ever take a 'nanny'?

[newtowdw1]

I've searched, but not found anything pertinent.
We have a 17 yold young woman (see how politically correct I am ) who either picks up DS4 and brings him home, or gets DD8 off the bus. I usually only need her for about 40 mins a day, although some days she is here two hours. She also cleans for us, supervises DD8's homework, puts out the dog, etc. She's pretty much become our teenage daughter we never had. We pay her $50/week. Everyone loves her and DH and I have known her for 3 years now (we both taught her at the high school).

Today we were talking about WDW and she said she'd never gone, although she visits family in Florida frequently. What about if we took her on our next trip (7/2006)? We would already have OUR APs, we could buy her a length of stay pass. We'd pay her lodging and food.We would stay in the Fort Wilderness cabins. She could have some time to herself, and so could we.

What do you think? Good idea or bad? Should we pay her for her time with the kids? Or is the trip and park entry enough? We'd probably be off-site some too, going to Sea World and a beach or two. She'd come along for those as well.

Let me know if anyone's ever done this and how it worked out.

 

[HappyLawyer]

i have in the past, my sister will be going next time with her two girls and she is taking her nanny also, even though it is a family vacation, adults still need some adult time
have fun in what ever you decide

 

[dtsaos]

I don't think there's anything wrong with bringing her if she's interested in going,the only thing for me personally-I don't think i could deal with her stayiing in the same room as us. I know the cabins are a little bigger, but still-there's only one bathroom and I just think it would be very tight. If it was me and I really wanted her close by to help with the kids and babysit maybe I'd pay for a room at a value resort for her and a friend and just meet up with them to babysit/help at certain times and pay them accordingly.-that is of course if her parents agreed since she's still under 18...

 

[DsnyGrl]

Hello, I have gone to WDW several times as a sitter/nanny. One time we were in a 2BR suite and of course we were fine. I shared a room with the children (5,3) and it was no problem. On a different trip we stayed in one room at the Contemporary Tower, there were 5 of us in the room and I slept on the pull down sofa. Even though we only had one bathroom, it was fine. It was never an issue. On the third occasion, we stayed at Hard Rock Hotel in one room, again we had no problems. I have always bought my tickets and they usually pick up my food. I was also paid for the time when I had the kids alone. If I was with the family, I did not get paid. The trip itslef was a wonderful gift and I enjoyed being around the kids. I suggest that you take her, you will not regret it.

 

[newtowdw1]

She'll be 18 when we go...actually will have just turned 19. I don't think the bathroom will be an issue...she's pretty comfortable around us. The cabins have a bedroom with a double bed and bunk beds, the living room has a murphy double bed, so I think there should be enough room.

DSNYGRL thanks for your insight. If you don't mind, how much did the family pay you? I'm glad to know you had fun. When I mentioned it (as a joke) she laughed and said she was going with the kids, forget DH and I. OOOOH! Could we do EPCOT together?

 

[Forevryoung]

This is how I am getting to Disney! Five years ago I met the greatest little girls in the world and they have become like sisters to me. We have been talking about going for the past five years and now its finally happening ! I am paying for my own park tickets and my flight down there (the are driving) and they will pay for food and lodging- it just worked out easier to split things this way. Besides, I am a little older than 17. Because there are 5 of us we are getting an offsite suite. I think it only has one bathroom but it is two bedrooms and a kitchen. I dont mind sleeping with the little ones (12 and 10 not that little). It was agreed that I would watch the kids at least one night while their parents go out but I have a blast with them and I am already there so if they want to go out more than that I dont mind. I am sure that if I want to escape the crazy family for a night that would be ok too (like my own parents they drive me batty sometimes). Go for it and take her, having an extra pair of hands might be great. Besides that, you have a family photographer with you already then

 

[CLEO Z]

I have been dreaming of this since b4 kids! The kiddos are 11 mos and 3 1/2 and I am soooooo looking forward to taking them and bringing alond my neice to watch them. Of course this won't be for a number of years - can't afford it until then, but its MY dream! Wonderful gma and gpa are springing for the trip in July, but have made it clear that they want to enjoy the kids NOT babysit!

You go girl. Make sure to let us know how it all works out.

 

[Mom to Jordan]

I think it is an excelent idea. Paying her expences in exchange for her watching the children a few times sound fair unless she counts on that 50.00/week to pay some sort of bills and then I would go ahead and pay her that too. As a mom who does not support the in room sitter idea I considered doing this with my niece but it just never happened. Enjoy the trip and the time with your DH too!!!

Jordan's mom

 

[Happy Homeschooler]

I'd recommend putting these expectations in writing: Will she be with the kids every night while you go out, or will she have a night off? How much will you pay her above her expenses? Will she get any alone time during the day, or will she be expected to accompany you and the kids to the parks at all times? How much time off will she get? At what times? It's important to be specific with this so there are no bad feelings.

It's just best to have it all worked out before you leave. Also, take a look at some of the nanny websites to decide how much to pay her. I'd definately recommend more than you'd normally pay her in a week, plus all expenses. Yes, it's great that she's getting a free trip, but it's not completely a vacation for her, so I think she needs to be paid for her work.

Have fun! I think this will be a great experience for all of you!

 

[minmate]

I would consider renting DVC points to get a 1-2 bdr suite. It may cost a bit more but it may be worth it to give her (and you) some personal space.

I also wonder if she is the type of person to be ok with going solo while you are off having family time or if she would prefer having a friend with her.

I would also make clear the expectations, as far as what times she is "on the clock" as a nanny and what time is considered her Own time. At the end of the trip, if she fulfilled her obligations of being a nanny when you need her to, I would pay her for the time she was doing "nanny duties." Since you are asking her along to be your children's nanny, IMHO, it is your responsibility to pay for her airfare, room and board (maybe give her a cash food allowance upfront, if you are in a suite, you can lessen the cash amount and just let her know she can help herself to anything in the suite too). As far as purchasing her tickets, I would say that could go either way... if you want to and can afford it, pay for her length of stay... or just pay for the days you may want to bring her in the park with you and let her upgrade it for more days if she chooses to.

 

[ilovediznee]

We are taking our sitter/neighbor/friend with us over Easter. Kristen has been babysitting for us since our DD was 6 months old. We figure out how much her tickets and other expenses would be, divide that by what we pay her per hour to babysit, and then that's how many hours she sits throughout the year. In exchange, we take her to WDW.

Diane

 

[Happy Homeschooler]

After that last post, I need to add something.

It's important to distinguish between a babysitter and a nanny. The OP said the girl/woman would be nineteen, so I'm not sure in this case; old enough to be considered a nanny, but still young enough to be considered a babysitter, too.

If she's a nanny, she'd definately get paid more. If you think of her as just a babysitter, then she'd be coming with you as a Mother's Helper, and the payscale for that is lower. There are websites for Mother's Helpers, as well, to help you out here.

 

[DsnyGrl]

They adults usually went out two or three nights for dinner or just alone time. I kept the kids in the parks for a little while and then would hop on a bus back to the room where I would feed them dinner and get them ready for bed. They usually paid per hour (about $7.00.) If there is a day where you and your husband would like to break away and go to Epcot, then she could take your kids to another park or to the pool. I always loved having the kids to myself for a while. We just had fun and could act silly. You could also offer her the normal rate you give her ($50) for the week. I feel that she would be okay with that. Trust me, she is probably not going for the pay....she is going to spend time with your kids at Disney World. Hope that helps, feel free to ask me anymore questions

 

[aussiemouse]

I too was a nanny (live-in), so travelled quite extensively with the family. Actually they asked me to move from London to USA with them and I did! Because I lived with them, we were quite used to each other on an everyday basis. I guess my case was a little different because I got paid no matter where we were, and they paid my basic expenses food/lodging (unless I was on my own). I would say that you should pay her (whatever you're both comfortable with) when she has the kids alone. If she's with you and the kids, then you don't. Definately talk about it (or put it in writing) before you go.
Have fun.

 

[newtowdw1]

Thanks for the input everyone. Our situation is more like Dsnygrl's...good family friends, very much like a niece or goddaughter. She comes and gets DD and DS over the summer to swim in her pool, and refuses any money. DH and I teach, and so she doesn't work for us over the summer.

Another reason to take her is that I am disabled and at times can barely walk. She could help DH at the parks on a day that I just can't do it. She is fantastic with the kids. She's in and out of my house constantly, sits for our dog when we go away. Sometimes I think she's as comfortable here as she is at home. So I don't think she'll feel awkward.

Also, rates are very low here in this part of the country. I only pay DS4 full time sitter 17.00/day, and she declares the income. She's licensed.

Minmate, I considered the solo part too. If she would not be comfortable then she'd have to make that decision. We can't afford to take a friend of hers too.

I really appreciate all of the input. It's next year's trip we'd be taking her on, so we've got time to think it over.

 

[Nora94]

I haven't read all the responses, but wanted to share MY experience. I started babysitting for the Leech family in 1987 when I was 18 and Debbie was 5 wks old. Brian was 2. That fall I started babysitting every month and by 1989 when Nancy was born I had really bonded with them. That spring break of 1990 they took me to Jamaica. They paid for a room for me, all my food (tried Lobster for the first time!!) and suvineirs too. I helped out with the kids on the beach, early in the morning and while waiting for dinners to arrive. That summer I went with them to WI where I earned every penny of the $500 they gave me for the week! That was the only trip they paid me money for, btw. The next year they took me to St. Thomas, the year after that St. Croix and the last year I went was to Cayman Brac. Cayman Brac only happened cause the mom broke her knee a few months before. After that the kids were too old for me to be needed.

As the NANNY in the scenerio let me tell you it was AWESOME!! I loved it, and would never have had a chance to go to all those places otherwise. I would not have even thought to be paid, the trip itself was more than enough pay.

BTW, Debbie, is now almost 18, and SHE babysits my kids now.
Nora

 

[cymomtx]

We have 3 children and we go to Cancun every summer and we take our babysitter/nannie with us. It works out really good, she plays more then works hard so it is an enjoyable trip for all.

 

[PaulaSue]

I was a Nanny before my own kids and actually went 2 times with 2 different families. I got my regular week of pay and they paid for all my expenses like room and meals with them. I paid for extras like when I was out on my own and I had the days off to do as I pleased and worked at night while they went out to dinner and whatnot.

 

[mdoc]

We've taken our au pairs to Disney and it worked out very well. We did pay them. What seems fair to me is that if you're paying her way to Disney, you shouldn't need to pay her if she's with your kids alone for just a short period of time while there (it doesn't sound like having a babysitter there is anywhere near your main objective anyway). On the other hand, if she's going to do a lot of babysitting, that's a different issue. I'd just discuss it up front so everyone knows the score.

 

[Traveliz]

We have the good family friend --- actually a girl I babysit in my home (as well as had in my childcare center prior to that). At any rate we were very close to her. She came along with us on many trips. We pretty much paid for all her expenses (tickets, and food she ate with us, any special things we all did) and she bought her own snacks or food when she was away from us.

She pretty much was with us all the time though. We did go out a couple of nights and she babysat. We just told her about that prior to the trip...and she knew that was part of the deal. It was absolutely no problem at all.

Actually we still travel together even though now she is 28 and our little one is 18! They are more sisters now.

Liz