Home › Forums › West Seattle Rants & Raves › RANT – Nanny who sits in the car at playground
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August 22, 2009 at 12:01 am #592012
TerriParticipantThis morning I went to Roxhill playground with my grandson. There was a woman sitting in a car when we drove up. There were two small children in the play area. Since we were the only ones there, my grandson played with these two delightful children, 5 year old Sam, and his 3 year old sister, Camille. We played for quite a while. I asked Sam if the woman in the car was their mother, and he said, no, she is our nanny. I was curious because she never once got out of the car to check on the children, and we were playing out of her direct line of sight. Eventually she called them from the car to come back to the car and they drove away. I wish I knew the parents of these wonderful children. I certainly would not want this nanny ‘watching’ or ‘caring for’ my grandchildren. If you know someone with children with these names, please pass this story along to them. There may have been a legitimate reason for her not to leave the car, if so, I hope her employers are aware of it.
August 22, 2009 at 12:50 am #675315
ToddinWestwoodMemberYEah, Terry, umm, see, there is a lot of parents that do that at Roxhill too. It is a running joke with us.
What isnt so funny is when I am playing with my 5 y.o. daughter and some lonely kid comes up to us and says “mr., will you play with me too?” “wheres your mom or dad kid?” “in the car taking a nap”
August 22, 2009 at 1:04 am #675316
LucyMemberI think this is the saddest thread I’ve ever read on this forum.
August 22, 2009 at 3:47 am #675317
r26MemberThis is not acceptable and I *wish* I knew the parents so I could let them know.
August 22, 2009 at 4:39 am #675318
anatidaephobiaParticipantI hope that someone calls Child Protective Services if they see this happen again. The lack of direct adult supervision is neglect. Contact info:
http://www.dshs.wa.gov/geninfo/endharm.html
I also hope that the parents are reading this blog and recognize their kids’ names. Thanks so much, Terri, for making us all aware of this.
August 22, 2009 at 5:42 am #675319
carrieannMemberLucy, I agree. How incredibly sad (and disturbing). I have a 2 and 5 year old and the idea of them roaming around and playing by themselves or approaching adult strangers and asking if they can play too, saddens me. I don’t hover or need to keep my kids on a virtual short leash, but sheesh. Where’s the interaction? The better-safe-than-sorry supervision? Man…
August 22, 2009 at 7:02 am #675320
Heinz57MomMemberHoly Crap! As a former professional nanny I want to hang out there and rip this nanny a new one if I witness it.
PLEASE people we do not have the luxury of ASSuming the kids will be alright. If you witness something like this call 911. They are the first response and will get CPS involved.
She should freaking be charged with child endangerment!!!
August 22, 2009 at 5:32 pm #675321
sam-cParticipantthat is so terrible. especially thinking of the time we were at Cal Anderson park, and a creepy guy with no kids was walking around talking to all the kids and trying to entertain them with bubbles.
hopefully the nanny realizes that is not safe at all.
August 22, 2009 at 5:38 pm #675322
GenHillOneParticipantAside from the fact that people WITHOUT good intentions look for kids wanting attention, it’s completely heartbreaking that a little one needs to reach out to a complete stranger like that. So sad.
August 22, 2009 at 10:25 pm #675323
SueParticipantThis is why I never had children. Back east, I commuted 4 hours a day for work. My child would’ve been in daycare 14 hours a day. And in the limited time I would’ve had with my child in the evening, there were many things I enjoy doing that I would have to sacrifice for a child. So I ultimately decided I’d rather regret that I didn’t have a child, than regret that I did. Some days I barely have time to play with the cat!
And just to clarify, this is in no way a slight towards anyone who uses daycare, nannys, etc.
August 22, 2009 at 10:47 pm #675324
r26MemberI second calling 911 in this situation.
August 23, 2009 at 12:55 am #675325
SpeakLoudMemberHoly Moly people calm down! Do any of you ever lament the days you could hop on your bike and ride for miles with NO ONE knowing where you were or who you were with? Sure you were 8 and older than the kids mentioned here but Roxhill park with the set up the way it is is one of the safest parks around. If the person is in the car she would see someone taking them in the parking lot-if they took them at the playground they would have to make a really long run accross the feild and WHY would you assume someone wants to take them in the first place! Do you know that PARENTS and family member are far more likely to abduct a child than a total stranger?
For crying out loud-to assume that these children have no supervision is just not true-she was right there-you don’t know she couldn’t see you-these children may have someone who completly trusts in their ability to interact and play-they may have someone who wants to encourage them to fend for themselves a little bit and not be coddled as SO many kids are now-a-days. And to threaten to call the police for this? Are you nuts? If you have a problem with it watch the kids yourself-that’s what is called ‘A VILLAGE’ don’t judge just chip in and help out-that’s what a community does. And why did you not walk over and say hello? WHat is your role in this? There are lots of people who see nothing when something happens-what did YOU do to make it different?
Whew-I had no idea I had such strong feelings about this but these reactions seemed so far out there-she didn’t drop them off at the park and drive away! And before you hate me I do not support or think this is the way it ‘should’ be done-if I was paying someone to be with my children I would expect more-but as a parent I understand that it’s tiring and if the kids can play by themselves for half an hour then that may be all the break I need to be refueled and refreshed for the rest of the day.
August 23, 2009 at 1:10 am #675326
MargLMemberno no no. We’re talking about a Nanny here. Yes, parents do this too, and that’s another issue – if you know your kids and are comfortable with that, fine, they’re your kids. But if I PAY someone to WATCH my kids – that means WATCH ‘EM! Maybe even oh, heck, I don’t know, interact with them a little. Don’t just sit in the car and read the paper or chat with your boyfriend on your cell phone.
If you need a break to be ‘refreshed’ then take a break before you go to work or after, not while you’re supposed to be minding kids.
August 23, 2009 at 1:21 am #675327
QueMemberSpeakLoud – Terri clearly stated in her original post that they were out of the sightline of the car. Roxhill Playground has terrible sight lines, and it is easy for the kids to head off where they cannot be seen from a car in the lot. And there are busy streets and wetlands that are both easily accessible from the park. I have been there when a 4 year old got away from her slightly distracted grandma and was later found having walked by herself to the Safeway, having crossed Roxbury alone.
I don’t keep my child on a particularly short leash, but at the ages of 3 and 5, I would certainly want the person that I was employing to watch and care for my children to be more on task than that.
I wouldn’t go so far as to call 911, but I might have tapped on the window and in a friendly way, mentioned the above facts about the park to her, to encourage her to be more attentive.
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