No dramas Frantelle! All good!

So I called her back. I kept in the back of my mind that I would still use her as a babysitter but she wasn't suited to the nannying gig.

First thing she said was "so how long did you work in the company with X for?" So I responded "I'm not really sure what she told you, I didn't even know she was using me as a reference, but she worked for me as a nanny, she looked after my kids for about six months." So that probably spoke volumes, that she hadn't told me.

She asked about her duties, so I said she looked after my kids from morning til night. She asked why she finished up and I was honest and explained that she was a bit over her head with my kids, that they needed more than she was able to give. She asked about her attendance, was she on time and didn't have too many sick days? Easy to answer - always on time, no sick days. Strengths? Easy. Weaknesses? Referred again to being a bit over her head. Don't really know if that was a weakness... But anyway. Asked if I'd employ her again and I said as a nanny no, but that I'd use her as a babysitter.

Then I texted her and said that it is a good idea to ask a referee before using them and to let them know when you apply for a job so they can expect a call. She wrote back and apologized - apparently she'd asked someone else but they were on leave when the woman rang them so she had to give her another name and thought of me. She still could have had told me!

Anyway, I feel ok with that. I think I handled it ok.