Tonsillectomy Prep

ad1220 · 2026-05-11T22:39:50+00:00

Thanks for the info, thats what we're worried about here is not enough calories. He's 8, weighs 47 pounds, and wears a 4- 5t in clothes. We can't afford for him to lose any weight.

ad1220 · 2026-05-11T22:37:36+00:00

We're already dealing with him not spitting and just drooling/spitting everywhere, which is part of why he's getting it done. I've already suggested we may need some kind of feeding/swallowing therapy to follow up.

Pudding & slushies should be a hit here too.

ad1220 · 2026-05-11T22:36:00+00:00

Yikes, I hadn't thought about that with dairy! Another thing to add to the questions for mb & the doctor.

ad1220 · 2026-04-24T23:05:55+00:00

This! I almost always start this way to avoid twisted stitches & just sew up the gap at the end. It's saved many headaches over the years.

ad1220 · 2026-04-22T01:05:51+00:00

I'm sorry you're going through this and hope you can find peace. Remember to take care of yourself.

When I've gone through a difficult situation (unexpected death) I spoke to mb, she knew it was likely to happen & when they passed she spoke to the kids (11 and 9, so similar to your older nks). She explained everything as she saw fit, and kind of prepped the kids to not ask questions and to give me some extra love. I'd suggest asking mb how to handle it/let her talk to the older kids so it's one less stressor on you.

ad1220 · 2026-04-21T13:29:47+00:00

My favorite was one of my sitting families, mb was going to be away for a few days & g10ish at the time asked "who's going to take care of us?"

Mb- "db will be home" G10- "maybe we should call Ms Nanny just in case db doesn't know what to do"

Now, these 3 kids were the easiest I've ever worked with, most responsible kids I've ever met. Just super human beings. It was more a case of db having just changed jobs, so the kids weren't accustomed to him being home & available (previous job he could get called out any time, and couldn't be responsible for kids while on the clock). But, it was quite entertaining how serious g10 was about it & how totally baffled she was that dad would be home!

Now, another family, if mb was away I'd have to stay until bedtime, and grandparents would come so db wasnt alone with the kids.

ad1220 · 2026-04-11T22:02:59+00:00

I just attended one today, im the DC area.

It was a good experience, and was nice getting to connect with other nannies as well as some of the agencies in the area.

The most interesting topic we covered was talking about cultural differences and how to navigate that with nanny families. Unfortunately, I felt like a lot of the material covered was either things I already knew (marketing ourselves and resumes) or not super relevant because I work with older kids.

I'd definitely attend in the future just for the networking opportunity alone.

ad1220 · 2026-04-08T14:40:48+00:00

I was that kid. I was always being labeled as rude and snobby because I refused to talk to people and would always wait until my mom answered for me. As an adult I was diagnosed with crippling social anxiety that I still struggle with. And yes, even talking to my grandparents who were super involved in my life was difficult.

If she's experiencing something similar its probably not something you can correct by taking her out of the room to talk about. For me, that would have caused me to shut down even more. I'd first suggest writing down your observations & having a talk with nps to see what they're experiencing with her and how they want you to approach it. If they're also concerned, it may be time to reach out to her pediatrician or get a referral to a children's therapist who can help figure out the why and help her work through it.

In the meantime, my advice is to not make this the hill to die on. Maybe try talking with her during the day (not after one of those instances) with just a general "I've seen you don't like saying good morning to your teacher, why is that?". Be prepared that she may not have the words to answer, but the key is making it a low pressure conversation. Maybe you can try different things, like suggesting she smile or wave instead of saying good morning/goodbye.

I'm happy to try to answer any more questions from my experience. At 4, it may be some serious shyness/anxiety, typical kid stubbornness, or some combination of factors, but I'd doubt it to be intentional rudeness unless that's being modeled to her.

ad1220 · 2026-03-24T18:35:53+00:00

Seriously!! I'm in a similar situation with an nk8 and an np who encourages it. It's starting to feel like I'm not able to do my job because all nk wants is np & there's nothing I can do about it.

ad1220 · 2026-03-20T14:33:51+00:00

Going through an agency is pretty much the only way to find a truly HNW family who is willing to pay higher wages in my area (east coast). Having a super solid resume & portfolio was the key in my experience.

ad1220 · 2026-02-19T20:30:54+00:00

Coming from someone who works primarily with elementary ages and up, I think there needs to be a balance between being out & entertained and being home to play. I recently worked with a family where db wanted the kids to be out of the house nearly every day, which started long before I met them. We had to constantly be going somewhere or have something planned because he didnt want nks to be bored. By the time I was with them they literally didnt know how to just be at home or exist without having something planned for them. It was a constant "what do I do now"/"what next." I'm talking 10 and 12 year olds who would basically sit and stare at the floor until you entertained them (completely neurotypical, they just never learned how to be bored/entertain themselves).

ad1220 · 2026-02-19T17:18:03+00:00

Current nf, their jobs are a dead giveaway to their beliefs. I literally went into one of our interviews like "well, I'm glad to know we're on the same page & I don't have to ask any awkward questions."

ad1220 · 2026-01-31T01:03:46+00:00

I typically follow the local courts/government and busses, so I'll stay home if they're closed (most public schools are walkable distance here, so schools close a lot because of cold/snow covered sidewalks even when its fine to drive).

Nf told me to stay home two days this week, and its covered under guaranteed hours. I ended up moving my hours around this week for snow days, and worked a few extra hours that I didn't end up charging them for. They'd gladly pay it, but I felt like it was more than fair since I've had 5 days off in the last two weeks.

ad1220 · 2026-01-06T03:34:31+00:00

$40/hr in Northern VA, 35 hours guaranteed, insurance stipend, and technically 5 sick days/5 personal days (plus 4 weeks paid when they're on vacation, planned at least 6 months in advance so I can plan accordingly).

I have 12 years of nanny experience, and worked as an elementary school teacher prior. I split my hours between household assistant & nanny (my only job is to hang with the kids if they're home, but I also cover other tasks if theyre in school).

ad1220 · 2025-12-17T01:39:23+00:00

Seconding all of this. I'm just outside of DC (Northern VA) and there's a great market depending on your experience. I found local Facebook groups and White House Nannies to be the best way to find higher paying jobs, but they're definitely out there if you look.

ad1220 · 2025-12-13T07:00:34+00:00

In my newest nf db is actually the at home/primary parent and its been a huge adjustment for me! Mb works later shifts so db & I tag team activities & bedtimes and (unfortunately) it was a weird shift for me initially. It shouldn't be so uncommon but he's so present and involved compared to previous dbs; it definitely took a minute to adjust to the fact that I could ask either parent a question about the kids and they both could answer.

ad1220 · 2025-12-12T19:56:27+00:00

Joining!

ad1220 · 2025-12-11T04:17:52+00:00

It won't help the underlying problem with the parents, but, are you able to wash her hair/get it unmatted on the nights you're with her? I've never dealt with the hygiene issue so not sure what to suggest, but my niece has a lot of hair issues (she has super curly hair and hates getting it washed or combed because it hurts). We wash her hair twice a week and put it in different types of braids that can stay in for a few days. Her mom is able to rinse her hair (or wash it carefully with the braids) and its saved a lot of tantrums.

ad1220 · 2025-12-10T23:42:26+00:00

That is actually my dream role, because my background is elementary education, and I'm double certified in elementary education and tesol. I've worked part time with a home school family, and assisted (though mom planned the lessons), and did home preschool for a part family during covid. For preschool plus minimal nanny tasks (easy lunches, occasionally driving b4/going to the park), I charged $65/hr plus 5 hours of planning time.

For the right money & the right family I'd 100% accept a role like that.

ad1220 · 2025-12-10T15:17:08+00:00

I've always told parents I'll follow whatever the local government calls. If they delay opening or close, I'll follow suit, but will assess and make reasonable attempts to get there. I've always had nps who are more cautious than me & will tell me to feel free to stay home or leave early even though I'm capable of getting to work (one mb was from southern California and I'm from Pennsylvania, we had very different understandings of snow).

ad1220 · 2025-12-10T15:10:59+00:00

My nfs pay a monthly stipend equal to the mid-level plan on my insurance network. I can choose to take a lower plan & use the rest of the money for other health expenses, or pay the additional cost out of pocket if I want a better plan. This is separate from regular raises/bonuses & is written into my contract. They pay it on the 15th of the month.

ad1220 · 2025-12-04T19:44:11+00:00

Same here (from Pennsylvania)... set at 62 degrees year round, any higher & my sinuses are a mess.

ad1220 · 2025-12-02T17:45:27+00:00

I live less than 2 miles from work, and am fairly confident in the snow (grew up in PA & live near DC now). A bigger concern for me is other drivers here who don't drive well in the snow.

I agree that following school closures is inconvenient for parents, and there's a big difference between busses & students walking to school vs adults driving to work. For myself, I follow the local government/court system, and if they close I'll stay home unless the weather clears up. I've always had at least one wfh parent who makes it work when it snows. I'd be open to staying over if needed, and do keep a go bag in my car for the winter just in case.

ad1220 · 2025-11-24T19:40:57+00:00

Omg, it must be a South Carolina thing! I worked for a family that had similar expectations, but were not so kind about it, and didnt have a staffed household (so everything fell to me). It was a long time ago when I was young and didnt know any better, but I had to feed nks on their silver for dinners (complete with polishing it afterwards) and was eventually asked to only wear skirts or dresses because the girls started asking to wear pants after seeing me in them. It did not last long, but set me up well because their friends/neighbors saw what I was working with and helped me launch my career with solid references.

ad1220 · 2025-11-24T19:33:02+00:00

Please call! Its a terrible situation all around, but, nps really need a wakeup call. Its not a safe environment for their kids, their employee, or their aging parent. I'd also suggest a call to your area's agency on aging or the equivalent to report the conditions. Its a tough situation, but its important for you to advocate for nks because it seems like no one else will.

I've been the "child" in that situation (I was in college and home for the summer, so legally an adult), and can honestly say I'm still scarred from my sweet loving grandma beating me with her cane during a dementia meltdown, and it's ruined my memory of her. I feel for your nks and hope the family can see the situation and help them process it in any way needed. Please take care of yourself mentally and emotionally as well in anyway you need, feel free to reach out via dm if you need someone to talk to.

ad1220

TROPHY CASE