Vacation with employers (person, member, house, conversation)
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I've been a nanny for the same family for two years. I love them, we get along great. I'm 31 and they are just a few years older than me, so we relate and can carry on a conversation before or after "work" no problem. Last year, I went on a ski vacation with them so I could watch their little boy while they went skiing during the day. They had their own hotel suite, and they got me one as well. It happened to be on a different floor, so when they were back from skiing, I just went back up to my room. One night I went out for an activity in the ski village, and one night, I went out to dinner with them. Other than that, I had the nights to myself. It was a really fun trip.
This year, we are doing the same thing, but going to a different place. Instead of going the hotel route, they decided to rent a large three bedroom house for the week, so we will all stay there together (ill have my own room and bathroom).
So here is my question...let's say they get back from skiing around 4 or 5 pm each day. We will probably have a bite for dinner, turn on the TV, whatever. I'm going to see what will be going on in the village that I can go to, but obviously I won't know anyone there and am not really looking to make friends with strangers. I'm perfectly fine hanging out with myself in the evenings. But. I'm not sure if it would be rude or not to like...retreat up to my room each night after dinner. As a married couple and as a family, I'm not sure they want me hanging out with them at night, and I'm sure they'll tell me I am free to go do whatever I want. But is it rude to stay there in the house and just go off to my room by myself? Not that I couldn't hang out with them, I'm sure I could for part of the time since we get along so well. But I know I won't want to sit down and watch a movie with them every night. Even though we get along well, they are still my employers.
I hope I'm making sense! We are going for seven days. I just hate the feeling of "should I leave now...or should I stay and hang out..?" Ha. I don't want anything to be awkward so I just thought I'd ask what you lovely people would do if you were me.
Last edited by Mel2882; 02-24-2013 at 08:41 PM..
Reason: Spelled an important word incorrectly!
You've already answered your own question. You're the hired help, They don't expect you to sit with them every night. They want and expect time to themselves every day and evening. Excuse yourself after dinner, take care of putting the child to bed, if you do that and then go out, go to your room, etc. as you see fit.
I would ask them what is expected of you during that week. I personally would never go on vacation w/ my employers. But, you have, and you should have enough rapour with them to just honestly ask at this point.
After supper just excuse yourself, tell them you hand a wonderful day and go to your room. No big deal.
This. During the day, you're on the clock. After that, you're on your own. It's no different than when I travel on behalf of one of my clients. To be sure, having dinner with them once or twice would be nice to do, but it shouldn't be a requirement.
Like cpg35223 said, after you're done, you can do whatever you want. Don't feel like you have to go to your room if you don't want to, but if that's what you prefer, do it.
If they would like to hang out with you, I suppose they'd invite you, and you can respond as you would to any other invitation to socialize. Otherwise your off-work time belongs to you, and it's not at all rude to do as you please.
You've already answered your own question. You're the hired help, They don't expect you to sit with them every night. They want and expect time to themselves every day and evening. Excuse yourself after dinner, take care of putting the child to bed, if you do that and then go out, go to your room, etc. as you see fit.
If you excuse yourself and just go to your room, it will be obvious to them that you have nothing else planned unlike the last time when they didn't know where you were or weren't going.
They may just say goodnight or they may ask you if you wouldn't like to stay and sit with them.
Ifyou get along as well as you say, it might be enjoyable for them to connect with you as another adult occassionally, without the kids around.
It would probably not be a good idea to do it every night, or even most every night,even if asked ,as they probably also value their time alone and might do so just to be polite.
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