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| Mary Pat doesn't float around with an umbrella, but she does have 20 years of experience as a Child Development expert. This column will answer questions about child development concerns & managing your employee/employer relationship. Q: The family I’ve been working for has very casually said that they won’t need me for 10 out of the 30 hours I’m supposed to work. I like the job a lot and have been very happy, but I count on the income from the 30 hours and don’t know how to address this with them. A: Even though this may surprise you, your employer may not realize that you were counting on those hours, so you’ll need to begin by setting up a time to talk with them to explain where you are coming from. Let them know that you are invested in the success of the relationship, but that the change in the schedule is really worrisome for you. Explain that one of the reasons you took the job is that it gave you the hours and salary you need. The change in hours and the resulting change in pay are going to be a hardship for you. If they don’t have more childcare hours for you (e.g. because the children’s schedule has changed and there simply aren’t more hours to offer) maybe you can offer to do some errands, cook some simple meals or do household projects. Perhaps you could offer to shift some of the work hours to an evening so your employer could have a night out. If both of you are willing to be flexible and creative, there could be a solution that would be a win/win for all of you. Remember, if you can stay calm, professional and solution-oriented you’ll help the conversation go more smoothly. Q: I work with a six-year-old child who yells, bites and kicks when he’s upset. His parents acknowledge that he has some behavioral issues, but mainly just describe him as “energetic.” I feel like he’s out of control and don’t know what to do especially since his parents don’t seem to really “get it.” Help! A: Remember that your employer could be feeling confused and/or overwhelmed by their child’s behavior. Sometimes parents are just too close to be objective about their child’s behavior. If you can offer outside resources, you can give your employers some effective tools without you being the one “telling them what to do.” There is a local organization called “Parent’s Place” that can offer one on one consultations to discuss specific behaviors and suggested strategies. There are also some very good books that offer effective tips. If you find a book that has strategies you think would work, set up a time to talk with your employers to share the highlights from the book’s suggestions. Mary Pat at Town & Country is also happy to talk with you “live” about your specific situation. There are a lot of books out there on this subject, but these two are my favorite:  Positive Discipline for Preschoolers by Jane NelsenHow to Talk So Kids Will Listen & Listen So Kids Will Talk by Adele FaberTop 5 reasons to use an agency Common questions Find a great job Talk to us about finding a job |
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Q. I've been working for a family for about six-months and they's asked me to travel with them for three days to Tahoe. I'd like to go, but don't know what to expect in terms of pay or scheudle- help?
Q. I work for a family where both parents are very involved with my role as a Nanny, which is great, but they frequently give me conflicting instructions. How do I deal with this without sounding like I am tattling on one to the other? Q. I work for two very busy parents who do not have a lot of time to communicate with me. How can I go about talking with them about important issues? Q. My employer frequently comes home nearly an hour after I am supposed to leave. I am flexible whenever I can be, but I really did not sign up for this schedule. Help! Q. I work for a family with a mom who is at home. Sometimes our discipline techniques are different and I’m concerned about the children getting inconsistent messages. How to bring this up with their mom? Q. I work with a toddler who is a sweet and easy-going child, but he has recently started hitting other kids. Why is he doing this and how should I respond? If you have a question you want answered, you can send an e-mail to: mppower@tandcr.com and it will be covered (anonymously) in an upcoming newsletter. |
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