Nanny's at the Park

Yesterday I spent the afternoon at the park with my three youngest. Just us and a whole lot of nannies. There we were, with four other kids and four nannies. Really? This isn't New York or something. Remember where I live? It's not like women can have a big career here. Your biggest hope would be for a secondary paycheck, maybe teaching or something, but the men are the official hires for this company. Anyway, I just can't imagine what you would need a nanny for with one child.

These nannies are almost all Philipino, I think I've written about them before. They're friendly, but they mostly just chat and laugh amongst themselves. I have a whole scenario that goes on in my mind. (I'm not trying to make fun of them, they really do talk like this. It's cute.) Something like this, said in a very thick Philipina accent: "Oh. You should have seen Madam this morning. Her hair so crazy. I laugh so hard. Oh, that Achmed, he so naughty. If he my child I spank his bottom!" Since they very much keep to themselves, I think they like to see each other at the park. I would totally spill my guts if I were them. They are very submissive, as far as I can tell, to the families they work for. And every other Westerner.

I watched two different ladies chase after 'their' children. And I hate how they can't reprimand the kids. Never. I assume they are too afraid of losing their jobs, or worse. The kids treat them like garbage and they just have to take it. It totally makes me mad. Here these women have left their own children, most have young families at home that their mothers raise, to be treated terribly by adults and children alike. Last year a servent (not on our camp or anything) , as they are called here, killed her employer. (with a cleaver - ew, I know) Anyway, she had been being abused and wanted to leave. But he owns her in this country, and wouldn't give her her papers to leave. Which in my opinion is kidnapping. So she attacked him and killed him. She was killed, I think beheaded in fact, within a week or so of the incident. They never gave her a trial, didn't contact the Philipino government or her family or anything. Terrible. (It actually caused a big to-do and now the Philipines has put a block on this country. No more servents allowed to come here for now. Lucky them, that's all I can say.)

It's a little chilly here, like 60 and sunny. So I noticed they all had too big hand me down coats on, and flip flops. One with socks. I imagine they really don't have many other shoes. It's not like they're rich. I know someone who has a live in full time nanny and pays her 600.00 USD a month, and people think she is over paying. Can you imagine? The other sad thing is how the children they raise are SO spoiled. There's a girl a few houses away that is Lebanese with a nanny. She is the bossiest thing ever. She seriously has an adult to play with her and someone to boss around all day long. Whenever she comes over I have to step in. She really thinks the world revolves around her. (not that Ruby doesn't, but I remind her of that on a regular basis)

Anyway. I was glad to be there with my kids. Climbing around, racing on the slides, and pushing on the swings. I know everyone has their own situation, but I much prefer being able to raise my own kids. Don't get me wrong. Some days I dream of a nanny. But I wouldn't trade the ups and downs for anything.