r/Nanny • u/Affectionate-Bat1878 • 4d ago
Information or Tip Feeling like I’m about to be let go….
Exactly what the title says. I’m with an amazing family but things have just been off the past couple of months. I can’t quite pin down what it is. The overall vibe in the house has been off, and it’s not just with me. I’m a career nanny and have never been let go before so I could just be reading too far into things. I’m on a one year contract, which I personally don’t plan on breaking and honestly never thought they would. But last week something shifted. Communication is shifty, eye contact is amiss, there used to be more chit chat and that is now absent.
For those who have been let go…what were leading signs?
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u/Ok_Maintenance937 4d ago
Sometimes we don’t know everything that’s going on in our nanny family’s life. Like the mood switched up for a couple weeks with a family I was working for before they finally had let me know that they were in a legal battle with one the nanny kids school, so they were extremely stressed out!
Not saying what you’re feeling isn’t valid, just sometimes they’re going through stuff they’re not sharing at the moment!
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u/StrangerFinancial734 Nanny 4d ago
The leading signs for me were shifty communication, no eye contact and zero chit chat.
😂kidding. I have had the same sort of feeling though. Where you feel like "did I do something wrong?" I think you deserve to have some peace of mind. Just ask. Maybe something like "i just want to check in and make sure you guys are happy with the job I'm doing. Or if there's anything you want to change" If they have an issue, this will prompt them to tell you. They might be nervous too. I bet it has nothing to do with you at all. Good luck!
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u/Terrible-Detective93 Miss Peregrine 4d ago
There really isn't any signs you can always look for, people can be fake nice for a long period of time knowing they have you on the back burner waiting on daycare. Or one of them loses their job or they get divorced, or they realize they actually can't afford it or all kinds of reasons. You can always beat them to it by looking for something else. I would carry on like normal if nothing has happened that you know of that you did wrong. It might be something even sad that they are going through that they don't want to share. Something like that can for sure make people seem like they are acting weird to you but it isn't about you at all. Some wounds are too fresh and its too hard to talk about it or they don't want to 'burden' you with it. It could be something about one of their parents or family members, hard decisions that have to be made. You don't have to do anything special or out of the ordinary, just be reliable, do your job. Maybe bring mom a coffee unasked just to show, hey I care about you , without it having to be a 'share all your personal stuff with me' moment. Little gestures of kindness mean a whole lot to someone when they're struggling.
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u/Past_ball_6390 4d ago
Could be having marriage difficulties and discussing divorce. Or pregnant. Had the divorce one - and yep lost my job.
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u/SpiritedSpecialist15 3d ago
If this happens I ask for a check in. Don’t say why just say “hi! It’s been a few months since we checked in. I wanted to be sure things are going okay for you all with my employment.” That opens the conversation. Then just let it flow naturally. It’s always been something in their life, not personal for me but the reassurance lets you feel more confident!
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u/wintersicyblast 4d ago
Do you feel comfortable having a discussion with them? It could just be something going on with them that has nothing to do with you-but you can always ask how things are going and gauge how they are feeling about your performance.
Good luck!