Do you have a situation that you’re not sure how to handle?  Do you have a question that you can’t find the answer to?  Then ask the expert!  Lora Brawley, owner of AllAboutNannyCare.com, takes on your challenges in this section.  If you’d like your question answered online, let us know.  By submitting a question, you agree to allow your question to be posted and archived on AllAboutNannyCare.com and used in other Brawley & Associates publications. 

Current Question

Q.  Our nanny has worked for us for 10 months and we love her.  Last week she asked me if she could put our 13 month old son in the local YMCA’s childcare center 3 times a week while she works out.  My husband and I want to support her fitness goals but we hired her to keep our son out of daycare.  Am I being unreasonable if I say no?

A.  The short answer is no, you’re not being unreasonable.  As the employer, you have the right to dictate who cares for your child and in what environment.  Only you can decide what you’re comfortable with and what you’re not.  However, it doesn’t have to be a “I win, my nanny loses” situation.  Sit down with your nanny and brainstorm other ways you can support her in her quest to stay healthy.  Do you have home gym equipment or exercise videos she can use while your son naps?  Do you have a jogging stroller she can use to walk or run regularly with your son?  Is there a trusted nanny or mom friend that she can exchange time with, allowing both of them a bit of extra personal time?  By working with your nanny to try and find a solution rather than simply saying no, you can show her you understand her situation and value her as a person as well as a caregiver.