Page 114 - April Issue
P. 114
in focus: infant | carer
Regular feedback on the letting a nanny go must be want, or need, to keep earning
nanny’s performance can help done carefully and respectfully. that paycheck, but we also want
show the nanny what he or she Situations will vary, but two a perfect substitute at home
is doing well and where you’d weeks notice is a reasonable who will at least appear to love
like to see improvement. When amount of time. If the situation the baby, though they’ve just
your nanny goes above and is simply too tense or strained, met. Even those of us renowned
beyond or really pleases you, giving the nanny two weeks pay as fabulous managers are
showing your appreciation is a and then letting her go might rattled when it comes to hiring
great idea! A simple, heartfelt also be acceptable. If your a replacement “mum.” Denial
“thank you” will show you’ve nanny came from an agency, is a frequent response to the
noticed good work, and a the agency might be able to stress, as we refuse to see any
gift you collaborate with your intervene and help you come flaws in the arrangement or
child on is not inappropriate. to an acceptable solution. acknowledge any ambiguity—
A daily log book can show you Regardless, the agency should imagining that the nanny is a
how the nanny is spending her be aware of your complaints treasured family member, for
time while in your home and is about the nanny. If you suspect example, while saying no to a
something the two of you can the nanny of child abuse, let her day off. In her straightforward
look over together to get a go immediately and contact the and engaging new book, The
sense of the nanny’s strengths authorities. Perfect Stranger: The Truth
and weaknesses. About Mothers and Nannies
The Perfect Stranger (Bloomsbury), Lucy Kaylin
Letting a Nanny Go investigates this quagmire of
For all working mothers, the desires, hopes, and anxieties
If you find you and your nanny desire for a clone is intense, using her own experience and
simply cannot continue your especially in the first weeks the stories of women around
employment relationships, back after a child is born. We the country. She points out the
incredible things we do when
mother, baby & child April 2011 nraeaaanpsWnlhnlpdyoygrhwerbcepegniaeilanoyettaeogiysosniodendysuaeaorbiuy!oosrorvuae, our brains are in this state of
anxiety—like hiring a nanny and
realising later that we didn’t find
out her surname, or prancing
around in our underwear in
front of this new employee.
Kaylin is a superb reporter,
and her anecdotes ring true on
both sides of the equation—
the underpaid, overworked
babysitter is given as much
respect as the ambivalence-
ridden, well-meaning mom.
What Kaylin has accomplished
here is a soul-opening portrait
of this murky relationship that
any working mother will relate
to and find oddly uplifting for
calling it like it is...
CREDITS:
Oprah Winfrey
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