Anyone Read "The Nanny Diaries?"

[RUDisney]

I've got about 20 pages left in this book. I picked it up on a lark because it looked like some mindless summer reading.

I'm finding it very good and have already promised the book to a friend of mine whom I'm sure will enjoy it, too.

If you've read it, come on, how many people do you know who are like the Xes and their friends? I can think of several... some of whom are good friends of mine, but DID rear their own children without a nanny.

 

[Maleficent13]

I am happy to say I know no "Xes"...of course, I don't know any nannies, either.

 

[Certifiable WDW Nut]

I may be weird, but I actually found that book very depressing. I thought it was sad that there are parents who raise their kids like that. I'm glad the nanny was as good as she was, but all in all I thought it was a very sad story.

 

[KelNottAt]

It's been about 2 years since I read it. I can still remember some highlights, but not specific details.

As I read it, I remember thinking to myself, "naw...this a complete exaggeration...it can't really be like this." On the one hand, I was totally disgusted by this mother and father. On the other, I pitied them. Most of all, my heart broke for their son.

I think the mittens (or was it gloves?) for Christmas upset me the most. Next would be the pressure to get in to the right school. Then the vacation in Nantucket (Martha's Vineyard??). As someone who is completely repulsed by adultery, I'm surprised that the husband's affair didn't bother me more. Maybe that's because I felt nothing for his wife.

Anyway, to answer your question, I don't think I know anyone who reminds me of the Xes.

 

[supercarrie]

I loved this book, can't wait for the film!

I actually dated someone who I just know was raised like the children in that book. Luckily I don't know any parents who are doing it now, though!

 

[MrsKreamer]

I don't know anyone with a nanny, but I almost became one. Having read this book, I thought harder about it and decided against it!

 

[Pixiedust34]

I enjoyed the book. It was a good read.

I don't know anyone like the families in the book, but I do have a nanny friend and she said that (sadly) she thinks that the book is realistic. She knows of families like the ones in the book.

 

[Crankyshank]

I read it when it first came out and I know a couple of people like the X's

 

[cats7494]

I read this book as well. Fortunately, I do not know anyone like the "Xes" - I am very thankful for that!

 

[RUDisney]

I think the mittens (or was it gloves?) for Christmas upset me the most. Next would be the pressure to get in to the right school. Then the vacation in Nantucket (Martha's Vineyard??). As someone who is completely repulsed by adultery, I'm surprised that the husband's affair didn't bother me more. Maybe that's because I felt nothing for his wife.

It was earmuffs and I agree about the affair. What comes around, goes around.

I do feel terrible for the little boy. The cat's in the cradle, and all.

 

[THESCHULTZFIVE]

Yes, I've read it and was just wondering what you all think of Scarlett Johansson has Nan. I wouldn't have picked her, but I guess I can see it.

 

[ducklite]

I used to work for "Mrs. X", not as a nanny but for the company she was president of. It was depressing seeing her daughter being brought up by a woman who my boss treated so poorly.

My boss would take a cab everywhere, but expected the nanny to trudge 10 blocks in the freezing cold loaded with groceries. The kicker was there was a much closer market but "Mrs X" didn't like the place for some psychotic reason that would never divulge.

The weird part was that their home was so "formal" there wasn't a single piece of comfortable furniture, it was all this weird designer crap that you'd see in Town & Country or something. The nanny lived in this tiny (even by NYC standards) room in the basement, and wasn't allowed to turn the tv on when anyone in the family was home, even though no one would ever have heard it.

I had another boss before that who had a nanny, she lived in M-F (he owned a young but successful business, his wife was a bond broker) and on the weekend they wouldn't let her stay in the house so they could have "family" time. She had to rent a hallway and sleep on an air mattress to have a palce to stay on the weekend, it was all she could afford on her under-the-table wages (I think about $200/week--oh, how generous )

Anne

 

[Jen_in_NH]

I have a cousin who is similar to the X'es. He and his wife never spent any amount of time with their kids, had to have brand name everything for the kids, and God forbid they get dirty. They had a nanny (his wife's cousin), who spent way more time with the kids than they ever did. The 2 kids were great, and the nicest kids you'd ever want to meet, but the parents simply didn't want to change their very important lives to spend time with their kids. It's really sad.

Jen

 

[vegasnative]

I read it about 2 years ago. The ladies that wrote the book both used to be nannies in Manhatten. Althought they said the families they worked for were never like what they discussed in the book, there were plenty of families that were (from them talking with other manhatten nannies.) (Nothing against the NYC working families, I'm sure these families exist everywhere...Beverly Hills, Miami, Vegas, maybe even in small town America). Sad for the children involved in this type of relationship (or lack of) with their parents. In a way we see much of this in Hollywood, these celebrities have babies and then someone else takes care of them. Do you really think most of these celebrities get up at 2 or 3 am to feed the babies or clean up throw up or change an exploded diaper? In magazines there are many photos of celeb's with these trim/slim bodies weeks after baby is born. Ya, I would be thin too if I had someone to take care of my kids while I went to the gym with my personal trainer, or had a personal chef. Also...do you think Paris Hilton picks up the dog poop that her little puppy leaves behind??

 

[mrsv98]

I was a nanny for 12 years. The family I worked for definitely were NOT the Xes but I knew other families in their circle who were. One of the boy's friends was being raised by their Chinese houseman and his wife. It was sad and sometimes you wonder why they had kids in the first place.

 

[pearlieq]

I read it too, and thought it was a good read but very depressing. The thought that bummed me out the most is that Grayer has a good chance of being just like his father in 20 years.

I also was bugged by the fact that Nan hardly stood up for herself. I guess it wouldn't have been as interesting if she had, but who would really tolerate all that?

The thing about the Mrs. X is that in her mind she was doing what she needed to do. A trophy wife needs a child for many reasons. First it cements her to her husband and guarantees child support if anything were to go wrong. Plus, it's the ultimate accessory! You get tons of attention, and your own personal dress-up doll. Having a kid gets you a bizzare kind of street cred and gives you a "purpose" in a largely unstructured life. She knew what she was doing when she had Grayer...

 

[azgal81]

I couldn't really get into the book I found it kinda boring. I don't think I ever finished it, I'll probably see the movie though on DVD.

 

[RUDisney]

Well, I finished the book after dinner. I feel sad now.

Even when Nanny tried to be empowered, she did it in a wishy washy way.

I can see Scarlet Johannson as Nanny. After seeing In Good Company, I think she's a good choice for the role.

 

[HugsForEeyore]

I love the Nanny Diaries! And gosh, I know plenty of people with many similarities to the X'es (though not to their extreme)! I have done babysitting for many years, so I know the type! The "keep the house clean at all times" thing is soooo true. I worked for people that required that I had to enter/exit using certain doors, and NEVER EVER wear my shoes in the house!! I laughed about the part where Nanny had to feed 4 year old Grayer in the bathroom, so no room gets messed up by his presence - I had people who made me feed the kid outside all the time, so no crumbs anywhere. I swear, my main job as babysitter was to keep the kid out of every room so they don't mess up the designer furniture and perfectly decorated everything. That's how the parent judges if you did a good job babysitting - when they walk in, they check to make sure not ONE thing is out of place. I actually viewed toys as nothing but a nuisance I had to pick up before the parents got home, not something to bring the kids some fun when they played!

When babysitting, I even worked for parents that required I literally never let the kids inside the house - they HAD to stay outside (but not get dirty of course!) for the 5-6 hours I was babysitting, so they won't mess up anything. God forbid when they wanted to use the bathroom, as we weren't allowed in the house!!!

And in the book, the "get into the right school" thing is so true, as well as the worship of soy and soy products. And getting the dog without any thought to the dog's well-being, as it was all about appearances ... I know that type, too! Ugh!!

There are people like the X'es in the world - the child is all about show and appearances. The parents see spending any time with the kid as total inconvience. Very sad.

But I can't wait to see the movie - I hope they grab the essense of people like the X'es and show how pathetic it is!