Postby dansk1234dance » Sun Jun 30, 2013 9:18 pm
My new live-in nanny started a couple of days ago and I'm going back to work next week after having had a year off with my second child.
About 6 weeks ago I started interviewing lots of different nannies. I finally found one, who asked all the right questions in the interview (the only one to do that), sat on the floor and played with my baby, smiley, claimed to be 'a neat freak' (which is good for me ; ), came highly recommended etc.
Now that she has started she is far from living up to the promise. She doesn't y have 'positive energy', she seems unenthusiastic, disengaged. We have 4 days only to settle her in and she's not really being the sponge I was hoping for, asking lots of questions or really trying to connect with the kids. One example today would be I asked her to put together a small paper airplane for/with my son, which she did, but without asking him to get involved in the task and when she finished, sat at the table and launched it into the air - and that was it. Not any thing like 'wow, look at that' or 'now your turn' etc. Same in the sand pit this am. I consider that a great place to engage the kids in play, but she was just sitting doing her own thing, occasionally putting some sand on my baby's feet and making her laugh. Furthermore, as she's live-in she doesn't seem to offer to help with the cooking/general tidying etc.
So, my question is, am I just being difficult? She has an easiere time engaging with the baby as opposed to my 4-year old (who does sometimes behave in an unreasonable manner, as they do). Is it ok for a nanny to sit in the sofa for a little while during working hours? Is it ok for her not to really get on the floor and initiate play at this early stage? Will that come later? Or do a lot of families feel it's ok for the nanny not to spend much time playing, but rather just 'being there' making sure the kids are safe/fed/bathed etc?
I can't figure it out. I'm underwhelmed by her, but on the other hand I"m sure she's capable and the kids would be safe. I just feel as if I should be impressed by her in the first couple of days and not feel like this. I wonder if the connecting with the kids will come later, is it unreasonable to except so much enthusiasm from day one?
I've had two amazing nannies, who just went in from the word go and got stuck in and played and engaged and I guess that's what I want this time too.
I found her through an agency - I'm wondering what the agent will say if I call up tomorrow to explain that it's not really working out for me....
any thoughts greatly appreciated!