Finding the perfect nanny can sometimes be a tall order, but it’s really important since they will be the ones to take care of your kids on your behalf. Though, if you’re still having a hard time looking for a nanny to take care of your child, why not try a granny nanny?
Pros and cons
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, about 30% of preschoolers whose mothers are working outside of the home are being taken care of by their grandmothers. It’s also a great idea for a relative to take care of your child, especially if it’s your mother, since you can be sure that they’ll raise your child like they raised you. It’s also easier for you to communicate if you have any concerns or worries about your child. The experience that they have will really prove invaluable when taking care of your child.
One of the downsides however would be if your mother has a busy schedule, as not all grandmothers are available as full time nannies for your child. Another downside would be if you and your mother don’t see eye to eye when it comes to raising your child. It’s hard enough having a discussion about raising your children with a nanny, but it can get much worse if it’s your own mother. Another would be if your mother has a medical condition, such as hypertension or diabetes, as it would be a big concern if your mother had a medical emergency whilst you’re out of the house.
Payment?
Another issue would be payment. Now, a granny nanny wouldn’t even think of being paid to take care of their grandkids since taking care of your children makes them really happy; it’s a great feeling for them knowing that you trust them implicitly with making sure that your child is raised properly.
However, some mothers feel guilty about asking their parents to babysit their child, so they want to pay them for their effort and sacrifice. If your parent refuses to receive payment for taking care of your children, then you can repay them in other ways such as sending them on a trip out of town, or helping them out when they need something taken care of. Simple things like cooking them dinner, buying them gas, and generally helping them out are good ways to thank them for their efforts, and would even bring your family closer than ever.
How to make it work
If you have decided that you want your mother to be the one to take care of your kids, you can use these tips and strategies to make sure that you don’t have any problems having a granny nanny:
Respect is important. Remember that while you may be the mother of your child, your mother has more experience when it comes to taking care of children, after all, they raised you! So it’s important that there’s mutual respect between the two of you. If you have any disagreements, talk it out calmly and collaborate with each other to find a good compromise.
Test the waters. It’s good to do few dry runs first so that your mother can get used to the routine that you have with your baby. This helps ensure that your mom gets to know the little things and nuances that you want when taking care of your child.
Write down important things. Leave a note with important numbers and contacts whenever you’re asking your mother to babysit. You should also write down a schedule that you made for your child so that your mother can easily follow it.
Make sure to have a line of communication. If your mother doesn’t have a personal cellphone, then you would need to provide them one. It’s easy to get a cheap phone that’s mainly for calls, and it’s also important not only for when your mother takes care of your kids, but also for your mother in general as it’s good to have a phone on hand in cases of emergencies.
Be flexible. A granny nanny isn’t your employee, so there will be some cases where your mother might want to spend some “me” time, or they might have a vacation planned. In cases like that you have to be flexible and look for alternatives when it comes to taking care of your child.
Be realistic. For whatever reason, you might want to part ways with your granny nanny. In cases like that, it’s best to explain the situation to your mother so that they don’t feel bad about it. It’s very important to be realistic about your expectations, since things can change, and that’s just a part of life.
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