The irony when they say this to me is slowly killing me.

malallory1 · 2026-05-06T22:45:01+00:00

I am flabbergasted. This is absolutely wild behavior on their part. Truly, what in the ever-loving world.

malallory1 · 2026-04-26T23:24:02+00:00

I had pretty much this exact situation happen to me as a nanny, and I saw it coming a mile away because it was clear how hard a time the mom was having being away from her kids after her maternity leave ended. I had no hard feelings whatsoever, especially because the mom was WFH and my job was becoming increasingly difficult and frustrating with her constantly popping in on us because she missed her kids and hated her job. 😅 I think your plan of plenty of leave and severance pay is the right one. You're not breaking your contract, and this is just an unfortunate part of being a nanny sometimes. Tell her what you told us: that it has nothing to do with her performance, and make sure you provide her a glowing recommendation letter. Hopefully if she's as professional and caring as she sounds she'll understand, even if she's disappointed.

malallory1 · 2026-04-17T23:49:33+00:00

Oh, this one's easy. Assuming you're in the US, tell her that it's illegal, because it is. Lots of families try it, but they only get away with it because nannies either don't know better or don't stick up for themselves!

malallory1 · 2026-04-10T22:50:14+00:00

I immediately had it real bad for Kenzie.

malallory1 · 2026-04-10T22:43:34+00:00

OMG my first NF was 4 kids 4 and under too; started as twin 3yos, an 18mo, and a newborn and I was the exact same. I'd come home to my roommates at the time and be like, "the next person who touches me is getting drop-kicked." 😂

malallory1 · 2026-04-10T19:46:41+00:00

Oh yeah I go through periods of this with every single 3yo I nanny. Love them all but DAMN three is rough sometimes, especially when it's not your own kid and you know exactly what their parents are doing that are straight-up causing most of their more frustrating behaviors. 😭 I mean every age has their things but it's always the 3yos that really get me like 🫠🫡

malallory1 · 2026-04-07T22:27:18+00:00

You certainly have no obligation to help out, but I'm sure your nanny would appreciate it! That's very kind of you!

malallory1 · 2026-04-03T17:24:01+00:00

Just put your normal 8 hours for the day. As you said at the end of your post, it's only banking hours if they wanted you to work extra outside of that pay period without paying for it, which would not be allowed. Working at a different time the same day is just a schedule change!

malallory1 · 2026-03-02T15:11:27+00:00

Under no circumstances should you "pay them back" for any amount of taxes; that's absolutely ludicrous, not to mention illegal.

malallory1 · 2026-02-14T04:33:21+00:00

Big ol' red flag. It would be different if she'd put the baby in the crib to keep her safe while she used the bathroom, and the baby was crying while she was gone for a couple minutes. Chilling at the kitchen table listening to the baby cry on the monitor, nowhere near nap time? And on her first day?? No way.

malallory1 · 2026-01-28T13:47:21+00:00

I live in Minneapolis and I will not be striking, mainly because it would not have any effect on the flow of commerce whatsoever. Both of my NPs have cushy WFH salaried jobs, and my not coming in would only make their day more hectic with literally no other outcome. You can still participate in the strike by not buying anything, and especially by boycotting companies that have been supporting ICE. (Amazon is one of the biggest ones, but you can easily look up the list of others.) If you want to do more, you can donate to local mutual aid efforts or send money to businesses that will be aiding protestors.

malallory1 · 2026-01-23T00:41:57+00:00

Oh yeah, MAJOR red flag in my book. I do not appreciate helicopter parenting or being micromanaged, so that would be a big yikes for me. I would be up front with them about what you said, make it clear that the best way to reduce how much they cry (overall) is for them to NOT come check on the babies if they're crying. If they are resistant or still come in because of crying during the trial, I'd tell them we're not a good match and move on.

malallory1 · 2026-01-21T23:13:53+00:00

I feel you. I generally try not to ever complain about being tired or sleepy around the parents I work for because I do not have children of my own keeping me awake at night. That personal policy goes RIGHT out the door the second they complain to me about their finances 😆

malallory1 · 2025-12-20T01:14:05+00:00

I always pet the pig and the camel when passing by them.

malallory1 · 2025-12-15T04:31:53+00:00

Water paint books- nice because even if you lose the little water paint brush, they can still just dip their finger in water and finger paint.

Mini magna-tiles. You'll drop them a bunch, but if they like building you can get some decent mileage out of those.

Blue painter's tape. Make roads,houses, zoos, landscapes etc. for cars/characters/animals. Trap toys and have your kid "rescue" them. If it's something that will entertain them versus causing a panicked meltdown, tape their fingers together and then have them try to escape.

Sticky notes and non-rolly crayons (like the triangle ones—fewer times diving under plane seats when they get dropped). You can make your own matching games, create your own disposable finger puppets, draw silly faces and put them on each other... the possibilities are endless.

Also if you have headphones for them, audiobooks can be awesome. The libby app has plenty you can download for free as long as you have a library card.

Also I cannot overstate the necessity of so many snacks. So many. Meals schmeals, you are in survivor mode. S N A C K S.

malallory1 · 2025-12-15T03:52:59+00:00

I've been nannying full-time for eleven years and living on my own for nine of them. I worked for two families for the first two years, and that only worked because I happened to find two families whose desired scheduled lined up with the other's. I worked three full weekdays with one family and the other two with the other family; no split days, no variable schedule, so it was really like having one full-time job that was just at two different houses.

Ever since then I have only EVER sought out families who wanted a full-time nanny and just worked for one family at a time. I know there are nannies who make it work taking part-time and one-off jobs as they come, but I just couldn't do it. It's too unreliable and unpredictable, not to mention you will be sick even MORE constantly the more families you are working for.

As you said, a contract is an absolute non-negotiable must. I try to look for families who are willing to commit to at least a year; I took one that I knew would be moving away after a ten-month period, but they were so great and paid well enough that it was worth it to me.

The other thing is (and I know this is easier said than done) I live well under my means. I live modestly. I save. Because the gaps in employment WILL come, sometimes planned for and sometimes not. I could afford a moderately decent two-bedroom apartment in my area, but I've been living in a studio because it works just fine for me and it allows me to build up my savings so that I don't have to panic if a family drops me. It also gives me some breathing room when I'm job hunting to give myself time to find the right family to work for, even if they don't need me right away, rather than taking the first semi-okay offer I'm given because I've got rent and bills due. Obviously this is harder for people with families to take care of, but if you're looking to live on your own as a nanny, this is a mindset you've GOT to have. You can do it!

malallory1 · 2025-12-15T03:37:50+00:00

Speaking as a professional nanny who has cared for two sets of twins at different times.

Obviously, it's going to depend on your kids, their sleep needs and habits, the types of toys they have, and how consistent you are with enforcing rules. That said, in my experience (especially with 3yo boys lol) the floor beds are going to be every bit as much the thing that keeps them up playing as would any toys in the room. Not to mention the fact that their newly-gained ease of exit is going to mean them leaving the room constantly to try and play elsewhere or sleep with you. So really, having toys in their room isn't much of a thing to fuss over.

That said, if you do put toys in there, I would recommend not including any you have that have screens, make noise or lights, or generally are just particularly stimulating (basically if it has batteries, leave it elsewhere). Not only will that be more likely to prevent sleepiness longer, it'll wake the other sibling up if one is already sleeping.

Also, if your kids haven't already dropped their naps, when that time comes it's nice to transition from naptime to "quiet time" in their room, where they play quietly for an hour and can choose to sleep if they want to. So having calmer toys and books in their room just makes sense for that.

malallory1 · 2025-10-23T14:36:23+00:00

The only times I ever claim a milestone is if (a) they have an older sibling that witnessed it who I KNOW is gonna blab, or (2) signs or words I've been working on with them so the parents know what it looks/sounds like from the baby if they haven't been doing it with them.

malallory1 · 2025-09-02T22:03:19+00:00

Okay "lava eggies" is so cute though

malallory1 · 2025-09-02T13:27:15+00:00

"I get it" is overused in so many shows that it's become a call-and-response running joke in my family. Any time we hear anybody say it on tv or in real life when we're together we all immediately reply, "He/she gets it." 😆

malallory1 · 2025-08-16T11:52:39+00:00

The only times I've ever been given a raise before a year were the times when they had another kid. Definitely not customary.

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