Am I being taken for granted?

Hi there,

This is my first time being a nanny, and I've been working for the same family for the last year and a half. In the last 6 months I've started feeling taken for granted.

I work 50 hours a week (7:30am to 5:30pm) Monday to Friday and I'm paid on salary($12). I signed a contract with them when I began but things have changed since then.

The little girl is now in school for 3 hours a day (which I'm paid for)and I'm expected to drive her to and from school. School is 30 km from her house and I've noticed a huge difference in my gas bill. They also have another baby due in march and I'm going to be expected to drive back to their house to care for the baby while the other child is in school. This will be putting 600 km on my car every week. I'm currently receiving no compensation for the gas. They've also begun asking me to pick up their groceries and drycleaning (I have to use my car which means more gas, pay with my money and they pay me back later that day or the next). The only reason I can assume they're asking me to do these things is because they're paying me while the child is in school.

Anyone have any thoughts on this? What are normal nanny duties? I feel like I've become less of a nanny and more of a personal assistant.

Hello, I have more than 20 years experience as a nanny and I can understand your confusion. Even the nicest family I have ever worked for eventually get so comfortable with you that they ask more of you than what you orginally agreed upon. It sounds like you need to have a yearly review of your contract, esp. with a new baby on the way and the way gas prices are going up. I've heard it said gas could go up as high as $4 a gallon by summer! You need to sit down with your family and talk with them, maybe they don't see how they are crossing your boundaries. Talk about what you need and expect, and get them to do the same, and put it in a new contract. Make it clear for both sides, and do you know if you'll get a raise when the new baby is born? It's time for a meeting with your family. If they love you and want you to stay they will meet you half way on your needs. Oh, as far as what are normal nanny duties, they are whatever you agree to do, if you don't want to run errands for them, say so. When the new baby is born running to the grocery store won't be so easy, what do they expect? I hope I have helped. Carla Graves (email me if you have more question!)

hi carla

is it okay to email you i have some questions id like to ask someone whose been a nanny .....but i prefer not to post....

Sure, email me, but give me a few days to reply, I have such a busy schedule right now. Have a great day!
Carla Graves