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Comments

• [1] Sydney from manhattan June 13, 2007 - 11:22AM

  Dear Brian,

  I am a stay at home mother of three who has had a male nanny for the past 7 years. He just left to pursue an acting career. When he left is was just as much like a break-up with a boyfriend (my manny is gay) as it was an employer/employee. I spent more time with him than my own husband. He was the best wife I'll ever have!

  Best,

  Sydney

  
  
• [2] Christopher F from Brooklyn June 13, 2007 - 11:26AM

  I have no kids and thus no nanny, but my sister in Manhattan has a couple under 4-year olds and a wonderful nanny but I can tell you this: If her nanny was a Uruguayan Heavy Metal musician I'd be spending a lot more time at her apartment.

  
  
• [3] judith wides from NJ June 13, 2007 - 12:09PM

  Brian, I really enjoyed the show today. I think a great topic for a related show would be the somewhat underground phenomena of the resurgence of the wet nursing profession. As well as the practice of co-nursing that people are finally coming 'out' about.

  Thank you

  
  
• [4] Dick Baehr from Locust Valley NY June 13, 2007 - 12:55PM

  Good interview, except for Ms Kaylin's YOU KNOWS. I counted 117 of them. She's articulate enough without them.

  I have enjoyed your show from the begining many years ago.I'm an architural renderer which is non verbal, so good talk is essential.

  R.B.

  
  
• [5] Denise from New York City June 14, 2007 - 08:26AM

  I was so shocked and disappointed at one of Ms. Kaylin's comments that it took me a day to digest it and finally decide to comment. BUT!-- to suggest that some kids may be better off with a nanny because they get a "little relief" from their overbearing parents (if you call 50-plus hours a week a "little" relief) seems like a pathetic attempt to relieve parents who work too many hours from the guilt of leaving their kids in the care of outsiders. "Lighted-hearted" kids with nannies versus "sulking" kids with their mothers! Ugh! I live in the City too and have never seen this. All young kids want more time with their parents. If a parent is overbearing or neurotic the solution is to get over that, not a 50-hour per week separation. Don't assume that I am ragging on full-time moms. I would be one too if I did not have the ideal part-time job that I am fortunate enough to have. Among my relatives and friends, most of the moms work full-time, but none are selfish or silly enough to think that their kids "benefit" from having a nanny. They are simply doing the best they can for their families.

  
  
• [6] j from brooklyn June 15, 2007 - 10:03AM

  This segment on your show was interesting to listen to. I have

  worked in as a Nanny for the last five years, both as live-in and

  live-out. And, one thing that your show did not touch on is the

  disparity between pay rate of American citizens and immigrants.

  When I first moved to NYC, it was difficult for me to find Nanny

  employment with a decent wage, as many parents wanted/were looking

  for non-citizens on the account that they would pay them less.

  Also, it is always a struggle explaining to parents that Nanny does

  not mean Housekeeper. Many parents in NYC are looking to combine

  these two different roles. I am an excellent at interacting with

  children, however not so good at ironing.

  Another note, I would be interesting to see how many working Nannies

  actually receive health insurance, paid time off, and other "normal"

  working benefits. I have been successful with working with families

  who pay good wages, yet health insurance is one thing that I have

  never been offered. Also, most families, from my experience, only

  offer paid time off if my vacation correlates with when the family

  decides go on vacation. I know this has become a normal function

  for someone working as a Nanny, but do the parents, or other

  non-nanny employees, have to take their vacation at the same time

  as their boss?

  Also, and maybe your guest's books covers this topic, what happens

  when a Nanny's view on childcare clashes with the parents? Or the

  parents ask the Nanny to enforce certain rules/discipline, yet the

  parents do not enforce the same when they are home? From my

  experience, this causes lots of confusion for the children, and

  allows children to think what the Nanny says does not matter.

  It would be interesting to have more Nannies comment on their

  experience.

  
  
• [7] Rebecca from Long Island June 20, 2007 - 02:46PM

  There are definite race and class issues with nannies. For 5 years we employed a U.S. born, white nanny. She was treated with much more respect by the mothers in my neighborhood than the black and Latina nannies. Also, my daughter's friends didn't think this young woman was a nanny because in their experience nannies could not drive and our nanny did. FYI, we payed a living wage (we hope) as well as Social Security, health insurance and paid vacation. We also helped her to complete her college degree.