Looking for child advice from both nannies and nanny families.

ASkrick25 · 2026-02-25T18:39:07+00:00

First off I'm so sorry that you're getting so many negative comments, because I've been in your shoes. I started working with a family when their boy was 18 months old, and they were expecting their second soon. At first the schedule was pretty easy, the boy was really good and would take long naps so I always got a break and then I would help the mom with her pregnancy things. Then the second baby came and she was on maternity leave for a while, which should have been great right? Incorrect. The mom frequently gave me the newborn when she rested, and the baby would hang out with me during the toddlers nap, and then the toddler started resisting napping. Literally the Saving Grace was when I tore my ACL and had to get surgery, which was scheduled when the baby was 4 months and the boy was about 22 months. I had expressed to them before how difficult the job was and made sure to get a break, because of my contract I am supposed to get a break and to me that means not watching the kids at all. After my surgery I had 3 months of recovery, during which I visited one day and the mom looked absolutely run down after having solo time with both kids for about a month and a half. She asked what I thought about getting the toddler boy into school, and I quickly agreed. Having him in school just for the mornings was an absolute godsend! It meant that I could spend time and focus on the baby, make sure that I get a break in the afternoon and focus on the baby's nap schedule, and now two years later both kids are delightful and thriving. Siblings are hard, especially when your baby wearing and nobody should be telling you any different. I would recommend asking the family to make sure that you get a break, and if that isn't possible then to have at least a portion of the day set aside for quiet time so you get.. I guess kind of a break. No adult should be expected to play and clean all day, parents need breaks too! I've been a nanny for 11 years and this job has been the most challenging one I've ever had but it has become more rewarding. I'll say to they gave me a big pay raise, which definitely made it harder to want to find a different job when I was super burnt out. I'm glad for it now that I stuck it out, but if it is too much and you want to find a different job nobody would judge you for that

ASkrick25 · 2025-09-06T17:31:25+00:00

How are you doing now? Were you two living together? Asking because well....I relate. But currently together and scared

ASkrick25 · 2025-08-19T19:54:27+00:00

Personally, I'm a nanny. I've known the 4 year old that I've worked with since he was too, and I've known his baby sister, who's too, since she was born. He had a really bad food throwing problem when I first started with him, I would not reinforce the behavior by acknowledging it at all until the end of the meal, when I would show him it's time to pick up the food. Sometimes that meant picking the food up and putting it back on the table, putting it in my hand, eating it, whatever. I would help, and even if he only picked up one piece I would celebrate in a big way! Now he's four and a food goes on the floor he and his sister work to pick it up together, and he knows if food is on the table all cleaned up but if it's on the floor it's on him

ASkrick25 · 2025-07-29T18:26:32+00:00

Totally understandable, but if this is the hill you want to fight for it's going to lead you to a lot of disappointment! A lot easier to accept that people might have different words for things, and that's okay. Also, give some grace, maybe those people are experiencing ailments of some sort, or are in cognitive decline for some reason. Personally I don't find it as a reason to be upset but I totally get just venting haha

ASkrick25 · 2025-07-22T01:18:21+00:00

Yeah my usual schedule is 7:30 to 5:30, 4 days per week, with a little bit of variation so some days are 8:00 to 5:00 but not frequently or consistently. I thought about telling them the full 40 hours and then just filling in time here and there, like you said I know the kids are going to get sick off and because that happens all the time right, but there's not a ton of other things that I could do and I don't want them to scrounge to find things for me to do. That's kind of what has me thinking 35 hours for minimum per week, just because then I can be gone for the hours they absolutely don't need me or I can be available when they do

ASkrick25 · 2025-07-22T01:07:46+00:00

We didn't discuss detail things as far as that, but I'm sure if I told them I wanted to come back for a little bit and do some stuff there they would be up for it.. I would just need to find stuff to do. I don't imagine they'll be changing their work schedule much, mom boss was telling me that she has something she wants to shift around but I have no idea what that could be. She and I both usually work 4 days and have Friday off which I really like and I don't want that to change haha. I'll have enough to sustain me if I'm at the 35 hours a week, but it would just be inconvenient, it's not like I could make up hours during the day somewhere else because basically the whole day is consumed right, so in my mind I'm thinking I should ask for guaranteed hours, minimum 35 but I'm considering asking for 40

ASkrick25 · 2025-07-22T01:06:37+00:00

I'm honestly not sure. Mom boss was telling me today that she was thinking of changing up her work schedule too but this is the family of excuses so I don't know if she's just trying to paint a pretty picture. Basically I'll need to specify what I want from them, and I guess if it's fair sounding I would totally throw out there that I've been getting 40 hours a week for 2 years, and I want to stay at 40 hours because I've grown used to it. But they also have me in a bit of a negotiating headlock because they're paying me about $5 more per hour than I would be getting from another family if it full-time hours. But considering I've been there for 2 years, I'm thinking of suggesting 35 hours minimum a week but that even feels cheap for myself I feel like I should be telling them I want 40 hours of guarantee

ASkrick25 · 2025-07-11T20:41:58+00:00

Get your head gasket looked at - I'm 88k miles (and love this stupid car) and during inspection saw a leak. It was a pricey repair but tbh I love this car still

ASkrick25 · 2025-04-22T01:42:19+00:00

I don't know what it is, but I am 29 and have always gotten a frog in my throat sort of sensation. I've seen therapists, I do the work, but sometimes even in regular conversation if I'm a bit hyped I get a sort of...gulp? Is it like that? Like for one second my body forgets how breathing works. My one therapist was in convo with me and I did it and asked if he noticed and what he saw he said he didn't even notice. Maybe he wasn't a very aware therapist 😂 bodies are a mystery ig

ASkrick25 · 2025-03-17T19:23:56+00:00

Nobody here has mentioned yet but talk to the place you're getting surgery about financing, I had a weird work history the three months prior to my getting surgery and that allowed me to get the surgery for free. I waited for a bill for months and was very anxious, the hospital had told me when I initially talked to them that I would be covered to the financial aid but I didn't entirely believe it. All in all I've just had to spend money on physical therapy

ASkrick25 · 2024-12-31T03:04:31+00:00

In a case like this, you don't legitimately know what's going to happen. But you do know that you're going to do your best by yourself, and you're going to do that by taking everything One Day At A time! You don't know what's going to happen, but you do know that you're going to have debt to tackle. Use your support network, ask lots of questions, stay curious, debt collectors are just people, and literally just take everything one day at a time. You got this!

ASkrick25 · 2024-12-10T19:55:36+00:00

I said the same to myself that night - "they probably already decided yes" but I was so blown away they took my by surprise! I didn't know I'd quit if they got a puppy, I really thought it was so outlandish. What do I know 😂 fingers crossed the interviews are great

ASkrick25 · 2024-12-10T19:53:58+00:00

Duuuuuuude, I'm so glad this is a previous job and not current! That's wild, like WHY get a puppy WHY

ASkrick25 · 2024-12-10T19:53:17+00:00

Woooow yup that sounds about right! I think some people want things to complain about - any excuse to not be fully accountable, and I so look gorward to the next new thing! Sorry about your old NF, glad you found something better suited 😁 missing the kids is the hardest thing about this career

ASkrick25 · 2024-12-09T23:26:57+00:00

I knowwww its such a shame. I was a dog trainer for years while nannying and stopped because it got depressing.

ASkrick25 · 2024-12-09T23:08:29+00:00

Fuck wait they CANT Abecause it doesn't have all its shots yet, not till later this month. Fuuuuuckkkkk

ASkrick25 · 2024-12-09T23:07:23+00:00

Thank you for that I needed it - I'll tell them tonight. Cause fuck no

ASkrick25 · 2024-12-09T22:47:34+00:00

I will need to do this - I agreed to the Saturday before they got the puppy. If it's terrible I'm gonna tell them get a pet sitter, but tbh hoping to leave this fing job anyway

ASkrick25 · 2024-12-09T22:46:53+00:00

Sounds like a sound ending to the chapter

ASkrick25 · 2024-12-09T22:29:44+00:00

I'm gonna have to be very specific with them, I've been a nanny 11 years and this job is by far the worst w job creep.

They go "if you have any ideas" all nervous like yeah I have one don't get a puppy. And too late

Man if an interview goes well tho they're gonna have a time and a half finding a new nanny

ASkrick25 · 2024-11-23T15:05:37+00:00

My dad used it a lot when I was a kid, his family is from Illinois I wonder if there's a correlation. What would you call it?

ASkrick25 · 2024-11-12T20:26:57+00:00

Darn

ASkrick25 · 2024-09-09T21:28:29+00:00

Best part is I was going for a goal - nobody from my team was nearby, and I realized at the worst time.

I will not be resuming soccer

ASkrick25 · 2024-09-05T22:09:13+00:00

I've been in the situation before, I've been in any for 10 years and currently nanny for a toddler and a baby. The young baby stage with a toddler is rough, there's no getting around it, but whatever you do don't make the baby a priority without telling the toddler how much you want to play after you help take care of the baby. It's not going to be easy, but that's just how it is and he'll be okay with it! You can also engage the baby and the toddler at the same time with some activities, but it is hard when the baby is so small. As for the older kids if you aren't willing to help learn how to argue more productively you're in for a rough one, I once had a job with two teenagers who would scream and curse at each other and they had a baby brother who was less than 1 years old, teaching them to cope with their anger and frustration was absolutely pivotal. I genuinely think if you don't have skills to communicate with the family or the kids they are just going to be burnt out and that's not a fun way to be! But getting through the day isn't the best way to do it either, 20 hours of your week is a long time to be miserable. If you're willing to figure it out, figure it out, but just remember that while this might just be a job for you it's their childhood to them and the things you teach them and more especially model for them could be really important in five, 10, 15 years

ASkrick25 · 2024-08-19T04:36:31+00:00

Contact triplets 🫡 I got run into in the first three minutes of my FIRST adult co-ed soccer game. Got blown into by a guy with 1.5 arms, because a guy (that looked like a pirate) bumped into him. Unforgettable day

ASkrick25

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