I typed this up alredy, and my laptop ate it.......
There are fathers who are more vigilant than mothers. Ditto for helpers.
Spockey, to say that our demands are 'different' makes the spectrum of demands invisible. You cannot teach a class whilst on the phone. However, you can be a kind and careing helper and use the phone. Just as you can be a kind and careing helper and cook or clean. It's just a question of when and how much time. I wouldn't have thought that a few minutes on the phone in the playroom was much different than having to leave a child in the living room while you cook your employer's dinner.
I would have said that a blanket ban was not reasonable - how many of us would think that such a ban was reasonable if it came from our bosses?
Salseros, If you were otherwise satisfied with your helper's care, would you really consider dismissal over a few phone calls? Especially when the only negative information comes from a neigbour?
You only have to read these forums to see how many people are unhappy with their helpers - it seems it is hard to find one that satisfies all the requirements. So I would tink very carefully before you fire someone: what you end up with may be even worse.
There are fathers who are more vigilant than mothers. Ditto for helpers.
Spockey, to say that our demands are 'different' makes the spectrum of demands invisible. You cannot teach a class whilst on the phone. However, you can be a kind and careing helper and use the phone. Just as you can be a kind and careing helper and cook or clean. It's just a question of when and how much time. I wouldn't have thought that a few minutes on the phone in the playroom was much different than having to leave a child in the living room while you cook your employer's dinner.
I would have said that a blanket ban was not reasonable - how many of us would think that such a ban was reasonable if it came from our bosses?
Salseros, If you were otherwise satisfied with your helper's care, would you really consider dismissal over a few phone calls? Especially when the only negative information comes from a neigbour?
You only have to read these forums to see how many people are unhappy with their helpers - it seems it is hard to find one that satisfies all the requirements. So I would tink very carefully before you fire someone: what you end up with may be even worse.