Re: mother's help

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 18/09/01 17:22:48 GMT Daylight Time,

nct-coffee writes:

<< Btw has anyone employed a 'mother's help' - ie someone who can help

out with babysitting, some cleaning, etc - more of a mother-figure

than a professional nanny?

>>

Hi Karina

Yes, I have had a mother's help - brilliant! I did have a nanny whilst DS1

and DD were pre-school but didn't feel wholely comfortable with it as I was

still doing all the cleaning/tidying bits whilst she got to spend all day

playing with them.

My mothers help was a lady slightly older than me (but with very much older

children) who worked 2pm-6pm three days a week - 11/2 hours before they came

home from school to do housework, washing and prepare their dinner then the

rest of the time spent playing/homeworking etc with the children. It meant

that I came home from work to children who were happy, well-fed and homework

done (and a clean house).

Debbie had since left (I no longer work outside the home) but she and her

husband have remained friends with the whole family.

I have had various cleaners, nannies, childminers etc but a mother's help was

definitely the best solution.

ann SAHM to (15/1/86), Kirsty (5/6//87) and Ben (11/7/98). Editor

Cambridge newsletter

[Guest guest]

Ann,

You're back! Are you moved and how is everything else?

phine

(Mum to 4 & Ben nearly 3, Cambridge NCT)

[Guest guest]

> Hi Karina

> Yes, I have had a mother's help - brilliant! I did have a nanny

whilst DS1 > and DD were pre-school but didn't feel wholely

comfortable with it as I was > still doing all the cleaning/tidying

bits whilst she got to spend all day > playing with them.

Thanks for this.

That's exactly how I feel - yesterday on my day off I spent the whole

day cleaning and scrubbing, whilst the nanny played with the kids. In

one way or another I am always spending my spare time making the

nanny's life easier - you know, shopping what she wants to eat;

tidying up after the kids (without being allowed to actually take

part in the play); etc.

Can't blame her, her job is not to sort out our house, but I am

getting to a point where I would rather have someone help out with

washing and cleaning and perhaps babysit a little, so I can focus on

the kids - ie since I'm paying I don't see why I shouldn't get to do

the fun part!

Will try to see if I can find a mother's help - someone who's kids

are older and who wouldn't mind doing some cleaning but could also be

a friend of the family would be wonderful - don't think there are

many of these around though anymore?

Karina

[Guest guest]

> That's exactly how I feel - yesterday on my day off I spent the

whole

> day cleaning and scrubbing, whilst the nanny played with the kids.

I can never really understand this and I am speaking as an ex nanny

myself.....why shouldn't you ask a nanny to do some sort of housework?

As far as I was concerned the mother of the children I nannied for

was paying me by the hour and if the children were sleeping or such

like I was quite happy to do some housework too.In return I used to

eat my meals with them and generally was treated as a member of the

familly we are still very good friends today in fact we stayed with

them for a few days a couple of weeks ago.

Sorry I know there is such a thing as job description but sometimes a

little co-operation goes a long way.

Sonjia

[Guest guest]

Sonjia wrote:

>I can never really understand this and I am speaking as an ex nanny

>myself.....why shouldn't you ask a nanny to do some sort of housework?

I think it's perfectly acceptable as long as it's made clear from the

beginning. My cousin's nanny does some light housework and cooks their

evening meal so they can all sit down together at around 6pm as well as

looking after the two children.

--

Sue