Would you have gone this far...............? (slightly long)

[swanmom]

Two days ago, I was having lunch in Washington Square Park in NYC with an intern who works for me. We saw a toddler wandering around - seemingly by himself. We watched for almost 10 minutes before he finally made his way back over to a woman (clearly his nanny) who was chatting with a group of friends and paying no attention to him. She didn't even know he was gone. When he wandered off again (even farther this time) my intern and I went over to her and suggested that she bring him back. With an annoyed sigh, she went and got him. Not two minutes later, he was off again. This time, towards a filthy water fountain (NO one drinks out of the fountain at Wash. Sq. Park!) and a homeless man started to lift him to help him reach the water faucet. We quickly went over and, without making a huge scene, took the boy back to his caretaker again and told her what happened. As we left the park, we saw that she still was deeply engaged in her conversation with her friends.
My intern, who was done work for the day, was so upset that she went back over to the park and waited a long time. She then followed the boy and his nanny home. Later that day, after 6:00 p.m. she went back to this house and knocked on the door! The working mom was home and my intern filled her in on what happened. The mom was so grateful and kept thanking my intern for being such a 'caring, concerned human being.' The mom said she would never have known - the woman was always very attentive when she was around. The mom then made plans to take time off of work the next day to deal with the situation.
I think my intern is a HERO !!! But many at work think she is out of her mind and that what she did is unwarranted and even dangerous. Would you go that far?

 

[Mermaid02]

Probably not- but kudos to your intern for having the initiative and intestinal fortitude to do so!! Now I wonder if the Mom will indeed do as she said...........hmmmmmmmmm

 

[cheyita]

Wow - this is even more "in depth involvement" than the discussion we're having on the DB about getting involved in other people's business with regards to kids.

I never would have went as far as your intern did. But I don't think it was wrong, either.

 

[niks81]

I don't think she is nuts at all, and quite frankly you'd have found me on the front door talking to the mom AND telling the intern off LOL Ok, I'm kidding

Seriously, that is one thing that really bothers me....when people don't watch their young children!! Things can happen so quickly to them--you really need to be careful!! Last year, a little boy was playing in his front yard...he was about three I believe...and his mom went to get the phone--when she came back her little boy had been hit by a car His ball had bounced into the road, and he went to get it.

I'm sure the mother was very grateful, and I'm actually really surprised people thing your intern went too far. I can't believe you said things to his nanny and she kept right on talking That is so unreal! In my opinion, your intern probably saved his life--because it may not have happened yesterday, but someday down the road, the nanny would have engaged in another "really impt" conversation and something would have happened.

 

[piglet too]

I don't think I would have had the guts to do it, but good for her! We all get distracted from time to time, and our kids can get into situations in the blink of an eye. This nanny however was being reckless and putting the childs life in danger.

 

[niks81]

Based on the two responses before mine, this could turn into a debate

 

[CEDmom]

Honestly, I don't think I would have gone that far but I think what she did was really wonderful. As a mom whose child is in daycare a few days a week I would really appreciate knowing if someone wasn't give my child the kind of care I'd expect. I could almost excuse the nanny the 1st time but the fact that if happened repeatedly sends up red flags. I'm glad the mom was so grateful to your intern if could have gone the exact opposite.

 

[alabamaalan]

Nope, if I was the parent I would have appreciated it. From your description the Nanny needs to find something else to do.

I don't take my eyes off my kids and I dang sure wouldn't be so careless with someone else's...particularly if it was my job!

I can only see that lack of concern if she wasn't a nanny but an older sister.

 

[coliebird]

Personally, I think what she did was wonderful. If I was the mother, I would certainly want to know if my child's caregiver was being negligent. Good for your intern

 

[FroggyinArk]

Kudos to your intern, nd your self too btw for s tanding up taking notice and action to protect one of the worlds best natural resources,, our future,, a child. and from a parent that would love to know if ity was my child,, Thank You Your courage and fortitude is appreciated.

 

[Margie J]

Yes I would have done what the intern did. It takes seconds for a child to disappear or get seriously hurt. No conversation is more important than a child and their safety.

The Nanny is being paid to watch and care for the child. If they aren't doing their job they should be fired. Of course, everything is perfect when the parent is around. It's what happens when the parent is gone that really matters.

If I were the parent I'd also install an Nanny Cam. Who knows what happens behind closed doors also.

 

[Rajah]

I also wouldn't have gone that far, but I think that she did a wonderful thing. Dangerous? Possibly. But still very good for looking out for the wellfare of the child.

 

[cheyita]

Originally posted by niks81
Based on the two responses before mine, this could turn into a debate

I'm thinking you misunderstood my response, since I basically agreed with you.

When I said "I don't think it's wrong," I was referring to the intern talking to the mother, not what the nanny was doing.

I just wouldn't have gone any further than saying something to the nanny, mostly because I would've felt that I don't know the whole situation.

 

[4greatboys]

In these days you just cant be to careful with kids. I think the intern did the right thing. If I were that childs mom I would have been so grateful for someone to clue me in that my childcare provider is not be as careful as they should be with my child.

 

[holycow]

Abosolutely Wonderful!!!!!!!!!!
I as a parent would definately want to know if I had hired someone who wasn't capable of tending my child.


Holycw

 

[avdeane]

I think your intern should feel wonderful about what she did!!! As a mother of five, I remember being frantic when I was in a store, went to put a top back on the rack and when I turned back my son was gone!! This in a matter of seconds!! We alerted the mall security and preceded to search throughout the mall. Thank goodness my son was found in the toy department of the Sears store which was a couple of stores down from where we were.

What I'm getting to is that things can happen in a matter of seconds, even to the parent of the child. This nanny should have been watching that child extra careful after being brought to attention that the little one was wondering off the first time. Predators sit in wait for opportunities like that. The parent obviously thought it was better to have a nanny to watch their child and that in this way their child was receiving more attention than in a daycare setting. This wasn't happening and they needed to know that.

Kudos to the intern for being such a caring person!! We need to all watch out for the little ones since there is so much "bad" in today's society!

JMHO

 

[Stepharoonie!]

I don't know if I personally would have gone that far....but kudos to the intern!

 

[niks81]

I'm thinking you misunderstood my response, since I basically agreed with you.

No...I know you agreed with me LOL I was just referring to your comment about the getting into other people's business with their kids thread on the DB.....meaning this could turn into that type of thread because many could think its wasn't the intern's business.

Sorry if you took what I said wrong I should have worded it better.

 

[C.Ann]

We need a LOT more people like your intern!

Way to go!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[DCLuvinit]

I probably wouldn't have thought to do that, but it would be eating me up after I left though just thinking about it. If I were a mom, I would want to know!