Learn the top reasons your nanny may not be happy, and how to fix them. Your childcare giver is a very important part of your life, with her your life would not be possible. Keep her happy, and your kids will be happy.
Last year I spent 7 months as the lowest form of childcare specialist: an au pair. In exchange for a meager 500 euros a month, I lived in a very small bedroom of a very small French house and worked 10-14 hour days, 4 days a week (au pairs can legally only work 5 hour days, 5 days a week). While I was also provided with a weekly language course, and a chance to go on a Mediterranean “vacation” (I worked 36 hours a week), none of these things could have compensated for the crap I put up with. No, I’m not talking about the children. Children have an excuse for the way they behave, and we love them anyway.
Parents, however, are a completely different story. It’s the little things that count in the close relationship you have with your childcare giver, so pay attention! One constant slip-up could be making your wonderful nanny lose her mind, and leave for greener pastures.
Here are a few major pet-peeves of nannies and au pair’s everywhere. If you have in-home childcare, you are likely guilty of some of these, and you need to address them. Don’t risk losing the best nanny you ever had!
Be Punctual!
Your nanny is not the only person who needs to be on time for work. When you ask your nanny to work from 9am to 5pm, you walk in the door at 5:00pm. Not 5:15pm, 5:20pm, or 10:00pm(!). Make a schedule and try valiantly to stick to it. If your nanny or au pair lives in the house, the temptation to be late is very great. I don’t think my employers were ever once on time. They were often one to two hours later than expected. As a result, I met few people in France and had a very slow social life. By the time the parents were home to take over the kids, the last train of the night was long gone from my town.
Your nanny has a life outside your children. She wants to go home to her own family, she wants to go out to dinner with her friends. She has planned her life around the fact that you are supposed to get home at 5:00pm every night. We nannies understand that traffic happens, so being a little late every once in a while will not be a disaster. Just call! Don’t call at 5:00pm to say you will be late, either. At least a half hour before you are due home. If you are constantly late, compensate by paying her overtime. Your nanny’s time is valuable, and forgetting that can ruin the relationship and lose you the key which makes your life possible.