I’m Trying to figure out how to move forward with our current nanny. She’s been with us since last November and we really like her and she’s great with my 1 yo.
Two weeks ago she said she’d need to leave for Europe to visit her elderly parents because her dad got sick. She needed to leave right away within the next week. I’m empathetic and luckily ran into a former acquaintance who told me that she’s babysitting. So I reached out to her and asked if she can backfill for our nanny for two weeks until she returns tomorrow (Monday 5/4).thank god it worked out and she saved us! On Wednesday, 5 days prior to our nanny coming back I texted her to confirm she’s really coming back. Didn’t hear back. Texted again on Saturday (yesterday). Then finally she texted me back today at noon that she isn’t coming back tomorrow but decided to stay in Europe to help her parents.
I want to be empathetic to the situation with her elderly father who has I believe dementia. But letting me know 1/2 day before my work day tomorrow, and me having to chase her down made me feel like she just left me and my daughter hanging. She had a daughter who she said could backfill for her. Her daughter is nice but she isn’t a nanny! To top this off she didn’t tell me when she would return and when I asked her she said she might stay in Europe through May or June (and in July she knows we’ll be out of town).
How do I move on with her? I find this irresponsible and ultimately she is my baby’s caregiver who I need to be responsible. But on the past she has been so warm and sweet with her, it really breaks my heart that this is happening…
EDIT:
Thank you all so much for letting me know your thoughts. So many split opinions, really reflecting how I’m feeling about it.
I think irresponsible might not be right word, I was trying to say that the lack of communication is what the situation so tough. (I’m not a native speaker) I do love her so much! She’s a wonderful person and since she said she’d consider going to Europe I pushed her to actually go and said i figure out what to do until she returned. I had a sick parent last year and know how unpredictable this can be. I’m always super flexible with her and we had a great relationship.
But even saying that “I simply don’t know if or when return” a few days before would have been not a problem at all.
I don’t even know if she now basically quit (I’d think she would say that) and I’m being delusional.
I will work on a backup and check back in with her about her plans in a few days. I don’t want to fire her additionally to the though emotional situation she’s in but in case she won’t return obviously need a backup.