Nanny Adventures

One year ago today, I quit my job of four years.  It was a very difficult and scary thing to do.  I wasn’t scared for what was really to come, but what was to be said about me quitting. 

I had started with a family in August 2003 with two boys, aged 7 and in 3rd grade and aged 5 in Pre-K.  I had actually interviewed with this family back in 2001 before my nanny family moved to California. I had been in a two month negotation period with the family on details on when to start etc.  We decided it wasn’t the right now and she needed someone sooner than I was willing to leave California. (I will have to blog about that fun adventure sometime)   Over the course of the next 2.5 years we touched based when each of was looking.   Finally the time came when we were both looking at the same time.      I left a family after 11 weeks because we were not a good match and they were still healing from the tragic loss of their nanny of 5 years.  I decided to go to the INA conference that May in San Diego to explore my options of owning a nanny agency. I had been given some options in owning a agency or two.  Well shortly into the conference I decided that I was not going to own a nanny agency.  Back to the east coast I went into talks with the family with 2 boys. 

In those 2 years since the orginial job offer, the youngest had been diagnosed with high functioning austism.  He was on a great therapy track with a speech teacher and an occupational therapist.  I was to help him become more social and involved with other kids in that first year while they held him back from kindergarten. That was the best choice.  Because a year later when he went to kindergarten he was outgoing, social and very involved in learning. He still is today.    He and I became pretty close buddies.  When I had started he didn’t like being touchy feely etc but by the time I left last July he was such a huggy child.  It warmed my heart how wonderful of a child he developed into and continues to do so today.  

Anyways I digress, through those four years I was able to continue going to the community college for Business Management, start 2 direct sales businesses and do other things I wanted.  Somewhere in the process of those 4 years I was losing myself and my self esteem as a nanny.  I wasn’t being thanked or praised for those things I was doing, but instead was being criticized for what I wasn’t doing or how I did something wrong.   Just so you all know I do not fold shirts like they have at the Gap.  I hope that any future employers can forgive that and see what I can do with their child’s development etc.  :)  

In the late winter/early spring 2007, I realized that the job was going to be changing.  Both of the kids would be at the same school and carpooling issues would be almost non existent now.  I was thinking that I would lose my job come the fall. I saved up enough money for 3 months of unemployment, and decided I would goto my mom’s in NC and explore options for a bit.     I had gone to the INA conference in Mid May.   The Monday after the conference, a nanny agency had sent out an email listing their “hot jobs” and there was one listed for Maryland.  I have been in the VA/DC area since 1996 and never wanted to live in MD.  I decided to inquire about the position bc it said top salary, basement apartment, car, 4 weeks vacation etc.   On that Friday the mom of the new job and I talked for almost an hour on the phone as I sat in the parking lot of The Container Store.  I remember it being a hot and humid day!   We just clicked.  I understood their family.  2 of the 3 kids will multiple sports schedules and having to be in 3 places at once.  The current family had similar sports schedules.  The selling point was that I knew Hockey!   The current and former kids played hockey!    The Tuesday after Memorial Day I went for an interview with the new family-3 kids- 1 teen, 2 preteens!   I remember arriving to see Kidlet #2 decorating the car for the last day of school.  (Which by the way happened today at the school for the graduating 8th graders)   We all (both parents & the kids) sat down in the piano room and chatted.  The main part of this job is with Kidlet #3.  Trying to find his way in the world since he doesn’t have a strong pull to athletics like his siblings.  He and I clicked right away.  I stayed for about 2 hours.  I remember when Kidlet #3 had to go to bed, he told Dad “She is the one, I want her”.   We all kinda of chuckled.   It took about a week or so to hash out some job details and compensation package details, but it was all very rewarding for both sides.     I accepted the job.  Their current nanny was leaving on June 9, but I needed to give my current employers a month’s notice per our contract.  That leads me to June 4 2007.

I was so sick to my stomach for a week before telling my employers about leaving.  I decided the easiest way was to write a letter to them. I thanked them for allowing me to be a part of their family and children’s lives but I have found a position that will help me obtain my long term goals.     To say that my boss was shocked is an understatement.   There were hurt feelings.  That month I was there was so difficult.   I miss the kids but I know in my heart and mind that I am in a much better place physically, mentally, financially and emotionally.

Happy Anniversary to myself for taking that grande leap into the world of teenagers and an awesome job with employers who thank me daily for the little or big things I do.  

Moral: Life does work out when you least expect it or when you are not looking.