A Feel Good Moment

We all get insecure. I am the kind of person who is always second-guessing what others truly think about what I am doing or how I am doing it, especially in relation to my job.

Don't get me wrong. I do a damn good job. I take the initiative and do many things that aren't even asked of me to help out my employers. I do this because I care about the family and I care about the children. I get as much joy creating experiences and memories for the kids I nanny as I do with my own children. I do the extra stuff every now and then because I like to think that I have, in some small way, made the life of someone else a little less hectic. 

But people are funny. Sometimes, others do not see things the way we see them. And we can think we are doing something over and beyond, and they may see it as not good enough. We can think we're doing a good job, and they can think we're doing a mediocre job. Or, they can believe we are doing a good job but not really agree with how we do our job.

My employers and I have a pretty good relationship. They back up my authority with the children, and have even taken a method I use and replaced their own with it. My job description does not include doing laundry, or cooking meals (except the children's meals) or cleaning. But - occasionally I will do these things as an act of service for the family that I care about. They're always appreciative. And always quick to re-assert that I 'don't have to do that.'

Of course, then I go into interpretation mode. Is that their way of saying they would rather me not cook dinner so Mom-Boss doesn't have to do it when she walks in the door from working all day? Do they appreciate the act yet not like my cooking? Did they have other plans for dinner and I just ruined it?

Ha! See? I do that. Rationally, I know this is not the case. Mom-Boss has texted me begging for a recipe I've used because it was so delicious. She has taken soup and shared it with her mother, and bragged that I folded laundry when she was exhausted from being with an ill family member at the hospital in between working and sleeping. She has apologized profusely for even asking me to work outside of my normal schedule.

And Dad-Boss - he's the one I see on most mornings. He is usually cheerful and asks about my weekends, my holidays, my morning so far. There have been a few mornings where he has been short. Again, I know sometimes he is just hurried. But my mind starts to wonder -- what are they *really* thinking about how I do my job?

Today, Dad-Boss calls me. They had called him off work because things were slow. He was going to be home an hour earlier, he said, and was that okay with me?

I laughed. "Of course!" I said. "It's YOUR house!"

"Well," he explained. "I just wanted to make sure that you were okay with that. I don't want you to feel like I am messing up your schedule."

"No, no," I said, actually kinda glad to be able to leave early. "I'm flexible. It's fine."

So, he goes on to tell me his schedule during Christmas break. He is in school full time as well as working full time. He tells me when his last final exam is, then he has like 3 weeks off.

I waved it off, "Okay." I said. I was the one who asked him for his school schedule after all, fully expecting he would be off and they may not need me.

He went on, "well," he said. "We could find something to do, I'm sure. I - you know - I don't want you to feel like you're being slighted....."

"Whatever you need," I said to him. "Like I said before, this income is extra money for me " (my husband works and that is what supports our family) "and if you're home, and don't need me, it's okay. Really. And if you have something you guys want to do, like go shopping, that's fine. Let me know."

That's when he went on to say that they really appreciated me, and wanted to make sure that I was happy. He said he had talked to his wife, and even gotten on her a few times because he felt she had not given me enough advanced notice for some things, and that he stressed to her the importance of making sure I was happy in the job.

"The boys," he said. "They love you to death. And you are so good with them, and to them. We just want to make certain you are okay with things, that you're happy. It's hard to find someone you trust, and once you do, it's good to keep them. And I just - I don't want to have to go through trying to find someone else again....."

I assured him that I was, indeed, happy in my job. And I am. I love the job. And i am quite happy to find that they are happy with me too.

It feels good to be told. So parents, if you appreciate what a great job your nanny does with your children, tell her! It's not always evident, even if you may think it is.

Thanksgiving Hats

With the holidays approaching, I have scoured the web for fun (and easy) activities to do with the 2 preschoolers that I nanny.

I found this fun craft. And they can wear their hats for Thanksgiving dinner!! When the boys did it, they were so excited! Granted, it was quite a bit of cutting for me. I did have to prepare some of the materials and they basically glued it together. However, they "feel" like they made the hats, so they did! Plus, it kept their little hands out of mischief for that time, too!

You can find the instructions (as well as many other fun ideas here.)

What an invaluable site! I love the internet!!! Whatever did we do without it??? (ah yes --- we had to scour books instead!!)

What kinds of crafts have you done for Thanksgiving? The hand turkeys are a given (we did those at the library).

I love ideas!

Pumpkin Cupcakes

Ah, the fun of cooking with preschoolers!

Do you ever start an activity with the kids you nanny, and start to think as you begin, "what in the world was I thinking???"



That describes me.


I get so excited looking through stuff and planning what we will do.

And then the reality hits!

4 small hands that need complete guidance, but do not always want the guidance. Especially with cooking. Cooking requires things to be done in a certain order. The kids get on their stools and want to just start tearing through stuff!! But they have soooooo much fun, and THAT is why it's worth it in the long run!

These pumpkin cupcakes were fun and the kids were so good when it came to following directions and taking turns!

Tell me about some of the things you have been cooking with the kiddos. I'd like ideas!!!

The Beginning of My Journey

When I was a little girl, like most little girls, I liked dolls. I liked to play house, and pretend and take care of my 'babies'. 

I have always had a very domestic side, and a very strong maternal instinct. I was certain I would have tons of kids. I dreamed of babysitting. In 2^nd grade, we had career day. To prepare, we drew and cut out life size portraits of ourselves in the career of our choice.

Guess what mine was?

A girl with a baby in her arms. It was labelled “babysitter”.

At the same age, I ran around and knocked on neighbors doors who had toddlers and preschoolers, proudly announcing that I was available to watch their children. I was too young, of course I was. But they were gracious and humored me. They’d allow me to play with their child in the backyard (“babysitting”), no doubt watching all the while, and would give me a couple quarters for it.

I am the oldest of 4 kids and at the age of 8 was already taking care of many primary care responsibilities of my younger siblings. My mother and father were divorcing and my mother was in nursing school and working full time. We had sitters, but since my mother worked 3^rd shift, many times I was caring for my baby brother while she got a few hours of sleep.

As a teenager, I had regular babysitting jobs. One couple even allowed me at 17 to keep their 3 yr old an entire weekend while they went out of town. These were very picky people who hardly ever left their children with anyone. They’d known me from childhood, and trusted me implicitly. And  I did not disappoint. I took very good care of their child. I recall we went to a pumpkin patch, picked out a pumpkin and carved it for Halloween.

Just shy of my 18^th birthday, I decided I wanted to get a part time job after school. I went to a private school that was preschool-12^th grade. I applied at the preschool part for a 3-6 position. I was told to come back on my 18^th birthday.

I did just that.

That was the beginning. I’ve learned a lot since then, and will eventually make my way up through the 19 yrs that I have been involved in this field of work. It’s a low paying field, and ripe with many who work it solely to avoid having to pay child care themselves.  I’ve seen the bad ones and I have been awed by, and learned tremendously from, the very good ones. Throughout the sand and dirt you will find quite a few gems.

I hope one day to be counted among them.

An Introduction

I have been meaning to start a nanny blog for awhile now but just never got around to it. If you're a nanny, and/or a mother, you know how that is! Life is always full of something everyday that needs to be done, and kids always bring surprises!!

So who am I? Just a person who loves working with children, and who has made it pretty much her career choice to do so. Currently I am a live-out nanny for a wonderful family in Ohio. In the past I have worked as a preschool teacher, including a stint in Montessori preschool education. I have children of my own as well, and am happily married.

Why did I start this blog? Does anyone really care what I have to say? Maybe, maybe not. All of my life I have written. Writing is a way for me to express and it allows me to release my thoughts, emotions, etc etc. So, mainly, I write for me since it's been a passion of mine since I have been a very, very young child. I do hope that perhaps someone will read and get something out of it. If no one does, however, it's okay because the release that writing gives for me helps me to get my thoughts in order and give them a tangible place so that I can make room for other thoughts in my head!!

This blog will be a combination of a variety of things. It will contain musings, as well as experiences that I have with my two young charges. There may be questions asked to see if maybe there is a better way to handle a situation that others have found helpful. Ideas may spring forth about activities, cooking fun, and such. I would love for other nannies (or parents who employ nannies) to chime in and give their two cents! It is my opinion that we can always learn more, and that there is no such thing as too many idea to try for any given issue that may arise with children.

So, there it is. My introduction. I welcome all to my inner thoughts of the world of nannying.