nanny crisis

[flea]

mr. flea has just called to say that the 3rd family in the share - new this fall, with a 5 year old daughter who's in Alexander's class at school - is probably pulling out because Alexander is beating up on their child. Since we are stretched to the breaking point financially by this fall's arrangement already, I am not sure what to do next.

And then, as Casper got out of the car at Rich Family's house this morning she said, "I'm stupid." mr. flea said, "You're not stupid, honey. Who says you're stupid?" Casper: "Ellen." So mr. flea asked the nanny, and she said that Alexander tells Ellen she's stupid all the time, and now Ellen says it to Casper. But, you know, shouldn't the nanny try to discourage this kind of thing?

The problem on both fronts is that the nanny can't handle Alexander. She's not good at discipline in general, he's 5 and testing, testing, and she's not very interested in him - she has a strong gender bias - which makes her neglect him, which makes him act out the more. If I were Alexander's mother, I'd have gotten a new nanny 9 months ago. They don't have a good dynamic, and it's more her fault than his, since she's, you know, the grown-up.

So. Tired. Of. Nanny. Crises.

Comments

[hecubot.livejournal.com]

I'm with jonquil. I used to have a neatly pared down list of What's Worth Worrying About, which included: "Is anybody in the hospital?" "Do we have any income?" "Do we have a place to live?" but had to add "Is there a place to stash the baby all day?" as one of the things worth worrying about. So stressful.