A Week of Reflection

I would like to end this week with a little heartfelt post about the work I do. 

There are a lot of misconceptions about being a nanny. Ranging from “all employers treat you like dirt” to “nannies are lazy and don’t actually pay attention to the kids” (which is true for some, not certainly not all nannies)  to “being a nanny makes you less of an adult. Nannying is for high schoolers. It’s a skill-less, a job that others look down on you for doing.” 

Those misconceptions are exactly that, misconceptions. For me, the last stigma is one I have been dealing with for as long as I can remember. I have had a couple of people here and there that have said things to me that made me feel like I was doing a teenager’s job and that I should get a “real job.” My harshest critic though is myself. 

The other day I was at work, loading the dishwasher. My 3 year old NK (nanny kid) was dressed in her finest princess gear and when our favorite Beauty and the Beast song came on. She came over with her hand reaching up to me and asked me to dance with her. I quickly brushed her off and said I would later, that I had to finish the dishes. She walked away with her head down and then it occurred to me, how many more times am I going to get the chance to dance with this beautiful little girl and create those precious memories? She’s growing up so fast and each time I brush off an offer to dance, it may end up being the last time I get that offer. I don’t want to be remembered as the nanny who was great at folding the laundry or the nanny that always left the house in pristine condition at the end of the day. I want to be the nanny that was so caught up in creating the best memories with her kids that the playroom is a disaster at the end of the day. The laundry and vacuuming can wait. My kids deserve more. They deserve better. 

I am very lucky that my employers also value the time I spend with the children and agree that the housework can wait. 

I may not have a corner office with a view of the city or a closet full of designer clothes but I have a tiny hand to hold, a little heart to protect and a world of imagination and wonder to share...and that is better than the best office view or jet-setting job in the world. I wake up excited to go to “work” and miss my kids when they are away. I make a positive impact on the lives of children but the best perk of being a nanny is that they make me a better person too. I cherish each moment I have with my families and always dread the day when it’s time to move on. I am so lucky to be a part of their lives and in their hearts. They may not need me forever, but they will always have a piece of my heart.

Best,

Meredith