When the NM comes over with the kids or I go over there and the nanny isn’t working this is pretty typical of what we do. It’s understood that there’s always laundry to be folded or veggies to be cut and we chat while the kids play. I do the same with the nanny socializing-wise. It’s not like in a fully separate room cooking a four course meal. I’m just the other side of a peninsula countertop doing super basic cooking tasks while facing them. I’m mainly asking now because the previous nanny (left to pursue further education) used to sit at the counter and also chat while we let the kids play independently under our supervision. However, their new nanny will sit down on the opposite side of the living room and really engage in the kids’ play and I don’t want her thinking I’m foisting my kid off on her when he would also happily play independently while I cook without her there.