Internet Backs Mom Who Fired Nanny in Front of Friends After 'Faking Sick' in Viral Post

A mother has gained the support of online commenters, after claiming she fired her nanny for "faking sick" to get the day off work.

The mother shared her story in Reddit's "Am I The A**hole" forum under the username u/Entire_Caterpillar55. The post has received more than 8,000 votes and over 900 comments.

She explained that she and her husband both liked their nanny, Marie; however, they had experienced several problems with her prior to her faking being sick.

"[S]he let the kids have way too much screen time, she spent more time on her phone than with the kids, she would make messes and let the kids makes messes and she wouldn't clean up after them, she had friends over without letting us know, she let the kids pig out on junk food instead of feeding them real food," the mother explained.

The couple gave Marie several warnings but allowed the nanny to continue working for them.

At some point, Marie took three days off, claiming to be "really sick." So, despite the fact that the mother was in the middle of a "big project" at work, she took time off to stay at home with her children.

During one of Marie's sick days, the mother decided to take her kids to a local water park. She was shocked, however, when she ran into Marie enjoying a day there with her friends.

"Marie started to apologize and told me that her best friend had gotten tickets to the park and she wanted to go and she didn't think I'd have given her the day off," the mother explained.

But the mother was upset that Marie had lied. In her post, she maintained that if Marie had told the truth, then she would have given her the day off. Sadly, that's not what happened. So, she pulled Marie aside and fired her.

In response to commenters who assumed Marie was a teenager worthy of a second chance, the mother explained that Marie is a 26-year-old, college-educated nanny with prior experience.

Still, she wanted to know: was she wrong to not give Marie another chance?

When it comes to firing a nanny, Care.com author Corey Kagan Whelan recommended that parents follow several steps to avoid any unnecessary tension.

Once the issue has been identified, and after expectations have been communicated, it's time to create a plan that includes backup childcare, said Wheelan. Once those steps have been completed, parents should schedule a time to talk with their nanny to end their employment.

However, author Tory Johnson told Wheelan that this talk should not be done in front of the kids.

"There's no need to expose children to this type of adult situation and this could also embarrass the caregiver," Johnson said.

The majority of commenters agreed that the mother was right to fire Marie; however, some felt she was wrong to do so publicly at the water park.

"NTA [not the a**hole]. But extremely inappropriate to fire her whilst out at the park," said u/louisebelcher99. "Should [have] waited till the next day to talk with her or called her later that evening."

Redditor u/lotsofcache added: "And not in front of the kids. NTA."

Others, however, felt that the mother had every right to fire Marie publicly.

Responding to a commenter who expressed that firing Marie at the water park was "vindictive," u/nurse_krachet said: "NTA it wasn't vindictive. Marie had lots of warnings...I would have fired Marie on the spot as well. This is the equivalent of firing an employee that is late for the 100th time."

"[S]he lied and she should be called out for it. OP did say she took her aside," said u/AlexGrace21.

Redditor u/krazy_187 added: "This was the easiest way to let her know she should start looking for another job as soon as she's done with her 'sick day'...why drag it out? I guess some people would rather she waste a day or 2 + travel time and expenses...or what? Fire her over text? No.

"OP made the right call by pulling her aside and trying to be discreet—she showed more respect to her nanny than she was getting," they continued.