, eat popcorn. We're worried he might choke on it because he stuffs it into his mouth. Well, when my wife came home today, she caught the nanny feeding him popcorn. "He cried so much when I told him no," the nanny told my wife.
How does one deal with this situation? Our nanny knows that, as working parents, we depend a great deal on her to look after our two boys. So I get the feeling she thinks she can get away with anything. For the most part, she's responsible and dependable. We've had her for nearly 4 years, and the kids love her. I don't want to fire her. But is there anything we can say or do that would make her listen?
Answers:
Over 4 years, i'm not sure how you've dealt with disagreements before...but my very first thought was, treat it like the business that it is. Perhaps if you wrote up a formal "reprimand" and signed it and gave it to her, and told her you're keeping it in her "file", it might just be the "whoa" factor you need??
Out in the business world, people get "written up" for such things... its an idea?
Also..perhaps if she was given an alternative to offer him when he starts to ask for popcorn...and let your son know in advance that thats what he'll get when he asks for popcorn...??
Answers:
She should not have been eating it in front of him if he can't have it!
Answers:
It makes me wonder what other rules she has broken and you did not come home and catch her. Timing is everything, as they say. I wonder if you started coming home at slightly different times, or pop in during the day, what you may find. I have a friend that set up a ****** system (?) so she could see her living room during the day from her office, just a thought.
Answers:
I like the "write up" idea. But geez, if she can't handle some tears over the fact that he didn't get popcorn, what else is she giving in on? I mean she has to lay down the rules when you're not there.
None of us are perfect be us nanny's or parents, but that is a safety issue with the popcorn. I'd talk to her from that angle. If she puts your children in harm's way again she will be let go. Whether you would actually fire her over that or not, it will probably scare some sense into her. And if your gut starts to bug you about stuff like this...get a nanny cam. The kids come 1st!!
How does one deal with this situation? Our nanny knows that, as working parents, we depend a great deal on her to look after our two boys. So I get the feeling she thinks she can get away with anything. For the most part, she's responsible and dependable. We've had her for nearly 4 years, and the kids love her. I don't want to fire her. But is there anything we can say or do that would make her listen?
Answers:
Over 4 years, i'm not sure how you've dealt with disagreements before...but my very first thought was, treat it like the business that it is. Perhaps if you wrote up a formal "reprimand" and signed it and gave it to her, and told her you're keeping it in her "file", it might just be the "whoa" factor you need??
Out in the business world, people get "written up" for such things... its an idea?
Also..perhaps if she was given an alternative to offer him when he starts to ask for popcorn...and let your son know in advance that thats what he'll get when he asks for popcorn...??
Answers:
She should not have been eating it in front of him if he can't have it!
Answers:
It makes me wonder what other rules she has broken and you did not come home and catch her. Timing is everything, as they say. I wonder if you started coming home at slightly different times, or pop in during the day, what you may find. I have a friend that set up a ****** system (?) so she could see her living room during the day from her office, just a thought.
Answers:
I like the "write up" idea. But geez, if she can't handle some tears over the fact that he didn't get popcorn, what else is she giving in on? I mean she has to lay down the rules when you're not there.
None of us are perfect be us nanny's or parents, but that is a safety issue with the popcorn. I'd talk to her from that angle. If she puts your children in harm's way again she will be let go. Whether you would actually fire her over that or not, it will probably scare some sense into her. And if your gut starts to bug you about stuff like this...get a nanny cam. The kids come 1st!!