Why do people bring nanny's?

[kilee]

I have a very close friend that has a live-in nanny for their 5 kids. They take their nanny and her dd everywhere w/ them. Including WDW, Colorado for ski trips, and last spring to the Cayman Islands. It's not to ditch the kids w/ the nanny. Their nanny and her dd (a teen) are their family now too. So, they naturally include them. I think it's also natural to help take care of them, it becomes instinct when you do it day in and day out.

I'm just wondering how the OP knew for sure they were nannies? In 2003 we took an extended family trip w/ my sister and her family. Everyday in the parks we switched kids after lunch, for the remainder of the day or until the fireworks. Half the reason we took the trip together was to be able to do this. She was actually the lucky one-- my son was 11 at the time so he rode the rides w/ her and BIL. I took their 18 month old dd who didn't really like many of the rides or characters. It was just easier than constantly using baby swap.

 

[yyzgurl]

We just came back from 7 days @ BWV with DS2 and our nanny. I don't know the situations of the families you saw, but we basically use our nanny to watch him while he's napping and sleeping at night.

DS2 still takes a 3 hour nap in the afternoon and goes to bed around 9:00 pm. If we didn't take our nanny, we would be couped up in our room for 15 hours a day!! So we put him down for his nap around 1:00pm and will return to the room around 4:00 or 5:00. Sometimes we are back before he wakes but there were times we arrived home half an hour to an hour after he woke up. As for night time, we put him to bed and then we can go out and enjoy EMH without worrying about him.

So basically, he would spend 1 hour or so with the nanny per day and the rest of the time he would be with us. It just really nice to know that we have lots of family time and alone time during vacations and we wouldn't do it any other way.

 

[donaldsgal]

I'm just wondering how the OP knew for sure they were nannies?

That was my question - OP never responded.

 

[MonkeyPants]

some people dont like their kids

 

[roliepolieoliefan]

We just came back from 7 days @ BWV with DS2 and our nanny. I don't know the situations of the families you saw, but we basically use our nanny to watch him while he's napping and sleeping at night.

DS2 still takes a 3 hour nap in the afternoon and goes to bed around 9:00 pm. If we didn't take our nanny, we would be couped up in our room for 15 hours a day!! So we put him down for his nap around 1:00pm and will return to the room around 4:00 or 5:00. Sometimes we are back before he wakes but there were times we arrived home half an hour to an hour after he woke up. As for night time, we put him to bed and then we can go out and enjoy EMH without worrying about him.

So basically, he would spend 1 hour or so with the nanny per day and the rest of the time he would be with us. It just really nice to know that we have lots of family time and alone time during vacations and we wouldn't do it any other way.

We also have a 2 yo and taking afternoon naps and early bedtime is just all a part of having a child that age. I work 2 days a week and we don't have a nanny. I'm not bashing people who have one, but personally , I don't want one. I'd rather do for my kids, they just grow up way too fast.

 

[TDC Nala]

They're there to spend time with the kids.

 

[Mickeyhugger]

Nannies?

Yeah, I'm sure kids would rather be raised by a nanny while Mom and Dad go to work so they can take them to WDW. An au pair from another country doesn't have a vested interest in another family's children. It's one thing if one wants to take a neigborhood Friday night sitter while Mom and Dad have a night out, but I'd lose sleep 20 years later knowing DH or I should've raised the children at home ourselves before hiring a stranger so we could have a more elaborate lifestyle. JMHO.

 

[NeverlandClub23]

I'm not having kids unless we can afford a Nanny. And she'd go *everywhere* with us. In fact, no she wouldn't. She'd stay at home with the kids while DH and I romped our way through WDW!

Me too!!!!

 

[NeverlandClub23]

some people dont like their kids

 

[musical2]

We have had a series of AuPairs over the past few years (they are here for 12 month stints). We usually take our AuPair on at least one vacation a year. We have taken our AuPairs to Disney World as well. In fact we plan on taking our current AuPair to Disney World next Summer. They are part of the family and as such we think they should be included in such a nice vacation. When told that we would like to take them to Disney World with us, each one has gotten a smile on their faces.

They understand that it is a working vacation, but we always make sure they get plenty of free time to do what they want while there and as long as they are with the family, we pay for all their meals, tickets, and such while there. Going to Disney World is sort of a reward for all their hard work during the year. I haven't had one complain yet about having to have to go to Disney World. It has been more like "Thank you for taking me!"

Bart

 

[xxtinkxx]

Growing up I had a nanny for 10 years. 5 of those years she lived with us. She started to work just two months after I was born so having her there all the time was like having my mom there all the time.

While she didn't go to Disney World with us when I was younger, (My mom took me alone while she stayed back home to watch my brother who was only a year old at the time) she did go on other vacations with our family. She was part of our family... no doubt about it.

I would have been devestated if she couldn't have joined us on our vacation. She was my second mom and one of the funnest people in the world. She could relate to five year olds and act silly with them when the parents just weren't into it... little kids really appreciate it when your nanny will skip down the mall with you or play follow the leader.

 

[MrsNick]

Nannies?

Yeah, I'm sure kids would rather be raised by a nanny while Mom and Dad go to work so they can take them to WDW. An au pair from another country doesn't have a vested interest in another family's children. It's one thing if one wants to take a neigborhood Friday night sitter while Mom and Dad have a night out, but I'd lose sleep 20 years later knowing DH or I should've raised the children at home ourselves before hiring a stranger so we could have a more elaborate lifestyle. JMHO.

Hi, Mickeyhugger. I don't have any kids yet because the only home DH and I can afford is a 1BR/1BA condo. And it isn't because we aren't well paid - it's the price of housing where we live. When we are able to afford to live in a 2BR, then we'll have a baby. And, I won't have a choice but to work full time because my income is as necessary as my husband's to our budget. The mortgage, utilities, car payments and groceries wouldn't get paid without both of us pitching in. So, just so you're aware that not everyone hires someone to watch their children to live a "more elaborate lifestyle." Some of us actually don't have a choice.

Oh, and there's also the amount of child support that my dh pays his ex-wife so that she can have the choice to be a SAHM, since she has stated that "working is overrated."

 

[donaldsgal]

Hi, Mickeyhugger. I don't have any kids yet because the only home DH and I can afford is a 1BR/1BA condo. And it isn't because we aren't well paid - it's the price of housing where we live. When we are able to afford to live in a 2BR, then we'll have a baby. And, I won't have a choice but to work full time because my income is as necessary as my husband's to our budget. The mortgage, utilities, car payments and groceries wouldn't get paid without both of us pitching in. So, just so you're aware that not everyone hires someone to watch their children to live a "more elaborate lifestyle." Some of us actually don't have a choice.

Oh, and there's also the amount of child support that my dh pays his ex-wife so that she can have the choice to be a SAHM, since she has stated that "working is overrated."

Thank you, MrsNick. Well said. As the sister of a soon-to-be single mom, you are SO right. Mickeyhugger, no flames or offense intended, but your post seemed to stereotype all people who use nannies or au pairs as "less than". I'm sure that's not how you meant it. Just an observation, and again, NOT A FLAME.

 

[kilee]

I know quite a few 2 doctor families that use nannies. With their schedules it's absolutely needed. I don't think they are any less of a parent for it. It's much nicer to have a steady secondary caretaker than going to daycare 12 hours a day and having turn-overs left and right.

OT-- but donaldsgal-- I LOVE the photo of your dog. He looks almost identical to mine. I'll have to see if I can't snap a shot later and upload it.

 

[donaldsgal]

I know quite a few 2 doctor families that use nannies. With their schedules it's absolutely needed. I don't think they are any less of a parent for it. It's much nicer to have a steady secondary caretaker than going to daycare 12 hours a day and having turn-overs left and right.

OT-- but donaldsgal-- I LOVE the photo of your dog. He looks almost identical to mine. I'll have to see if I can't snap a shot later and upload it.

Kilee, may I just say what excellent taste you have!

 

[minijeanie]

well here is my 2 cents>>>>>>>>>>>>

I would never take a nanny to wdw under any circumstances.
I have enjoyed my kids each and every time in wdw...yes,, the first few years when they were very young I went back to our hotel room for nap times and when they became cranky at night...but this is all part of being a family

and I don't need a nanny so I can go out to pleasure island with my DH or possibly one of the parks at night. I need to be in the room with my kids just in case they wake up and need their mother,

so flame me if you want, but I believe vacation is for family only and the optimum word is sacrifice ....yes,,,you can't do everything you want when your kids are little, but the bottom line is that you are with them.

Trust me, it gets so better. my kids are teens now & it is totally different.
they can go till wee hours into the night.....sometimes that is good and sometimes I miss when they were little and went to sleep and DH & I could just talk.

so for me, I am happy that in the past 10 years we have gone to wdw we never engaged in outside help to watch our kids.

just me...and my opinion

 

[MrsNick]

Kilee, may I just say what excellent taste you have!

arf! *My Rottweiler says 'hi!"

 

[Mickeyhugger]

I know quite a few 2 doctor families that use nannies. With their schedules it's absolutely needed. I don't think they are any less of a parent for it. It's much nicer to have a steady secondary caretaker than going to daycare 12 hours a day and having turn-overs left and right.

People such as that shouldn't have children then. Why did they have them? Their children a loving parent at home to take care of them as much as any other child. That's self-centeredness.

 

[PrincessJasmine]

People such as that shouldn't have children then. Why did they have them? Their children a loving parent at home to take care of them as much as any other child. That's self-centeredness.

Whoa...they shouldn't have children? I work in a daycare in a medical area. All of the kids I care for have at least one parent that is some type of doctor, if not both parents. They are in daycare for 10-12 hours per day. I agree that it stinks having to have someone else raise their kids most of the day, but that's life. Not everybody can be a stay-at-home mom. If you can provide a loving and stable home for your children, and find the right people to care for your children when you have to be at work (and we do take very good care of the kids...we truly love each and every one of them), then I say go for it.

 

[MrsNick]

*sniff* *sniff* *sniff*

...methinks I smell a troll...