We had to fire Dana's nanny whom she had for quite a while. The teenage girl was having attitude problems, and that's the most difficult thing. She was referred to us by Joan, my best friend. She's the niece of their nanny.
We have very little expectations, actually. All we ask is that she can be trusted with money. She can, check! She doesn't hurt Dana when we're away, check! She does chores without complaint, check! We pay her dues on time.
Where she fails is day-offs. She goes away on day-offs and we can't rely on her to come back when she promises to. It's terrible. Reliability is a major issue, and although it hurts to fire someone early in the year during a time when jobs are hard to come by, it is harder to entrust the care of your daughter to someone you can't fully trust when you're away on work.
I propose that a Nanny Network be put up online. On the Nanny Network, parents get to put the names of ex-nannys and give recommendations. Name, photo, age and contact information will be there. Then previous employers can put comments like trustworthy, or solicitous, or great cook. They can also say, "demands three days off a week" or "refuses to do laundry" or stuff. That way it's easier for us to look up info when we're looking for nannies.
But we're not looking for one just yet. Ever since Veck finished her Residency at National Children's Hospital and been taking care of Dana personally, I've noticed Dana become more respectful, obedient, vivacious and joyful. My wife's a super mom!
This reminds me that I need to be reliable with work, too. When my employer expects me to be working at a certain time, I should be there working. A passage comes to mind: "Colossians 3:22 Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything you do. Try to please them all the time, not just when they are watching you. Serve them sincerely because of your reverent fear of the Lord. 23 Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. 24 Remember that the Lord will give you an inheritance as your reward, and that the Master you are serving is Christ." And I've nothing more to add to that!
