The Notable Nanny

Every charge I've ever had, has been born with the amazing ability to CRUSH their parents feelings like a bug, when they try to leave for work in the morning. The sought-after Hollywood trait of crying on cue seems to come readily to babies and toddlers.

A typical morning scenario goes something like this.

Everyone is happy in the kitchen but when they round the corner to the doorway that leads to the car things go from normal to neurotic WAHHHHHH!!!!

Rule number

1. THOU SHALT NOT LEAVE WITHOUT ME. EVER!!!!

Toddler commandment number 1 appears to be perilously close to being broken so a courtesy whine is usually given as a warning.   When the courtesy whine is ignored or contemplated but not listened to, the mini arms reach out, whilst the courtesy whine escalates to a full blown cry.

This happens in regards to toddler rule number

2. THOU SHALT ALWAYS PICK ME UP IMMEADIATELY WHEN YOU ARE REACHED FOR.

The parents at this time usually do one of two things.

Reaction one.  Run quickly shouting frantic goodbyes as they flee into the garage, into the car, down the driveway, and out of sight without looking back...this is what I've affectionately dubbed the "BAND-AID" approach.

The second way is slightly more common, The parent attempts to negotiate/reason/bribe or sooth the toddler. As a professional nanny I know that it truly takes skill to negotiate with toddlers, their motto is NO NEGOTIATIONS NOT NO WAY NOT NO HOW! Therefore I call this the "LATE" approach.

Recently I've witnessed a new approach this third approach is that the parent runs though the garage passes out to the front door and either begins to wave through the window or rings the doorbell.  At first this may appear to be an extension of the "Late" approach however it is definitely a different approach. this "outsider" seems to catch the toddler off guard and sooth them I suppose they may think a replacement parent has arrived...One who plays through the window and always leaves after a few minutes. (I suppose the toddler thinks its okay for this parent to leave because that's what this "fake" parent always does.) At any rate it seems to be that if the parent allows for the extra time and acts strangely enough the child is in effect fooled by the ruse and allows the "outsider" to leave with a wave and a smile by the time the toddler realizes the actual parent has left they are otherwise occupied. I dubbed this trick the "OUTSIDER" approach.   Futhermore  I would say that this new "outsider" technique is the most effective way to leave a toddler, But it must be applied steadily for best reaction.