Is This Nanny Ad for Real?

Is This Nanny Ad for Real?

Wednesday, July 30, 2008

The following ad was placed in Craigslist's New York help wanted section. It has since been removed, but we think it's so absurd it just has to be real.

Here goes:

"This job is very nontraditional in the sense that my kids are older and still need someone to "parent" them 24/7. My oldest son will be starting his first year at Columbia in the fall and will not be around much, but will probably still need support. Picking up his dry cleaning, if he needs anything for his apartment, scheduling doctor appointments, anything to help him and his daily life run smoothly ... I have had a hard time meeting people that have been right for the position. We've sought help from agencies and other nanny finding sites and have now moved here in search for some more dynamic candidates.

I feel that I must be up front, this job is a VERY much so a FULL-TIME job with NO flexibility. Both my husband and self work full-time in jobs where it is essential for us to work long hours (hedge fund and fashion industry).

MUST be 100% legal and able to speak PERFECT English. MUST be presentable/polished. MUST have SOME college. City savvy and Blackberry Accessible. AND willing to have at least a 2-year contract.

18 days paid vacation. Half to be determined by you, the rest by us. Health/Dental benefits (full, great plan) (after 90 days). 60-75K. Option to live in our beautiful second apartment located on 84th between Park and Lex for a reduced rent."

Um, and we thought The Nanny Diaries was fiction...

What do you think about this ad: refreshingly honest or too over-the-top?

26 comments so far | Post a comment now >>

What’s wrong with it? At least they’re up front about their needs and willing to pay!

- Jamie

Posted 07/30/08 02:17 PM

wow! that is a crazy ad! but yes, i do appreciate their honesty. however, they should be embarrassed that their adult child can’t even be responsible enough to pick up his own dry cleaning - most college students i know don’t even have the luxury of someone else doing laundry for them at all.

- JillH

Posted 07/30/08 02:33 PM

I think it’s funny, who really needs a nanny in college? Seriously…C’mon! They need to learn to let go of their mommy and daddy’s hand! Goodness, GROW UP!

- ANON

Posted 07/30/08 02:46 PM

Sounds like they are just trying to buy their son a mama type hooker….jmo

- Anonymous

Posted 07/30/08 03:00 PM

She says her kids are older but only mentions one of them needing help. And I agree, she should be embarassed that her oldest can’t pick up his own dry cleaning. Hahaha. But for 75k a year I would happily pick up someone’s laundry and make dentist appoinments! That’s a little more than double what I get now!

- Amber

Posted 07/30/08 05:02 PM

I think they might have had a better response if they had posted the job for a personal assistant. Isn’t that what the job is titled with they are taking care of an adult?

- Yeah-me

Posted 07/30/08 05:50 PM

I think that the mother who placed the ad is totally aware of how insane her son’s continued needs are. The ad was probably done in an attempt to shine a bright light on his dependent behavior and shame him into doing for himself.

- Elaine

Posted 07/30/08 05:56 PM

Lazy parents and lazy kids.

- Anonymous

Posted 07/30/08 08:37 PM

60-75K?!!!

- Anonymous

Posted 07/30/08 09:07 PM

Where do I apply? lol

- aprilb

Posted 07/30/08 11:58 PM

I think they would have been better off advertising for a personal assistant for their 18 yo son. For 75000 i would do it. What a spoiled child that at 18 he can’t take care of him self.

- Anonymous

Posted 07/31/08 08:00 AM

lol i am an adult and have 2 small children.. id love to have a nanny for myself sometimes! lol

- l.s.

Posted 07/31/08 08:34 AM

This listing is a request for a butler or personal assistant, not a nanny.

- Nina

Posted 07/31/08 08:47 AM

uhhh….does this include going on beer runs? lol

- lori

Posted 07/31/08 09:13 AM

That’s how NYC people are, I live here. It’s sick.

- Anonymous

Posted 07/31/08 09:28 AM

I wish I lived in New York! I would take that job in a second!

- Melanie

Posted 07/31/08 09:36 AM

I would be all over this job if I lived there! I would call it more of a personal assistant than a nanny…but whatever!

- Rikki

Posted 07/31/08 09:47 AM

It straight to the point. It does not tell how many kids she has. The only one that she tells you about is her eldest child.

- Anonymous

Posted 07/31/08 10:04 AM

sounds like what they really want is a personal assistant for their son not really a true nanny

- Anonymous

Posted 07/31/08 10:29 AM

I think it is time for the mother to cut the umbilical cord to her son. At 18 I was living on my own, raising my newborn! I didnt have anyone to do anything for me, other then the babysitter watch my daughter while I worked. Which brings me to my next question, does this 18 year old work? If not, why? I think it is time for him to grow up!

- Lauri

Posted 07/31/08 10:45 AM