Is anyone a nanny?

AlexiaANDRobert

What's a day like?

Pay scale in your area?

Do you love it or hate it? Why?

Stackeye210

I used to be.  It was AWESOME.  Basically I'd play outside all day long, read books, make lunch and clean up around the house.    It was for 4 kids.  Most days the mom was home so we'd either work together, or I'd keep them out of her hair while she tried to accomplish some work.  But for super tantrums she usually would step in and help.  I got about $400/week and if I watched them in the evenings it'd be $10/hour.  I had full use of the "kid car" - which was an awesome Land Cruiser.

This was all back in like 2000-2001. 

squirrly

I'm not, but my sister was (sort of - not live in, just daytime) for a while.  She loved and hated it, depending on the day.  The kids weren't well disciplined by their parents, so they didn't really listen to much she told them.  She made more than just babysitting that many hours, but not much more.

If you found the right family, I think it could be fun.  But, it would have to be very, very limited housekeeping - unfortunately, that frequently comes with the job, I think.

Are you considering a career change?

AlexiaANDRobert

Yeah, I also did it in College and HS in the summers for anywhere from 3-5 days a week.  I was paid by the hour, but I'm thinking about it more now.

I'm really not happy sitting in an office all day.  I tried being a teacher right when all the budget cuts started so that was pretty hopeless and then I just dropped the ball when work got really busy.

Robert and I have been talking about some work options for me and I like that one.

TurtlesAllTheWayDown

I was, back when I was 18. My pay sucked. It was only $5.25/hr, which worked out to about $125/week. But the kids were super cute. Originally it was just the 2.5 year old, then I started watching her younger brother too.

During the day, their mother was usually home, though she sometimes took the opportunity to go out or run errands. I tried to plan a lot of stuff in the warm weather - park trips (right near their house), apple picking, the kid's museum, swimming, storytime at the library, the 5 and dime store, the toy museum. It was pretty fun.

A lot of the opportunities around me now are live-in and most are under the table, which I wouldn't do. Don't get me wrong, I've worked under the table before, but at this point I need my own insurance and stuff.

It's tiring to play with kids all day, but more interesting than a desk job.

AdeleDazeem

I did it when I was younger during the summers...

What's a day like? Morning: get kids up, make breakfast, clean it up, *child activity*.  Prepare lunch, eat lunch, clean it up, *child activity*.  The day actually went by, but I wasn't really stimulated by the job in any way.  The child activities were fun - we'd go for a walk down the playground and stay there for an hour or we'd pack up the kids and go the pool, or a bike ride...  Those were the best times.

Pay scale in your area? Goodness, I can't remember anymore, but it was nearly ten years ago now so the pay would be outdated.

Do you love it or hate it? Why?  I much prefered babysitting over watching kids all day.  I also especially hated it when the parents were there for hours on end when I was.  The kids would get confused over who to go to.  I really liked taking them places and doing things, though.  The pool was the best as I got them in there, taught them to swim, got to play stupid little kid games...

ashmy211

My sister is a Nanny for 3 different families. She loves 2 of the families and hates 1 (because of discipline issues). Go to www.gonannies.com. That will give you a good idea of the price ranges in your area as well as different responsibilities. You can customize your profile completely and families can come to you then based on their needs!

AlexiaANDRobert

I don't need the insurance anymore because I'm on Robert's.

We'd have to probably figure out a minimum.  I'd probably take a pay cut from where I am now, we'd have to figure out if it's under the table or not and how we'd make that work.

We're just evaluating/analyzing/whatever.  Money doesn't equal happiness but the grass isn't always greener on the other side.

I don't like change either though, so that's hard for me.

andyandhillary

I have a number of friends who do it in Chicago and they love it.  It all depends on the family but typically you should get to know them a bit in the interview process anyway to know if they are a good fit.  My friends mostly do day work with between 2-5 children.  A few of them have also accompanied the family on vacations (score!). 

MeaghanandMichael

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_anyone-nanny?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:9Discussion:910414f4-2069-454c-bc4b-597f3fb9e0f3Post:83a4f664-abdf-4411-a744-0150053b6992">Is anyone a nanny?</a>:
[QUOTE]What's a day like? Pay scale in your area? Do you love it or hate it? Why?
Posted by AlexiaANDRobert[/QUOTE]


My good friend nannies in the Boston area. She makes 800 a week under the table and she loves it. She works from 8:00am-6:00pm and takes care of two kids under the age of four. I know she is really busy, but she basically gets paid a ton to be a mom.

MeaghanandMichael

Plus, she gets to go on sweet trips with them! Last year she spent a week at the vineyard with her own room and has gone to Charleston and Aruba.

Stackeye210

Oh yea - the trips were the best part.  They once flew to Chicago for only 3 days and they flew out my friend and I to watch their kids, and the kids of the family they were visiting so they could go out.  2 nights of babysitting and a free trip to Chicago and we got paid $250 each! 

tidetravel

If you do go for it, and you are paid in cash, with the understanding that it's going to be "under the table," make sure that it truly is.

If the parents decide to file taxes and take the childcare credit, they will list you as the childcare provider, along with your SS number.  Which means that the IRS will know that you got paid, and will expect you to file taxes for the income, even though you didn't have any taxes withheld.

andyandhillary

I was just about to write what Tide did.  It depends on the area but I know here in DC that the moms take the childcare credit.  I know a number of girls here who had to pay a lot in taxes at the end. 

tidetravel

AAH - how in the heck did I not notice that you were in the DC area before? 

JessAndTrav

I've done it before. I was in college.

The mom was a SAHM, but her husband worked all the time and she was going back to school and needed someone to help with the girls and clean.

Most days the girls (ages 2 and 4) were asleep when I would get there. I'd do any dishes that were out, wipe down the counters, start laundry and pick up toys.

Once they got up, it was just keeping them occupied with reading, teaching them to put their toys away, playing dress up, etc.

The mom and I got along beautifully and we became friends quickly. The pay was $9 an hour when she was there, and $11 when she wasn't. I pretty much made my own schedule, and it was a great family to work with.

andyandhillary

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_anyone-nanny?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:910414f4-2069-454c-bc4b-597f3fb9e0f3Post:3c50678b-0c55-46a8-a1c7-839a9f95090b">Re: Is anyone a nanny?</a>:
[QUOTE]AAH - how in the heck did I not notice that you were in the DC area before? 
Posted by tidetravel[/QUOTE]

I used to have it as Grand Rapids (where the wedding is) and I changed it a few months ago. 

AlexiaANDRobert

Thanks ladies.

And yes, the tax info is very important.

I appreciate the input.

ToriJWG

I am a current nanny and I LOVE it! like the last poster said you have to find the right family.  I am the nanny of a 22 month old and a 9 week old.  The parents love for me to take them out and everything.  I defiantely recommend it.  However, if you are a person that likes to interact with adults a lot it will take some getting used to.  If you have any questions let me know. 

mica178

my friends in LA had a live-in nanny.  I think she made about $200/week under the table, but she lived with them and had complete use of a car.  Strict 40 hour work week with $10/h for extra nights or weekends.  And paid vacations with the family where the nanny was allowed to bring a friend if it was a local trip.  Not a bad deal.

http://gawker.com/5518023/nannies-cheaper-than-ever-in-silicon-valley

sgervais88

I am and I love it! 

Four days a week from 8:45 to 5. $75 a day. Three kids, ages 6, 3, and 6 months.

I have been watching them for over a year and a half now and I love it. It brings in spending money and just enough to contribute (with FI) towards rent and groceries, etc. I am a full time student too, so I am able to fit it into my school schedule too.