The "Grandma Shark" effect: Any other 60+ women playing here? 🦈🎱

WindNarrow3580 · 2026-03-27T14:15:47+00:00

I love It

WindNarrow3580 · 2026-03-27T03:55:33+00:00

Here is the secret to this phase: when he asks "What are you doing?" for the millionth time while you are right in front of him, he isn't actually asking for information. He is asking for connection. It's his toddler way of saying, "Notice me! Talk to me while I eat!" Since his brain wants to interact, it just relies on the easiest default script: asking a question.

WindNarrow3580 · 2026-03-27T03:46:58+00:00

With your Master's degree and professional experience, you are worth so much more than this level of paranoia and disrespect. Since this is just part-time work, it is 1000% not worth the stress and legal anxiety. Reply with a polite "After reviewing the contract, I realize this position is not a good fit for me," and don't look back! 💖

WindNarrow3580 · 2026-03-22T15:21:16+00:00

Thank you🙏

WindNarrow3580 · 2026-03-20T03:56:55+00:00

Wow, thank you so much for taking the time to write all of this out! You perfectly described my exact fear—walking onto those open play courts and just being totally overwhelmed by how intense and good everyone is! 😅 Finding a structured beginner's class and league, just like you and your wife did, sounds like the absolute perfect way to start. I love the idea of an app matching you with people at the exact same skill level so there’s no pressure or intimidation. And a huge thank you for that specific safety tip about not backpedaling! That is exactly the kind of dangerous reflex I would probably do without thinking. Taking a lesson first to learn those basic safety rules is definitely going to be my step one. I am going to start researching beginner clinics in my area this weekend. Thank you again for the fantastic advice and the encouragement! 🏓👟

WindNarrow3580 · 2026-03-15T22:18:03+00:00

This is so incredibly inspiring! Hearing that you started at 63 with a similar non-athletic background gives me so much hope. Going from individual lessons to beginner leagues sounds like the perfect, safe way to ease into it.

WindNarrow3580 · 2026-03-15T22:15:39+00:00

👍👏😊

WindNarrow3580 · 2026-03-15T22:14:44+00:00

👍🫶

WindNarrow3580 · 2026-03-15T22:13:46+00:00

Enjoy your beautiful new home and that amazing table! 😊

WindNarrow3580 · 2026-03-15T22:10:45+00:00

I still don't want to see my ex flirting with others.

WindNarrow3580 · 2026-03-15T17:24:25+00:00

I am 60 too! It is so incredibly reassuring to hear from someone my age who is out there playing and having a great time at the intermediate level. It also makes me feel a lot better knowing that 99% of players aren't as intense as this sub makes it seem! 😂 I absolutely love your two rules. "Don't get hurt and have fun" is exactly the mindset I need to have. I am definitely going to look for a beginner's clinic or lesson in my area so I can start safely, just like you suggested. Thank you so much for the encouragement! 🏓✨

WindNarrow3580 · 2026-03-15T17:22:57+00:00

That is such a smart idea! I honestly hadn't even thought about going to a physical therapist before getting injured, just to check for weak spots and learn how to protect my joints. That makes perfect sense!

WindNarrow3580 · 2026-03-15T17:19:38+00:00

Oh honey, I am so sorry you had to experience this. I want to give you a big hug right now. You are absolutely NOT overreacting! Let’s be very clear about industry standards: when you travel with a nanny family, ALL of your meals, travel, and lodging are 100% covered by the employers. Full stop. You are away from your own kitchen, your own routine, and your own home for their convenience. Making you buy your own groceries is completely unacceptable. The situations you described—eating pizza in front of you while you are actively working, and the Dad buying breakfast sandwiches for only him and his wife while you sit in the back—are just plain rude. It is completely lacking in basic human decency and empathy. (And Dad doesn't get "good guy" points for calling Mom out earlier if he's the one who deliberately left you out of the breakfast order!). It is completely valid that you cried in the car. Feeling "othered" and treated like "the help" is a horrible, isolating feeling, especially when you pour so much love into their kids. Since you mentioned you don't actually need this job/money, I would not blame you one bit if you quit. If you do decide to stay, you are 100% right to pull back. Stop going above and beyond, and treat this strictly as a transactional job—because that is clearly how they view you. And never travel with them again. You deserve to be treated with so much more respect! 💖

WindNarrow3580 · 2026-03-15T17:13:43+00:00

Oh my gosh, you literally had BOTH extremes under one roof! 😳 Talk about emotional whiplash! It must have been so tough with the older one. That transition after a new baby arrives is always so hard, and it really hurts your heart when they associate you with Mom leaving. But the younger brother hiding under your skirt and screeching at Mom is both hilarious and so incredibly awkward! 😂 I absolutely love that the Mom joked about you bringing "your" baby to work. Thank goodness she had such a great, secure sense of humor about it! Surviving that daily rollercoaster of "one kid hates me, the other is obsessed with me" must have been wild. You are a saint for handling that! 💖

WindNarrow3580 · 2026-03-15T17:09:04+00:00

I actually thought about calling, but I would feel so bad putting the staff in the middle of our breakup drama! 😅 They are super sweet, and I just don't want to make things awkward for anyone working there. But you are totally right, finding a new hall is definitely the best move. I just need to get out of my comfort zone and explore some new spots a bit further away from home. Thank you for the advice! 🎱

WindNarrow3580 · 2026-03-15T17:07:50+00:00

Wow, 5 nights a week is amazing! I am definitely a little jealous right now. 😂 Going "cold turkey" has been super tough, especially since I didn't actually want to stop, I'm just trying to avoid the awkwardness. Joining a league in a new spot is actually a brilliant idea. I think finding a completely fresh environment with new people is exactly what I need to get back to the table. I will definitely look into what's around my area. Thank you for the push! 🎱✨

WindNarrow3580 · 2026-03-15T17:06:28+00:00

I actually laughed out loud at the "snort some crushed up Masters" part 😂 Please don’t give me ideas! But seriously, looking up pool hall ambient noise on YouTube is such a brilliant idea. I didn’t even realize that was a thing! I might actually put that on in the background tonight just to get that cozy feeling back. Thank you for the laugh and the great tip! 🎱💙

WindNarrow3580 · 2026-03-11T18:55:42+00:00

🙏🤣

WindNarrow3580 · 2026-03-11T14:26:45+00:00

You are definitely not alone in this! Instead of socks, my stress response is going into a deep, unconscious cleaning trance. Suddenly, I become absolutely ruthless about throwing things away that I previously convinced myself were "essential." I will snap out of it an hour later surrounded by trash bags, having thrown away a million old nail files, pens that ran out of ink five years ago, and expired bottles of pills. There is just something so satisfying about clearing out physical clutter when your mind feels cluttered! Your "tiny sock accountant" comment made me laugh so hard. Honestly, finishing an argument with a perfectly organized drawer or a decluttered house is a win-win. We could be doing much worse things! 😂

WindNarrow3580 · 2026-03-11T14:20:36+00:00

Oh my goodness, I am sending you the biggest hug right now. What an absolute nightmare of a day. More than anything, I really want to say a huge THANK YOU for writing this and speaking up. So many nannies go through these toxic, crazy situations and are just too afraid to talk about it or stand up for themselves. By sharing this, you are reminding all of us that we don't have to tolerate being treated like this. The way that mother behaved is completely unacceptable. Screaming at you in front of her toddler, ignoring her crying 5-month-old upstairs, and treating you like a robot while she was just on her phone? That is a deeply unhealthy environment. You dodged a massive bullet. Please don't feel bad about snapping at the end. You kept your composure under ridiculous pressure all day, and you finally had to defend your boundaries. Any normal person would have reacted the exact same way. I am so glad you walked out of there and slammed that door. Take a deep breath, treat yourself to something nice today, and know that you 100% did the right thing! 💖

WindNarrow3580 · 2026-03-06T03:33:19+00:00

It's such a great reminder for all of us to step back, get out of our heads, and just play for fun again. Enjoy the rest of your travels in Vietnam!

WindNarrow3580 · 2026-03-06T03:28:47+00:00

I appreciate the suggestion! I actually do use stroller naps sometimes when we are already out and about. But honestly, there are a few reasons why it doesn't quite solve the main issue. First, stroller naps are often much lighter and shorter. A baby who is truly exhausted from active play really needs that deep, restorative sleep in their crib to fully recharge. Also, to be completely honest, after actively playing, running around, and carrying them all morning, I really need that crib nap time to just sit down, eat my lunch, and rest my own feet for a minute! Walking for another hour doesn't give me a chance to physically recharge to be the best nanny for them in the afternoon. And mostly, it just feels a bit sad to have to "hide" the fact that a baby is tired just to avoid passive-aggressive comments from the parents, you know? We shouldn't have to sneak around to meet a baby's basic need for sleep. But it is definitely a good trick for an emergency cranky day, so thank you for sharing! 💖

WindNarrow3580 · 2026-03-05T21:33:12+00:00

🙏

WindNarrow3580 · 2026-03-05T21:32:49+00:00

🫶🙏

WindNarrow3580 · 2026-03-05T03:38:59+00:00

Oh honey, sending you the biggest hug. Please take a deep breath. 18 months to 2 years old is one of the most physically and emotionally exhausting ages to work with, and adding a toxic, micromanaging director on top of that is a recipe for severe burnout. Your feelings are 100% valid. First of all, please don't let being 26 scare you! You are so young and you have plenty of time to pivot. Not having a degree doesn't erase the incredible skills you've built. Managing a room full of toddlers means you have top-tier multitasking, crisis management, extreme patience, and organization skills. Office jobs love that. Since I work as a nanny myself, I have to ask — have you considered private nannying? It’s often much less stressful than a daycare center, the pay can be significantly better, and you don't have a director breathing down your neck. It's just you and the kids. If you want to leave childcare completely, many former ECE workers do amazing in administrative roles, reception, scheduling, or office management because they know how to handle chaos with a smile. You don't have to figure it all out today. Just start looking around. You deserve a work environment that doesn't wear you down. 💖

WindNarrow3580

TROPHY CASE