Same-Sex Households
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Our tech team has launched updates to The Nest today. As a result of these updates, members of the Nest Community will need to change their password in order to continue participating in the community. In addition, The Nest community member's avatars will be replaced with generic default avatars. If you wish to revert to your original avatar, you will need to re-upload it via The Nest.
If you have questions about this, please email help@theknot.com.
Thank you.
Note: This only affects The Nest's community members and will not affect members on The Bump or The Knot.
*2brides*
We're having a hastily-arranged meeting with a potential nanny today at 10 am. She's a neighbor of a work friend, and apparently she's stopping by work to meet us. Any critical questions we should ask? I haven't had any time to look into anything about nannies (obviously), so I don't even know if there are licenses, etc. we should be asking about.
This is more a meet & greet than an interview, but if there are any deal-breaker questions, I'd want to at least ask those.
Thanks for the advice, if you happen to see this! 
married 03/08/08 -- ttc with PCOS (dx 2005) & DS
IUI #3 gave us the best 2nd anniv. gift ever: 2 babies! (born 03/09/10)
Peanut and Little Man are getting so big! 2 years old already!
finally blogging again at This Will Be: An Adventure
IUI #3 gave us the best 2nd anniv. gift ever: 2 babies! (born 03/09/10)
Peanut and Little Man are getting so big! 2 years old already!
finally blogging again at This Will Be: An Adventure
Re: *2brides*
Quickly -
There aren't licenses - but she should experience juggling multiple infants either through working in a daycare or being a nanny for more than one - taking care of 1 is MUCH different than taking care of 2.
You guys will need to figure out what your deal breakers are. Ours were that they needed to have their own transportation since we aer no where near public transportation and she needed to be able to transport the kids once they got a bit older. Not allergic to our pet. Comfortable with our family and not ashamed of it.
Ask about childrearing philosophies and discipline. While your babies won't need discipline now - if she is with you for any length of time they will eventually. How does it fit in with your family philosophy?
What activities will she do with kids of varying ages (3m, 6m, 9m, 1y, etc.)
What are your expectations of her re: things other than taking care of the kids. Some people ask that the nanny do the kids laundry, clean the kids bathroom, etc. We just asked that she take care of the kids *twins are a full time job in the beginning*, clean up the playroom/toys, make the kids (and herself) lunch, and clean up afterwards. No household chores.
In the end, it really comes down to a comfort level/gut instinct. We phone interviewed several and then in person interviewed 3 - but when our nanny *the one we had long term* walked in, we just knew she fit our family.
I have an application and contract I can send to you, if you'd like.
GOOD LUCK!
IUI #3 gave us the best 2nd anniv. gift ever: 2 babies! (born 03/09/10)
Peanut and Little Man are getting so big! 2 years old already!
finally blogging again at This Will Be: An Adventure
I know you said today is really more of a meet and greet than an interview, but if you do move forward with this person (or anyone else), the issue of duties other than caring for the children is a big one! As a former nanny, I can speak to what a disaster it can be if you're not clear from the beginning on what is expected. Do you have pets that the nanny will be responsible for? Do you not care if she leaves out toys, but want her to start a load of the twins' laundry each day? Etc, etc. Also, will she be responsible for accepting deliveries or dealing with people coming to the house for repairs (cable guy, washing machine repair person, etc).
Her experience caring for more than one, her childrearing philosophies, references, and plans for activities with the children are super important to discuss, of course - but the "other stuff" is important too, and is likely to cause conflict if not agreed upon in advance.
Good luck - I hope you hit it off!
sahm ~ toddler breastfeeder ~ cloth diaperer ~ baby wearer
you've got mail.
Let us know how it goes!
Just saw this story on babble.com and thought of you!
http://www.babble.com/parenting-advice-babysitter/
sahm ~ toddler breastfeeder ~ cloth diaperer ~ baby wearer
I think this is a fabulous article and very true. Ultimately, you have to be able to trust this person implicitly with your most precious commodities - your kids. And while it can be really hard to watch this intense bond grow between your kids and the nanny - it really is important. Our nanny was like a 3rd parent to our kids, which was intimidating at first (we didn't choose to have a child WITH HER!!?!?) but seeing how happy they were while she was there and how much they learned from here was totally worth it.
(and my goodness how I miss the days when I didn't have to get 2 kids up, dressed, fed, lunches packed, and out the door by 7:20!)