and by "the man" I mean the mom.Guess who tried to start a revolution at the park today?
That would be me.
Being a socialite (not rich by any means, but devoted to have a life of socializing) makes the crowded park days a TREAT for this nanny. I could not have been more excited when I saw Nina and later, Marie roll up with their double strollers today. Why wouldn't I want to chat it up with my Austrian and Mexican colleagues on this gorgeous July afternoon?! With my toddler fast asleep and only one child to monitor...life doesn't get much better these days.
Of course the three of us discussed our particular "situations. " Don't underestimate the power of commonalities crossing language barriers. As a wanna-be-Mexican myself, practicing the 'ol Espanol was not something I was not willing to pass up...my German could use some work though. Nina has become more like a NANA to her two children and Marie is here on a visa, attempting to live the dream. I personally maintain my bitter to be babysitting persona for as long as possible. With common "jefes, " we inevitably get on the topic of pay. I mentioned the fact that I was having a renegotiation talk today with my mom (didn't happen...procrastination of confrontation is not a new habit unfortunately) there is a need for $5 more an hour...I'm a certified teacher for crying out loud. Little did I know (being so presumptuous) these two broads are making a fraction of my measly 10 an hour, under the table. Apparently, San Diego moms believe that the further from the US you reign, the less they pay. Isn't that nice.
This is where I began to paint signs that read "Love your child, Pay your foreign nanny," and run around the playground with a blow horn.
Although slightly more subtle, I did let Marie in on the fact that she's being totally screwed by her American family that not only pays her $4 an hour for three kids (I quickly did some math) but has a curfew of 10:00 established nightly! How is this European supposed to soak up all that PB has to offer (oh so much) by leaving in a cab at 9:45? Really?
Nina was already on board as she told her madre that ocho an hour is insufficient for the work she does...preach it sister.
Stay tuned for next week when I get all the over worked and under paid nineras to lie down in front of their employers' Chrysler mini vans and demand the respect and pay they deserve. I plan to revolutionize the world of childcare AND get my $15 an hour, under the table. While I almost reconsidered upping my free at the end of today, the passive aggressive reprimand for lack of putting the laundry away brought me full circle back to the idea.
Monday...it's on.
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