Skip to main content

Working for the man

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.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Here's why I shouldn't have a dog

This week I'm babysitting...a dog. Notice I didn't say dog sitting. The first time I watched her she was a puppy, an "untrained" puppy. That means she did her business all over my apartment, for an entire week. The positive reinforcement give-her-a-treat-when-rarely pooping-outside trick was not successful. Since I was teaching a two week Yoga and writing course at the time, with flexible hours, I figured the availability to come home at lunch, take her back to school with me etc would make for an easy week. False. As those of you who've followed my previous dating life have already concluded, I'm not too quick of a learner. And so, I committed to babysitting this dog again. I'm on Summer break, why wouldn't I have a dog with me...all day long? One that is no longer under 20 pounds especially. In the past 24 hours I've decided I should NEVER have a dog because of the following reasons: 1. The noise created by said dog chewing a bone makes me wa...
2 comments
Read more

Mind Blowing

Just go reheat that coffee for GOODNESS sake! Me reminding myself to try to enjoy life a little. This is a rough time. And I could start a post with those three sentences any Friday of the year, but particularly right now...this is a rough time. The struggle (sometimes TOTAL struggle, depending on the hour and minute) of staying home is of MINOR importance during a time like this, during any time really.  Let's get REAL, for most of us, life is good.  Really good. There are families suffering right now, and not just the elderly members of them. I won't go off on how frustrating it is to hear people lessen the severity of this because it's "just affecting older people." That's 1. Incorrect and 2. Unbelievably disrespectful *If you're lucky enough to have a Grandma or Grandpa still, or anyone in your life that's old enough to be considered "old" be thankful, then CALL them and check in. NOW. The current swing of Social Media o...
Post a Comment
Read more

Playa hatin'...a harsh reality

This seems like an oddly serious post to be writing from the couch, with "My Blue Heaven" on in the background. I don't deny my love for Steve Martin and 80's films. I'm normally serving cocktails at this hour on a Sunday night but I came home a little early on account of a terrible tummy ache! Not sure if it's the flu that's going around or the cajun fries Pepe the cook gave me. Whether those babies were the cause or not...they were nonetheless a bad idea. The other option for this ache could be a case of the nerves, another meaning for "upset stomach" if you will. I'm a little upset over a few things. There are times when things go on around you (which have nothing to do with you-and by "you" I mean me) and somehow they still really get to you, to the bottom of your heart. I'm not sure if there is rhyme or reason to it, but at times that these very things which have nothing to do with your life can get you so, so upse...
4 comments
Read more