Silicon Valley Nanny Ad Goes Viral: Ridiculous Or Reasonable?

MENLO PARK, CA — The internet went up in flames this week after Twitter users discovered a 1,000-word online job listing by a Menlo Park mother, seeking a "household manager/cook/nanny," for her two kids.

The mother, who called herself a single mom and a CEO, included a stunning number of requirements in her post: the ideal candidate would not only take care of the kids but teach them math, plan the family's vacations, supervise other household workers and cook the family meals.

"Correctly quantify how much fish to purchase for five people, for example," reads one bullet point. "Can swim in the ocean and bodysurf. Likes river swimming," reads another.

Backlash to the ad swept the internet, with critics attacking it as the pinnacle of Silicon Valley privilege. Others, though, viewed it more sympathetically. The mom herself, speaking anonymously to Slate, pointed out that the job would pay well — up to $40 an hour — plus free rent, inclusive vacations and a car.

"What I realize now is that, like a lot of working executives and working moms, I’m spending a significant amount of my time doing research and organizing," the mother told Slate. "The reason why I want to outsource it is because for me, all I really want to do is run my business well and be the best mom ever."