I have never been a nanny but I have been a teacher of young children. I once had the temerity to suggest that one gobshite of a seven year old child was distracting everyone and could concentrate more in class. Her Dad came in to shout at me, he'd never been given any negative feedback about his daughter ever and she'd gone home crying that I'd been mean and I was a bully.

My boss attempted to play the neutral person in the middle, listening to both sides of the story until I pretty much held my ground, dismantled his arguments and sent him packing with a lecture on how children manipulate their parents and push boundaries. His daughter stayed in my class until she was fourteen, was much better behaved from that point on and apparently improved in mainstream school as well.

The Dad never spoke to me again, he was someone important within banking and wasn't used to being spoken back to I don't think. It was no great loss not to speak to him again. Mum was much more amenable and aware. There's nothing about economic privilege that ensures you've got good parenting skills, there's nothing but actual skill with children that works.

Chad will grow up to be a dick. Felicia will regret her stance when he won't move out of the basement. I don't think I could be a nanny, I'm fine with disciplining other people's children to my standard rather than the selected standard - and I don't do subservient or hierarchy particularly well.

Am very pleased to find your stories are being suggested to me now that we've had our tete-a-tete, you're a very enjoyable writer.... and on this article at least we're in full agreement. :o)