So... nanny S, and how we tiptoe around each other

Remember I told you nanny S is pregnant?

Right.

Now here's the problem.

I feel guilty giving her work.

When I mentioned this to two friends, they told me I'm crazy.

The one said, "this is her job. We all had to work while pregnant" which is true but also, at the time, my Wonderful Boss let me create my work life exactly how I wanted it. I scheduled all meetings in my building, took things easy, etc.

Then again, I had an office job which is not physically taxing.

I wore the Fitbit on my wrong hand for a day before I realised my left arm is my non-dominant hand....do you know how impressed I am I managed to take a photo with my left hand? :)

But she's not working properly which was quite evident to me before but this weekend, even D said to me I need to "talk to S because she's getting lazy".

I know what he means.

When I was on my rampage on Thursday, I pointed out about 5 things in quick succession in the kids' bedroom. Silly things like "if you move the ottoman, you'd have seen all these things by the curtains".

The way I said it was that she needs to take just 30 minutes EXTRA in each room for the daily deep dive to do things properly.

She has PLENTY of time. She's idle for about 2 - 3 hours a day aside from her lunch break....

I asked her the other day when she plans to work until and she again said end of November.

FLIP.

I'm going to go crazy if I'm still at home.

Same friend above says if I want Nanny S to come back, I should only go back to work once she returns from maternity leave.

I said, "I will be absolutely mental by then".

So that's a no. But I'm also not going to rush back to work just because she's driving me nuts.




I said to D I have no problem getting someone to do moving furniture, bending, kneeling-type work once a week or so but I'm not paying that money over and above the current salary I already pay. And of course, she's never going to agree to less money. I wouldn't want that either!

Therein lies my dilemma.

I need someone because my time is not best spent cleaning. She's been off work 3 days in three weeks and I can see my work has suffered because I'm doing laundry and cleaning instead of writing and creating.

I suppose I'm going to have to have some conversations soon.

Some of you asked (my MIL did too) what it's like being home with S here the whole day...

We do keep out of each other's way but I have a thing about closed doors (as in I don't like them) and so she feels free to come and interrupt me when she wants. I do tell her clearly if I have deadlines (as I have this week) which she does respect.

I have no space for anymore photos on my walls!

We had two incidents though.

My desk is very tidy when I'm not working. However, when I work, I spread out my papers and everything has a place.

One day I started working, went to shower and get ready and I told her, "don't move a THING on the desk". She said yes.

I showered, etc. and returned to find.......... ALL my things in one pile.

I don't like piles.

I freaked out a bit. S, I told you not to move my things.

"I only moved it to the one side".

S, that's moving it!

It might seem small but I teach focus and time management and such.... and it takes me at least 20 minutes to get back into my zone (and I was perfectly in my zone!). My precious few hours in the mornings are critical to get my important things out of the way, I can't afford to faff around.

Anyway, we had one more such incident. I know, I could hardly believe it.

And then I started closing the door if I'm going to be away for longer than 2 minutes to make tea/ pee/ fetch my phone, etc.

Now I only let her "clean" the study when I'm around. ;)

Tips?????

Caren and Mrs FF, what are you doing about your pregnant nannies???