The Nanny Wars:

So, now we all know that I have the superest (yes I know that's not a word) babysitter in the world. She is just f-ing super! So generally I don't bother her about what she and the baby do all day (I just pretend they play on a bed of pillows!). What I didn't know is that nannies in NYC (maybe everywhere) are at war. They show off their charges, fight for each other's jobs, and are terrified of being snitched on. Now I'm not talking "that woman kicked your baby in the face" kinda snitching - that is necessary. I'm talking "she didn't put bratty ugly-face in the swing this afternoon! Isn't she a terrible person." Here's how I found out this little nugget of info.

evidence 1 - FL Grandma takes LM to the park one day when she is visiting. All the other nannies who know supernanny and LM come over to inquire as to where SN is and when she will be back, etc. Here's what she witnesses as the day goes on. The other sitters comment repeatedly on how cute LM is and how she is a good baby. They also tell FL grandma about SN and how she and LM play (all good things thank god!). Then later in the day, one of the nannies comes over and asks if she can be LM's nanny. FL Grandma says sorry, no, we already have one and the woman is very sad....I asked Grandma if the woman was watching a child and grandma says yes! So this woman was ready to abandon child #1 and come and take care of the little monster...wow my kid must be awesome....or the other kid's parents blow!
As the day goes on she notices that most of these children are really bratty...the nannies follow them around all day making sure they get whatever they want (even if they are being terrors). Grandma inquired about this behavior to one of the nannies she had befriended and the woman said that they are all afraid that someone will tell their employers bad things about them if they are stern with the children or tell them no. Well that was it for grandma...she couldn't believe it! I told her. You don't understand these people...they give their children everything. I can totally see them firing someone who made their kid made because she told him her wasn't allowed to jam that pencil into that other kid's ear (ok, I exaggerate, but it is bad)!

evidence 2 - This morning, I put LM in a new dress that we had bought this weekend on sale. It is pretty damn adorable and when SN came in this AM she was just beside herself..."oh, you look so pretty, we must go outside immediately and show off your new dress to the other nannies!!" Uh, ok. didn't know it was a competition, but whatever. "She is the best baby in the building"...Ok, cool! So off they go to show off her new dress and give all the other nannies in the building complexes because the kids they watch are not as cute and must have boogers in their noses!

evidence 3 - also this morning, SN informs me that after she give LM her bath in the afternoon, she doesn't like to put her back on the swings because she smells so nice and she doesn't want to get her all dirty again.....Whatever, I'm just happy that I don't have to give her a bath everyday. "So if somebody says, oh she doesn't let her go on the swings in the afternoon...that is why" Ok....

So there you have it....it's an all out war people. I will report on more of this odd behavior as I see it.