It's Been Awhile!

Wow! I can't believe I left this blog sitting as long as I did!

Actually, yes I can! It's been quite a year, and I've been very busy with that "new" family I mentioned last April.

You know, the one that only had one child at the time? A two year old?

Well.

Since that time, THREE more children have been born into the family. No joke!! So now I have FOUR kids that I nanny. As you can probably imagine, that keeps me pretty busy!

And boy, do I have some stories!

It's been about 18 months since I first started with this family, and I still really like the family a lot! The extended family is also very involved, so I get to see and spend quite a bit of time around them as well. Some people may not care for that, but I really enjoy it. They (the extended family included) all treat me like a part of the family. When Momboss' sister comes in town, I often keep her kids too, for extra pay of course.

Write soon!!

I Don't Understand

I've seen comments and posts in other places about nannies complaining about their market value, and the complaints that those who work for less harm what they want to make, or how they want to dictate what consumers pay.

It's valid, to a degree. I can see someone being upset about their value having gone down. The bottom line is, this happens in the market all the time. None of us ever get, or keep, what we would like to maintain in anything. Housing values fluctuate. Prices of other services, and goods, fluctuate. It's called supply and demand. And when you're the consumer, and prices go down, you like it.

The concept is very simple. When the demand for a particular service, or item, is high and the supply is not high enough to keep up with that demand, premium price ensues. When demand is low, and supply is plenty, the price goes down.

It does get broken down a bit more than that oversimplified paragraph. Let's have an economics lesson, shall we?

1. If demand increases and supply remains unchanged then higher equilibrium price and unchanged quantity. (this means that if more parents suddenly want to hire nannies but more nannies have not entered the market, then nanny wages may go up a bit as parents compete for nannies)
2. If demand decreases and supply remains the same then lower equilibrium price and unchanged quantity. (if less people want/need nannies say, due to a recession ~ahem~ then there will be an overabundance of nannies in the market and the wages one is willing to work for to land a hard-to-get job will be lower - cheaper - as the nannies compete for jobs)
3. If supply increases and demand remains unchanged then lower equilibrium price and higher quantity. (if a buncha nannies suddenly enter the market to compete in the unchanging demand for nannies by parents, wages will decrease as even more nannies compete for the same jobs)
4. If supply decreases and demand remains the same then higher price and lower quantity. (if nannies suddenly decided to pursue other career options and left the market, but the same number of parents need nannies, then wages for nannies will go up because there are fewer nannies to go around and parents want to make sure they attract and keep one; also, nannies will realize if a family does not give them the wage they desire that they have a slew of other families who may )

I get really irked at nannies who try to dictate to others who are willing to work for a certain price that they can not do so because of what THEY want. I get irked at nannies who dictate that parents can not hire someone with qualifications that they (the nannies) do not deem high enough, at a price that both parties agree to, because THEY want to make a certain amount of money at all times. It's like saying, "unless you pay what I think you should pay, then you can NOT have a nanny or personal care provider in your home, even if you and that person mutually agree on the price. I should dictate the pay, not the market. And because of that, people who do not want their kids in daycare should have to do so unless they pay what I say. People who are willing to work for $10/hour (or minimum wage) should NOT be able to get a job as a nanny, which may have more flexibility than another job for the same amount, because I do not like the fact that my field is competitive."  Supply and demand dictates this.

Now, I understand  the whole issue with illegal immigrants, or migrant workers in general. In some areas, this is a big factor in the supply and demand force. If they're legal, what are you gonna do? Bottom line is, you've got supply and demand still at work, and yes it sucks, but it's still how it works. You are only worth what consumers dictate in their willingness to pay, not what you dictate. If consumers are not willing to pay beyond a certain price for services that they can get much cheaper, and with which they are satisfied, then why shouldn't they? I understand it's less than what high-end nannies want, and I understand the complaints.

I just think telling people they can not hire who they want, at the price they want if the supply is there is presumptuous. Lots of people have been out of jobs, and making ends meet in the best ways they know. This means nannies willing to work for less, and parents not willing to pay premium price for the same service they can get cheaper elsewhere.

If two people have an agreement, it's no one else's business. If I am absolutely fine to work for less than $10 an hour, who are you to tell me I can not?? To say two people can not enter into a legal arrangement because it does not measure up to your own standards is arrogant.

Lots of people have lost a lot during the recession. Suck it up and take the hit like everyone else has.

You're not exempt.

Spring Planting

The weather is nice and what better activity to do with young children than to take them out to plant and show them first hand where some of our food comes from?

I try and make a point to plant the kinds of things the kids like to eat.



This meant that for the boys, we chose strawberries and a blueberry plant.

For the girl in my new family, we chose cherry tomatoes (she loooooves them).

This makes kids excited, too. They love growing their own food, and eating the food that they grow.

They love learning what it takes to be responsible for the growth, and the pride I see in their eyes as they take on this task is like no other.

It's one of the biggest proofs that work does indeed create pride in accomplishment!

Things are About to Start Hopping

It's been awhile, I know.

The job with the family I have been with for a few years is coming to an end in a few weeks. The family has never needed summer care, and next year the boys will be in school full time. Over the last 6 months, my schedule has basically consisted of one or two days a week, so I continued to look for a position where I could supplement the rest of the week and hopefully end up with a long term position after this current one ended. I knew the ending was coming this year, so have been looking since the Fall.

I have been in contact with a few families, but usually for one reason or another, things just didn't match up exactly. I am flexible in many, many ways. However, I know what I am worth and, unfortunately, there are many parents who seem to expect private, tailored, in-home care (and general house management, as it seems many of them want) should be cheaper than putting their child in institutional child care centers. The condescension I see in some advertisements have me appalled sometimes. They act like you're just gonna sit on the couch and text all day while the child runs around in poopy pants and tears up the house.

I mean, yes I sit down sometimes. I need to. Don't YOU get a break at work?

I know many other nannies get cheesed off at this attitude too. A parent makes it clear that your work in their home is not even worth minimum wage. They expect a pseudo-parent, housekeeper, laundress, teacher, chauffeur and cook then want to claim the measly wage they grudgingly cough up as a deduction, making you earn even less while jipping you of your working rights.

No thanks. I will work in a day care before becoming your house slave.

Anyhoo, the point of that little side rant is that it took several months to finally find someone who matched what I know I want in a job. Luckily, I can be picky and wait for what I want. And it finally came along.

The job is a....well, a combination of mother's helper/house manager/nanny. Mom does not work, but is very involved in many community businesses and boards. So she is gone often, but sometimes home. So far (and it's only been a few months) everyone, including the grandparents who often come by, seem to be totally laid back and open to letting me do things in the way I see fit. There is no micro-managing. The grandmother has told me more than once, 'just go ahead and take over. That's what they want.' (Meaning, house decisions).

There are so many good things about this job so far. It pays well more than the average pay for our area. I am not (so far) being micro managed and am encouraged to make the decisions on outings, activities and dinner. If I mention I wanna make something special, she is like, "Sure!" and leaves her credit card. They are just starting their family (one child so far who is 2, but twins on the way and plans for more kids), so that means probable long term.

And, the schedule is super flexible. Right now, we go week by week with scheduling. Mom asks me what I have for the following couple of weeks that I need, and then she schedules her own appointments around it.

So far, I feel so very lucky.

Dinner Woes

You know what I really don't like about my job?

Dinner.

Actually, I like to cook. And I normally don't mind dinner.

Except......

What I really dislike is trying to figure out what meal to make with what is in the house. It throws me off, all the time. I may have an idea, but be missing one or two ingredients. Or find a side dish that goes really well with it would be impossible to make based on what is in the cupboard. And the fact that making a grocery list, or planning a menu, or going to the grocery is not part of my job makes it even more difficult. I almost wish I had that extra chore, so I could plan a menu and make out a list for what is needed.

At the very beginning, I actually did do that. Plan ahead, I mean, and then give MomBoss a list of what ingredients I would need in the house to make that happen. And MomBoss was pretty good about making sure I had it, but I sometimes got the feeling she wasn't always super thrilled with my planned meal if it was out of the norm of what she usually bought.

A few times I bought ingredients because I wanted to try out a recipe.

Then sometimes MomBoss would leave a note saying, "I was thinking Lasagna tonight", or something of the sort, with a recipe card out along with it. And actually, I liked that. It gave me direction. Not that I need direction, per se. But when I have no hand in really planning a grocery list or menu, and have to rummage through the fridge or pantry trying to put together a meal, it gets frustrating. I'd like to plan and know what to expect.

I am currently interviewing for another job to add more hours to my current one, since the boys are now in preschool and I am not needed as much. The next family has an almost two year old, and a set of twins on the way. Mom actually wants errands and meal prep in addition to childcare.

I think what I am going to propose is this:

I will plan out a weekly, bi weekly, or monthly menu and submit it to MomBoss for approval (until I get a feel for who likes what). When it is approved, I will make out a grocery list and buy what I need to make the meals.

I will feel so much more accomplished that way!

Job Searching Tales Continued

I thought I had a bite!

It was interesting, really. I applied for a long term position with a schedule that sounded workable for me. However, after playing e-mail and phone tag due to a busy Memorial Day weekend for my family and the potential employer family, the prospective MB and I finally got on the phone together.

She explained their needs and we had a long conversation about expectations and a possible meeting date.

Then came the question: what was my rate?

Really? It was clearly posted.

So I tell her. It's two kids, one a toddler. It includes driving around and taking the kids places, which is very cool. I love a parent who gives me free reign on outings.

She insisted on paying $2 below the low end of the going rate in our area. She felt like I was a great match, but they were unwilling to go up $2 an hour from their anticipated pay rate.

No go.

I had a man contact me about a position in his home for his children. I asked the normal questions, what were the duties and hours and days needed?

I truly do not understand people. I mean, really. You want private care and you want to pay less than daycare rates.

He told me their family's expectations. Early morning, get older kids ready for school, fix breakfast for all, transport to school.

No biggie.

Take baby to scheduled classes, like music. Do educational activities with baby. Pick up child who goes to school half day, fix lunch, put kids down for naps, do laundry, change all beds, sweep, vacuum. Get kids up, pick up older child from school come home, help with homework, start dinner, play with kids (no tv). Some grocery errands as needed.

Possible that some nights I would need to stay to put kids to bed, in which case I would be responsible for baths and making sure backpacks and lunches were in order for the next day for the school aged kids.

Pay? $200-$250 a week. Oh, and no gas reimbursement for trips unless I drove more than 10 miles in a single trip.

Never mind that I could easily go over 10 miles a day in all the little single trips combined together.

Oh, and they had a dog who was their 'baby' before their kids came along. Any nanny taking the job would need to be willing to treat DOG as the first child and given as much attention as the kids so she didn't feel left out.

YES. I SWEAR TO YOU. The DOG!

What do you think I said to THAT fine offer?

Job Seeking

Wow, has it really been months since I last updated?

A lot going on in my nanny world! I am officially looking for employment again. the family I worked for won't need me again until Fall, and even then my hours will be way down from before because both boys will be in school most of the week. I've told former MB that if I find a job that allows me to work the one day a week they will need me, that I will do so. But in the meantime, I am looking for more full time work.

I was planning to just take the summer off, and am looking for jobs that have start dates for mid August or Fall. I can afford to do that, as my husband is the main wage earner and we can live quite comfortably on his income alone. However, I came across a job 2 weeks ago that was too good to pass up, that had a start date of immediately, so I applied and interviewed for this job.

The funny thing is, this couple ended up taking a much, much cheaper option of in home daycare. These were people offering between $32000 - $38000 a year for a nanny working 25-40 hours! When we got into the discussion about what is required tax-wise, etc, this corporate executive mother got very confused. Seriously, she abandoned a private nanny over the issue of employer taxes for an unlicensed in-home center that is now costing her probably about $4000 a year?!??!!

My mind is boggled.

But nevermind that......

This has lent me to now kick around the idea of actively seeking for summer, altho I am still not certain I wanna work during summer. The hours and pay would just have to be right, and I am lucky enough to be picky and wait.

Another note: I had a woman pursuing me on a care site, and the hours sounded good. The start date was mid-August, also good. So, in interest, I sent back a reply to this woman's request asking for more details, including that of her pay.

She wrote back giving me all the details I had asked for, except the one about pay.

Now, I am not trying to be a biddy. But with gas prices the way they are, I don't see any need to waste anyone's time on setting up interviews and getting hopes up when something that is a deal breaker can be noted upfront. I am efficient like that, and I admit not everyone appreciates it! When initially corresponding, I make certain the hours, days and pay specifically match up between us or I see no sense in wasting anyone's time. I've been tangled up with too many parents who say things to get me 'in', only to switch the game around to something I very clearly do not want. Like with the Indian couple who pursued me and said they would be flexible and all when I stated that it didn't seem the hours they needed a nanny matched what I wanted in a schedule. Once they got me 'in' tho.....they changed all of that, Added on hours and lessened pay.

Ummmm.....no.

IMO, all of that can be avoided. I believe in communicating clearly. In the case of this mother who didn't answer my question, I wrote her back again and told her everything she said sounded good. However, my minimum charge was X, and that was solely for the care of the baby and the cleaning associated only with my being there (meaning I clean up the messes baby and I made while there). If she wanted extra housework, laundry, etc, the charge would be more. I asked her, was this within her range?

I never heard back. Oh well.

Another family, just a few weeks ago, also started pursuing me. I asked the father (who contacted me) for details. Days, hours? He simply said, "8 hours a day 5 days a week"

Well, THAT told me NOTHING. Not to mention, my former family knew of this family and sorta gave the advice to steer clear of them. So I did not write this guy back when he clearly did not answer my question for details.

He then wrote again. I told him it didn't appear as if my needs matched what they needed.

So then he had his wife email me. She was a tad more sociable, it seemed. I basically told her 'no'.

But then I changed my mind, and they had already found someone else!! LOL

Oh well again.

So, anyway, that is my update. I'll keep ya posted on the interesting stories as they happen!