New to this nanny thing

[MommyofAmaya]

This is our second week with a summer nanny. Today she took the kids with her to have her blood drawn (10 minute visit). I had no idea this was happening or I would have had her drop them off at an hourly childcare place that we use occasionally. I have never taken them to my own doctor's appointments.

I am bugging out a little about this since it makes me question her judgement. She did not call me or DH to let us know. She is off every Friday and IMO should be taking care of personal business then.

Any thoughts?

[AnnieW625]

I agree that she probably should have taken care of her business on Friday, but I would just tell her that it would be easier if she did those things on her time. I might make an exception if the blood bank or blood lab was walking distance from the park or the store or whatever errand she was running at the time. Was it after she picked up DD from school? I might have been fine with that too, but she should have let you known first.

Kids at drs. appts. doesn't really bother and I have taken mine with me a number of times, but yeah your kids don't really need to go with her.

[elektra]

Inappropriate.
I would be upset if my nanny took my kids anywhere before asking me for starters. Both of my nannies let me know if they need to make any diversions from planned activities.
For instance, my nanny will ask if she can stop at Target on the way home from the library and I almost always say fine, but that is also after 5 years of working for us.

Once my nanny did take my kids somewhere I had not approved of and I was upset. We still kept her but it did require me being even more specific about what was ok and what was not as far as my comfort level in where she would take them.

But even if my nanny would have asked to take the kids along to one of her dr. appts, I think I would have said no or asked if there was a way to change her appt. I just would not want them there for a few reasons, and she not on her own personal time while watching the kids.

[niccig]

I agree with being clearer on where she can take the kids and who else can be there.

We had a babysitter a lot one summer and she mentioned taking DS to the movies one day. I was fine with it and left money for tickets. DS then told me her parents were there too. I was not happy. We've had used her for years as our date night babysitter and I trust her, but I've never met her parents. If she had told me BEFORE that her parents would also be going, I probably would have said fine. It was the not knowing until afterwards that I didn't like.

So, I would be very clear about taking kids on personal errands and who else might be there on those errands.

[MommyofAmaya]

She was on "the way" to take them to the museumbut I have no idea if she had to actually go out of her way or not b/c I don't know where her doctor is located. I explained to her that it was out of my comfort zone, but it seems like a clearly inappropriate thing to do IMO (especially on her 6th day of work) and that is what worries me.

I guess I have to have another conversation with her and spell out exactly what is and is not OK.

[chays]

I am very type A - but that would be 100% NOT Ok with me and I would fire her. But I guess a lot depends on how much you otherwise love her. Judgement can't be taught and either you have good judgement...or you don't.

[TxCat]

Originally Posted by MommyofAmaya

She was on "the way" to take them to the museumbut I have no idea if she had to actually go out of her way or not b/c I don't know where her doctor is located. I explained to her that it was out of my comfort zone, but it seems like a clearly inappropriate thing to do IMO (especially on her 6th day of work) and that is what worries me.

I guess I have to have another conversation with her and spell out exactly what is and is not OK.

Definitely not good judgment on her part, but there are several hospitals and clinics right by the Children's Museum, so I bet her doctor's office or LabCorp was nearby and I can totally picture her thought process, along the lines of, "It's right across the street and it will just take a minute."

I would just be very explicit with her about future activities - what places are okay to go to, and anything not on that list, you would like her to ask you first. If you're easily reachable by text, maybe suggest that she text you with any and all questions if she is unsure about whether she should take the kids somewhere. And, I would go ahead and say that you would prefer that she take care of personal business on Fridays. If she is unable to do that, to please let you know so that you can come up with a solution.

[Octobermommy]

I wouldn't be okay with that at all. In addition to the previous comments I don't think a place with needles & vials of blood is a good place for kids to be. I've taken my own kids to get my blood drawn but I wouldn't if I didn't have to at all. Not the cleanest IMO.

And after only 6 days of employment? Where is she going to take them after 60 days?

[ellies mom]

It wouldn't bother me. Labs can be time sensitive and maybe she had a doctor's appointment on Friday that she needed the results for. I don't have an issue with my nanny running the occasional personal errand while she is working. My girls love to run errands and if she wants to do them with kids in tow, more power to her. Now if she was spending an hour sitting in DMV, that I might have a problem with but ten to fifteen minutes on the way to an activity? Have at it.

[roseyloxs]

Originally Posted by ellies mom

It wouldn't bother me. Labs can be time sensitive and maybe she had a doctor's appointment on Friday that she needed the results for. I don't have an issue with my nanny running the occasional personal errand while she is working. My girls love to run errands and if she wants to do them with kids in tow, more power to her. Now if she was spending an hour sitting in DMV, that I might have a problem with but ten to fifteen minutes on the way to an activity? Have at it.

I wouldn't get too worked up about it but I would have to sit her down and let her know that I would appreciate the heads up. I think its entirely reasonable for you to ask her to take care of those types of events and errands on Friday though. If you are paying her its your time and have a right to say how she can use it.