I do not think that means what you think it means...

Soapbox moment #Way to many to count...

One of my Facebook friends (she's actually my sister-in-law's sister) posted a comment that as innocuous as it was, made me see red. I know that it shouldn't bother me as much as it did, but I'm using the blog now to keep from making a comment on Facebook that will just come off childish and bitchy.

A's comment was simply that she'd finished doing the kids laundry, and on to the adult clothes and towels. (ok nothing bad there...) Then she went on to say that if she had the money, she would just hire a nanny to do the laundry.

This is where my fury began, I know it's a nothing comment, we all make them. I think that it ran up my nerves so much, because while I was a nanny, it was often my job to make sure that the laundry was done, (actually the reason I left the family I was with, was because of a difference on how to change the duvet covers, and fold them), make sure the mother's tea, and sometimes their (the parents) dinner was ready for when she/they got home, and once a month, I had to make sure that the house was tidy for when the housekeepers would arrive so they didn't have that much to do (they charged by the hour, so I had to make sure that the job didn't last more that just a couple of hours, AND they only came once a month, which meant I had a months worth of dusting, sorting, etc... to do)

Now what do you think the person taking care of your children should be worth? When I was just babysitting, I so could have been part of the Babysitter's Club, I worked almost every night, I would make at least $5 per hour, per kid. And it was usually only a couple of hours, no other chores but to keep the child safe and happy. With my actual nanny job, my salary, which was for watching 2 tween girls (9 & 11), 5-6 days a week for 20-30 hours a week, plus cleaning, laundry, feeding, tea making, chauffeuring them to school (+homework duty), piano lessons (+making sure that they practices said piano), horseback riding lessons, girl scouts and anywhere else they might need to go, was $100 a week, that was roughly $5 an hour (back then minimum wage went from $4.75-$5.15). Yep that was it, and once a month, I would have "taxes" taken out of it so I only made $75 that week. Not that it really matters, but this was 15 years ago, and both of the parents were wealthy doctors. This is a whole other hot topic so I will end this rant here.

In my opinion, a nanny is responsible for the children...That should be their only concern. Make sure that the kids are where they need to be, get them there when they need to be there, and that they are safe. I condone that, yes, feed the kids, make sure that they are dressed, help with school work, play (entertain) with them, even cleaning up the KIDS messes is a given. But I draw the line at nannies being used as maids. I will even say that if the requests for extra services are only occasional, that's ok, but to have it expected, all the time, that is a NO!
If the adult/parent is wearing the clothes, then they are the ones that should be responsible for cleaning them, not the nanny. If the adult/parent makes a mess in the kitchen, they should be the ones to clean it up, not the nanny. If you are going to hire someone to clean up after you, hire a maid or housekeeper, leave the nanny to the kids. I would often come home in the afternoon and the sink be filled with dishes from the night before (and she was one of those cooks that used every dish in the house), and there would be a note saying I'll be home by 6, have the place cleaned before you drop the kids off at_____... Now, from my experience, if the nanny is busy cleaning your sheets, doing the dishes, and putting away your laundry, they aren't watching the children, and that's when bad things happen (not all the time, but it Does happen sometimes!)

Ok, I think I've run out of steam, and the fury has passed...

My point? a Nanny is meant to watch your kids, not be a slave to your every whim. If you need a maid, hire one of those instead.

Dumbo...

Ok, so this post isn't actually about the Disney cartoon, but it is about elephants.



Let it be said that I am a HUGE fan of musicals and am thrilled that there are more being translated to film. (Rock of Ages, Les Miserables, Phantom of the Opera, Hairspray, Sweeney Todd, RENT, Moulin Rouge, just to name the few recent ones.) Where is this going you're asking yourself...

I am re-watching Les Miserables. AMAZING film, breath-takingly beautiful!!! (My only dislike is Russell Crow, should have been Gerard Butler, and SPOILER ALERT, What was up with his death scene? The noise when he hits the wall, Eww. WHY?!) And when I am finished I will most likely move on to my favorite, Moulin Rouge. Why haven't we done more with Ewan McGregor's voice??

What does this have to do with elephants?? Getting on to the point, or question I suppose... Is it me, or has anyone else noticed that the French like pachyderms? Seems that both of my current favorite musicals are set in France, and both have a "functional" elephant statue. I do realize historically there was an elephant statue, commissioned by Napoleon, at Bastille, that Hugo mentions (evidently unfavorably, I haven't read it, but sites I've looked at, mentions it was with disdain...) in his book Les Miserable. I'm also aware that there was an elephant at the Moulin Rouge. It was an attraction at the 1889 Montmartre Exhibition.

And after doing some digging online, I've noticed that there have been several others as well. (Like the photo below) Is there some historical symbolism that I've missed? I know the Feng Shui statues with the trunk up equal protection/good luck, while Hindus associate elephants with Ganesha, and that Buddhists see them as a symbol for wisdom and knowledge, but in the 1800's what was the obsession? Don't get me wrong I think elephants are majestic, and have a small resin one on my dresser (a friend gave it to me) but why, WHY are there so many statues in France?



"Gravity for the Elephant, Paris, France"
[THIS IS NOT MY IMAGE IT WAS FOUND ONLINE, THANK YOU TO THE PHOTOGRAPHER!]

That's my randomness for the day. Seriously if you have an answer or idea as to why, all comments are welcome!