DEAR ABBY: We have a wonderful nanny who looks after our two preschool children 35 hours a week. It took us three months, 24 candidates and $1,200 to get her.
Another preschool mom and I share driving responsibilities. (I'll call her "Mrs. Jones.") Well, when Mrs. Jones picked up our daughter one morning, she asked our nanny if she would be interested in working part-time for a friend of hers. Abby, I am very offended by this. I feel it would have been a common courtesy to ask us before mentioning this to our nanny.
Our nanny is not simply an employee; she is a member of our extended family. We went through a lot of time and expense to find her, and we do not appreciate Mrs. Jones assuming that she is available for a part-time job.
Please tell me what you think of this. -- LONGTIME READER, BLOOMINGTON, MINN.
DEAR LONGTIME READER: I think Mrs. Jones was out of line to have approached your nanny about part-time employment without discussing it with you first.