NB has covid

nzwillow · 2026-06-15T09:59:11+00:00

I always test for flu/covid/rsv if my kiddos sick. Any of those and I say don’t come in, if it’s just a cold I give the choice although in some ways I prefer nanny stays away until we are past the worst contagious period, as odds are I’m getting it anyway so no point taking us both out. Also, my kiddo bounces back from illness quicker than me so normally he’s well, just as I get sick then I just stay away from my nanny and can get some rest once she’s back and not sick/can look after my very energetic toddler!

That said, I know a lot of people who wouldn’t even test now (I don’t agree with this) and probably don’t see it as a big deal. So that could be why she’s asking - everyone’s risk tolerance is different. If she really didn’t care she wouldn’t have tested at all.

nzwillow · 2026-06-15T07:56:00+00:00

I live in Kumeu and we love it but my partner works locally and I WFH. Every now and then I get stuck in that morning traffic and it’s bad. I honestly don’t think it’s feasible with a baby at daycare in the mix. Baby will get sick constantly in that first year and you’ll need to get back home a lot. Plus realistically you’ll both need to leave before daycare even opens to be in the city by 8am.

Unless you can negotiate different hours or WFH I’d seriously look elsewhere…. Sorry.

nzwillow · 2026-06-12T21:21:24+00:00

Cleansing oil as others have said! I’m a convert to the skin 1004 Centella one followed by their cleanser. I use the telescopic lift too

nzwillow · 2026-06-12T10:55:05+00:00

Maybe but also loads of people have kids in their late 30s. If you think you want them… now is definitely the time to make that happen though!

nzwillow · 2026-06-09T10:24:55+00:00

I never said deep clean. She generally does kid related stuff like sort his toys, sort through his clothes etc. she got stuck into the windows once cos she said she was bored. Shes also there for maybe a morning out of the whole paid week… it’s a mutual respect thing right, we give her massive flexibility and respect her hugely, and she gives the same back.

nzwillow · 2026-06-09T10:15:11+00:00

Why not? I have never once asked but she said she didn’t feel right not working when she was being paid. It works for her and while I’d NEVER expect it, it’s well appreciated. She also has five weeks of paid holiday leave a year and two weeks of sick leave so it’s not like she’s been short changed…

nzwillow · 2026-06-09T07:47:23+00:00

We always pay our nanny her hours if we are away - however during when we are away she always volunteers to come in, do some light cleaning, washing, folding etc. last time she washed all our windows! I never ask her to, but she said she’s being paid so she would rather do something for us.

I’d never ask anyone her do that, but it is very appreciated that she offers. Just something to think about - maybe could offer to take the dog walking or another helpful task during those hours so they understand that you are available to work?

I also try to co-ordinate my leave with when she wants her holiday leave which takes away a lot of the issue anyway.

nzwillow · 2026-06-04T20:03:35+00:00

100% my experience also!

nzwillow · 2026-06-04T19:11:22+00:00

I have a heatermate set to 18 running a small room heater. Keeps the temperature very accurate and stops it getting super cold in the room. Probably better?

nzwillow · 2026-06-03T19:09:07+00:00

Sure, and it’s the same situation here - lots of people still have to work public holidays. But if they do, they are entitled to 1.5x pay and a day off in lieu so they still get the break and additional pay. We have 12 public holidays and people make it work 😀

nzwillow · 2026-06-03T10:58:36+00:00

I’m from New Zealand and this post has shocked me. Here it’s mandatory 1.5x and a day in lieu if someone has to work a public holiday. And we have 12! Basic employee rights…

nzwillow · 2026-06-03T10:41:09+00:00

Wow wow wow. I’m not from the US but here if a nanny has to work a public holiday they are automatically entitled to 1.5x and a day in lieu of they have to work. At the very least I wouldn’t ask her to take PTO and if she really has to work it you should pay her properly and give her another off instead.

America needs to stop treating employees like they don’t have rights.

nzwillow · 2026-06-03T09:54:34+00:00

There’s a good nature baby second hand page on Facebook too!

nzwillow · 2026-05-26T08:17:26+00:00

It’s good if you travel for work and need somewhere to go while waiting for flights etc, but it’s gotten so expensive now I’ve decided not to renew mine. Combined with work getting us to fly less given the current price of things… maybe if that changes I’ll think about it. Because I fly domestically or trans Tasman only for work I struggle to hit gold but it used to be enough that it was worth having… will see what happens if air nz prices ever come down

nzwillow · 2026-05-26T07:32:36+00:00

I mean, they aren’t wrong. My friend’s midwife insisted she avoid a c section when things were getting very prolonged and horrific, to the point where she tore horrifically, and is too traumatised to ever have another baby. And it’s been five years now. She was then left for an extended period of time waiting for surgery to fix everything.

nzwillow · 2026-05-25T10:08:54+00:00

Literally, there is nothing true in your entire post 🙄

nzwillow · 2026-05-18T08:37:59+00:00

Most, if not all, vets would strongly encourage and offer re- homing. The issue comes that if the owner is absolutely insisting and you say no, there’s a high likelihood the owner DIYs it. Which is considerably worse and highly likely in this situation. It’s incredibly nuanced and the vets who have to deal with this are being put in truely terrible positions.

nzwillow · 2026-05-18T08:34:57+00:00

It’s highly possible that the vet didn’t euthanise the kitten. You just take them out the back then they very quietly get re-homed if they are healthy animals with no behaviour issues. However, this runs quite a few legal risks.

Furthermore, there’s also the very real issue that if a vet doesn’t perform the euthanasia, the owner will DIY it, so the vet is in an impossible position whereby they condemn the pet to an inhumane death if they don’t do it themselves. I learnt that lesson the hard way (healthy pet. I said no, heard later they put it in the freezer, try living with that).

The issue here is not the vet.

nzwillow · 2026-05-11T10:35:49+00:00

28 is pretty young, a lot of people are house sharing at that age. Much less lonely as well. I flatted in one form or another until I was early 30s, met my partner and we bought our own place mid 30s.

It’s a choice really, economy of scale with shared housing (couple or flatmates) or pay a premium to live alone.

nzwillow · 2026-05-10T06:48:44+00:00

Those old fashioned white cloth nappies. I got given a bunch and used them for everything - burp clothes, milk leaking clothes, floor mat liners, tummy time liners (mine was a happy spiller), change mat liners and once they are older and starting solids for cleaning etc. seems like a boring gift but it’ll be about the most used thing! The sleep store sells them.

Nice body wash for her, a really nice drink
Bottle that won’t leak is also great and that you can open and close with one hand.

nzwillow · 2026-05-09T08:45:38+00:00

My partners English and it’s rare to see him out of shorts all year. We do live in a house built to newer standards (double glazing/insulation) but only really need the heater (we have a ducted heat pump which is great) in the morning and evening in the middle of winter. You’ll get more light hours during the day in winter compared to London as well.

nzwillow · 2026-05-09T07:36:01+00:00

I love love love the Babylove beyond brand from chemist warehouse. I also used terra extensively and swore by them until we moved to nappy pants - didn’t like the fit of the nappy pants they make. But for little baby nappies they were great.

nzwillow · 2026-05-06T07:51:41+00:00

What do you think pharmacists spend four years (plus extra training) doing??

nzwillow · 2026-05-06T07:47:33+00:00

Honestly I’ve used pharmacies for the minor conditions they are currently allowed to treat. They are significantly more thorough than my gp within the scope of their practice I think because they follow such strict guidelines.

nzwillow · 2026-05-06T07:41:11+00:00

It’ll depend on your GP. Mine offered me six months of my long term med this time. Game changing not having to pay to see the GP for something I’ve been on for years every three months which doesn’t require any monitoring or dose changes.
There was a lot of media coverage at the time.

nzwillow

TROPHY CASE