'My SIL tried to poach my nanny - now my family's angry at me'

“They’re upset that I outbid my SIL and gave Isabelle extra money and hours just so she wouldn’t get her."

Joel Erickson

3 min read

May 21, 2024 - 11:35AM

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Almost every parent knows that great home childcare doesn’t grow on trees.

For every fantastic home-based nanny, there are 100 others who are little more than glorified babysitting.

That’s why Leanne* was so thrilled to have found Isabelle* to take care of her three kids three days a week.

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“I have to say, Isabelle is amazing,” she said. “She drives on excursions, she does homework with the kids, she handles play dates, she’s the one adult my 10-year-old daughter likes, she’s not dependent on screens, and she’s teaching them all how to cook and bake.”

Leanne* said Isabelle* (not pictured) was a fantastic nanny to her three kids. Picture: iStock

Nanny goes extra mile for oldest child

Unfortunately, Isabelle was about to drive a wedge into Leanne’s family, through no fault of her own.

“My oldest is doing state testing right now and wanted a fun activity with her friends,” Leanne said.

“Isabelle suggested a spa day and my daughter loved it, so I set up a day for my four year old to go home with his grandparents and let Isabelle turn our living room into a spa.

“She picked up my daughter, my niece and two friends, brought them to our house and did their hair and nails while they laid back and did face masks.”

"They're upset I outbid my SIL"

Next thing Leanne knew, her sister-in-law was trying to poach Isabelle.

“I guess my niece was telling her mum how cool Isabelle is because she texted Isabelle offering her a nanny position for four days a week, matching whatever I pay her but for only one kid,” Leanne said.

“Isabelle showed me the text and told me she’d have to think about it because the extra money would be nice, so I told her if she promised to stay I’d have her five days a week with a $5 per hour raise.”

Isabelle took Leanne’s offer, but now her SIL is claiming she stole the young nanny from her.

“They’re upset that I outbid my SIL and gave Isabelle extra money and hours just so she wouldn’t get her,” Leanne said.

“Even my husband said it was petty, but I don’t think I did anything wrong.”

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"You fighting to keep her should be expected"

Leanne took her family drama to Reddit, where people were quick to back her up.

“Every parent knows that a good babysitter or nanny is worth their weight in gold,” one person wrote.

“Your SIL is wrong for trying to poach your nanny, and you fighting to keep her should be expected.

“It’s rich that your SIL is accusing you of stealing a nanny when she tried to do the exact same thing.”

“Your SIL could have come to you and the two of you could have approached Isabelle about caring for all four kids with you and her splitting Isabelle’s pay,” another person wrote.

“However, your SIL attempted to poach your nanny, which is borderline unforgivable, and now has the nerve to play the victim. Your SIL is the petty one.”

"Pay her what she's worth now"

However, other people slammed Leanne for not paying Isabelle enough despite the fact her rate was never mentioned.

“You’re wrong for not paying Isabelle what she was worth in the first place,” one person wrote.

“She frankly sounds like a goddess and you were low-balling her. She’s obviously worth what you were willing to pay to keep her, thus she was worth more than that in the past.”

“Pay her what she’s worth now,” another person wrote.

“She’s proven herself and is going above and beyond, make the raise immediate.

“You value what she does, so pass that value on to her.”