Today I quit my nanny position.  I'm mature, well-educated, and love children...unlike the parents I have worked for.  I've been in a slow boil for the last few years over the complete emotional disconnect parents have with their children and the lack of respect they show me for what I do.

Couples I've seen treat their kids like an inconvenience, spend little time with them, require me to engage with them, discipline them, bathe them, read to them, take them on outings - the list goes on.  They make it clear they don't want to be bothered with the kids after a long day at work.  This is sadly, not unusual.  The neglect just has a different shape with each family.  But the message is loud and clear - don't bother us when we get home from work.

The parents show love through buying them "stuff."  These kids have every electronic device imaginable, and they appreciate none of it.  They are entitled, spoiled and disrespectful.  I enforced a rule - "no devices until after dinner," and for 30 minutes, these kids screamed and yelled and finally went to their parents demanding devices DURING dinner and afterward until bedtime.  The parents allowed it, and that's when I quit.

Since I had nothing to lose, I asked the parents "why did you even HAVE children?"  The husband looked at the wife blankly, and she said, "I always wanted to be a mother."  I burst out laughing, saying "you're doing a lousy job of it. If I were you, I'd save up for bail money instead of college for your kids, because unless you quit your job and be a real mommy and daddy to them, they're headed for trouble."  On that note, I left.  I've never made a better decision in my life.

Lara