Lucia's Reviews

Issues with Feedback

I have always had good rapport with my babysitters and nannies. You opted to be an exception. So let me put things in perspective and refresh your memory whilst protecting discerning mothers/carers with children/wards with 1 or more allergies:

Meeting: We met weekend to agree dates and rates and ID check, I transferred £10 as part of storing a new payee bank details.
You sent a message about cancellation of an agreed day due to unforeseen work circumstances and offered another day..told you sorted. And clarified you are happy with days left. You also changed the rate but I said since we were happy with you, we would accept your new rate..frankly, I had no time to arrange another meeting.

1st day of work: You did not meet me as I left early for work. Called from work greeted you and explained I am phone free but incase of an emergency can also call my spouse. Gave number. At end of day, once phone back in possession, paid £80 to balance the earlier £10 per day. You found it better to text my husband asking him to tell his spouse about the agreed rate. He sent me the message. When I called, you brushed it aside as you forgot I had transferred £10 earlier. Then I asked why you did not just tell me than texting another. I gave you his number to call if emergency.

Day 2:
Explained we have board games as I informed you when we first met, when you were focused on gawking over decor in house and how the children should feel privileged and how lucky they were ( was never sure why that was relevant..Only recently did the kids tell me it was a daily occurrence!! As if size of one's house is proportionate to joy..it is not!!!)

You may not be familiar with coeliac but I explained on first meeting and informed you I will always do their lunches myself, they had stuff to do just needed an adult to be with them, told you we had board games.You could have told me then you were going to bring yours into home.

Wheat sensitivity is real. So when I was told you brought in a game and child with alergy was playing, I panicked. I explained you did not have to bring in games. I then advised wiping them with alcohol wipes to be safe cos with Coeliac, the most important thing is cross- contamination. My voice was normal, just feedback. You really should be open to take feedback particularly when health is concerned. How you hear/listen matters.
But I paid you once I got out of work that day as reflex. Spouse paid you also. You texted him abt double payment. He then let me know.

Day 3: Was in the car driving out when you were walking in, we waved at each other as spouse at home, did not need to get out of car as was running late. Which other greeting did you want or need ???
Came back home and was wondering why home in disarray and then kitchen tops. You have never left my home 'tidier' as you meet it tidied up and freshbto go for the kids each morning. By default I wipe down whole counter and tables at night before food prep and I noted stains that were not off the lunches I packed for kids daily; older child apologised and said she tried to clean as best as she could but was from your lunch..not sure what you had but seemed to leak. Did that contain egg, wheat ?etc . But I wiped down and messaged you about need to tidy or help kids do so from 5PM and need to clean off your meal. I did not think I needed to tell you that. You brushed it off with 'Apologies if not up to standard"..another response which seemed odd.
Day 4..last day: Greeted you, gave some antihistamines to younger one as from night before, eyes were a bit off..that's how fast she reacts and left for work as no rash and other signs. Came back to sad kids apologising cause they had no response when you mentioned to them about the tidiness ending with "your mother was quite rude''... they said they just got on with what they were doing. That statement is what you refer to us as asking kids...
It is sad you feel telling children that mum is rude tantamounts to positive environment???

The children you described as lovely and smart, are a product of a loving environment with different babysitters who have remained friends and have become family over the years. That was why when you cancelled one of days, I told you sorted. One of my regulars just snatched that day up with joy.

Why would you 'almost everyday reiterate to kids how priviledged they were..the size of a house does not make a child'...is there some inner wounds there?

You lied blatantly in your reply making me wonder how safe children are emotionally with you?
My children were stunned and as you have noted how well behaved they are( definitely not raised by you)..had no comeback phrases for you than flagging it up once I set foot at home.

To guard your income and 5-star review so tediously with lies is frankly disappointing because I am still not certain you even understand the health risk posed by bringing things touched by different people into another's home with an at risk child? As you described it as 'simple' board game.

And you warn people not to work with me..well, I have my babysitters most from childcare.co.uk who were just not available and they are most appalled at what you wrote, so thanks for highlighting your desperation.

I have no regrets highlighting these facts cause you are not the parent that will be sitting in A&E.

So I wonder, will you learn from feedback or go back defending the indefensible.
I gave you an objective 3 stars...were you expecting different???

• Overall
• Setting
• Cleanliness
• Communication

by Lucia about Emma on 25/04/2025

Response by Emma on 25/04/2025:

I’m really saddened to read this review, especially after the effort I put in to support this family and care for the children. From day one, I felt like I was walking on eggshells. I was never greeted when I arrived for my shifts, only by her husband and children who were friendly towards me. No matter how much I tried, it felt like nothing I did was good enough for the mother. I was often met with criticism—sometimes through messages, sometimes with unexpected calls at unsociable hours—all of which made the experience really tough on my end.

Despite that, I always did my best to leave the house as tidy (if not tidier) than how I found it, and I even asked the children—who are absolutely lovely and very honest—if the house looked okay when I left. They mentioned that blankets weren't put away, which I understand. However, the messages that were sent by the mother to me, for that mistake were condescending and hurtful. I also apologised for this. A simple check-in with the children was spun into something much more serious, which was upsetting to hear.

I also want to be clear that I only ever contacted the father once, and that was to send over my bank details for payment after my first shift—something the father himself instructed me to do. Any other interaction was professional and purely related to the children.

Even something as small as bringing a board game for the kids to enjoy turned into another point of criticism, with the assumption that I wasn't cleanly. As the items had to be wiped down, due to one of the children's allergies (coeliac) . That was never the case. I just wanted to bring something fun for the kids. I also apologised for this.

The children themselves were an absolute joy to care for—so smart, kind, and welcoming—and I’m really grateful I got to spend time with them. But unfortunately, the environment created by the mother made this one of the most uncomfortable working experiences I’ve ever had. I truly wouldn’t recommend working with her based on how I was spoken to, which is a shame because the kids deserve so much love and positivity around them.

Thank you for your review, I hope you and your family are doing well.