I can’t figure out how to add a “like” button to a WordPress blog. I started a new page for us today and I will be posting great articles, websites and information so please “like” us and tell your friends. I’ll get this stupid plugin figured out eventually.
Two Bitchy Baby Sitters on Facebook
Just testing something, ignore me!
I just signed TBBS up on Facebook. I have no idea what I’m doing. I have a personal Facebook account but I have never ran a page before. Don’t worry, I’ll get it figured out. In the meanwhile it got me thinking about parents, providers and the social networking problem.
Should parents add their childcare providers as friends on Facebook or other social networking sites? My suggestion, hell no. As a provider I can tell you it is definitely not in our best interest, but I don’t think it’s good for you, the parent, either.
As we previously discussed, providers are people, too. During the designated hours we watch our mouths, edit our thoughts and keep socializing to a bare minimum. (Nannies, home care providers and babysitters may get some talk time in, center teachers are screwed.) As soon as we’re off the clock we are free to say or do what we please. I’m not sure how many parents can handle knowing their children spend the day with someone who spends the evening taking photos of herself in too much makeup making duck lips, or, even more likely in our chosen career, drinking at a local pub.
I’m not saying providers shouldn’t do these things. Well, no one should make duck lips. It is not attractive. Someone lied to you. I’m saying that as long as she (Can we, for the sake of the blog, assume she is a female? Call me sexist but it will make my writing flow easier. Sorry guys.) shows up to work and takes amazing care of your child, maybe you are better off not knowing she poses for pictures giving vodka bottles blow jobs and dressed up like a slutty nurse for Halloween. It might ruin your image of her.
If you’re friends with your nanny and every hour there is a new FarmVille request you might wonder, “Who the hell plays FarmVille all day?” or, “Where is my child while she is tending her crops?” Probably eating a snack, napping, playing blissfully on the carpet beside her, any number of safe activities that allow your nanny a moment to check in on her weird little hobby. (At least its not Mafia Wars?) You might be able to reason with yourself that if you have 5 minutes off and on throughout the day to check Facebook then surely so does she, but part of you will still be uncomfortable and curious.
If that discomfort isn’t enough for you, take a look at some of your acquaintences’ posts. You know the ones I mean. The oversharers. The chronically depressed. The relationship morons. The politically active loudmouths.
If you love your babysitter, don’t ruin a good thing. You don’t need to know about her UTI or how often she does laundry or that she is in an on again off again relationship with a guy that, even you can see just from her posts, isn’t that into her.
Resist the urge.
Two Bitchy Babysitters 