I’m sure we’re all familiar with those days that just don’t quite go to plan. You know the ones. Maybe the weather’s bad, one of the children is unwell or the television stops working. Any one of these can turn an okay day, into a really bad day where nothing gets done and you just want to collapse at the end of it.
How would you feel then if your partner or significant other came home to what they deemed a messy house and asked you what you’ve been doing all day whilst they’ve been at work?
Whilst that person sees a messy situation, you’re exhausted after managing a completely stressful day and caring for your children in the best way that you could.
Think about what those days are like with your children. If you’ve spent the day feeding and playing with your children, you might not have had the time to clean the kitchen or wash the dirty laundry. You’ll still have made a difference to your child’s development by catering to their needs. However, this isn’t automatically noticed by another person. A clean house and folded laundry is easier to spot than the things you’ve done to nurture your child.
Now apply this to your nanny. If you come home after a long day at work and see toys strewn about the floor, dishes still in the sink or clothes not put away, take a step back to assess the situation before asking your nanny what she’s been doing all day.
Take the time to look at and listen to your children and your nanny. Are your children happy? Are they unwell? Ask them about their day and try to be understanding if things have not gone to plan.
As a parent, you need to discern whether or not the best interests of your child have been met.
A good nanny will prioritise your child’s care over other household tasks. However, a good nanny will also communicate with you, to let you know of any chores that they were unable to handle and why.
This open communication is vital to a healthy working relationship between nanny and employer and will stop parent’s from feeling that the nanny is simply being lazy.
So, the next time you come home to find the house a bit messy. Take a step back and put yourself in your nanny’s shoes.