Nanny dilemma

[mbcdefg]

Can you use her as an on-call nanny? (I imagine not, since she'd probably have to find another FT nannying job, right?)

[egishere]

We have a nanny that has been with us for over two years so I get your dilemma...it's hard! I dread the day I have to let mine go.
So you say your job is more flexible? Would that mean you are doing drop off and pick up for your daughter? What about after she is out of school? I'm confused here. I would lean towards keeping her since you need her next summer and have her do some errands for you or cleaning.

[vanillacourage]

Let her go. Even if it doesn't work out to use her next summer, there are great summer camps out there. Give her a lot of notice, great references, and a good severance.

You're holding on to her because she took good care of your snuggly babies, but needs change and that's ok.

ETA - although I don't recommend trying to "work from home" with a 3 year old five afternoons a week. So maybe you should keep her after all.

[ohyouknow]

We have nearly the same situation. I am leaning towards screwing the money and keeping her, because essentially life is made up of being kind and treating each other well, right? But I also try not to do the math, lol.

[sometimesrunner]

Does your three year old take really long naps? I can't see working 5 days a week with a three year old at home.

[lemon]

Jul 29, 2014 11:55:10 GMT -5 @chloe77 said:

My job has become more flexible and I'm realizing that I can get away without a sitter this year.  

I may be reading too much into this, but is it really something you should "get away" with? I'm not sure if you have a full time wfh job, or have worked out some other childcare arrangement with your employer. If so, great. If not, it's not something you want to jeopardize by "getting away" with keeping your child home with you instead of paying for childcare. My previous coworker was sliding down this slippery slope over the past year wfh full time, and our managers definitely noticed.

[Deleted]

Jul 29, 2014 13:55:27 GMT -5 sometimesrunner said:

Does your three year old take really long naps? I can't see working 5 days a week with a three year old at home.

This. I cannot begin to imagine dealing with a child at home while WFH. I WFH pretty much exclusively (unless I travel) and can barely deal with dog when she gets antsy. Regular and repeated child - related interruptions would not go over well even with my very laid back organization and director. And I'm fairly senior.

I think that you should keep her unless you have true, honest to goodness flexibility and your manager does not give a shit when or how you get your work done.
I would propose that you review said plan with your manager before you make any sort of arrangements.

[hocus2]

Jul 29, 2014 13:22:19 GMT -5 @chloe77 said:

She currently picks up my daughter, but I could. I work from home, now, and it would be no big deal for me to pick her up and just have her here with me while I work. She's almost 4.

Don't do this. I WAH too and I have worked with my 4 year old in some dire situations and I am far less productive. Maybe your job is different, or maybe your child is really different but I really don't think you can work and keep an eye on a child. Maybe around 7 or  8 you child will be fine just doing  their own thing.  

[anna7602]

My daughter is 6 and fairly independent and there is no freaking way in heck that I can do any sustained work when she is home. If something comes up unexpectedly, I try to deal with it, but I will try to enlist a last-minute sitter or drop her off at a friend's house if I can plan ahead. WAH with no childcare is one of my hot button issues. I think it's delusional to think it's doable on a long-term basis.

That said, maybe you need to find someone new who only works for you afternoons, or figure out a nanny share for your current nanny by finding a family who needs hours while your daughter is in school.

[vamoose]

I would keep her and maybe see I'd she is open to taking of additional tasks during the extra free morning (errands, laundry, etc).