why don't more SAHMs become nannies when kids are in college?
![[Post New]](/jforum/templates/default/images/icon_minipost_new.gif){kind=icon}
Anonymous
| Okay, I know there are a lot of reasons why NOT to be a nanny, b/c it is effin hard work. However, I see that a lot of SAHM families feel the financial crunch/sacrifice, and worry about paying for college, even moreso than duel income families logically. Becoming a nanny is a lot easier than getting your old job in corporate America back. A well-educated nanny could make 60-70K a year. After taxes, that's I dunno, 45-55K that could pay for multiple kids' in-state college expenses, or go a long way towards a year of private for one kid. Plus you get to snuggle with small kids. It's hard work, but basically the SAHM experience + getting paid for it during a time where your household could really use the cash. |
Anonymous
| Yes, this is a good point. I had a great nanny who was formerly a SAHM. My mom was mostly a SAHM and has thought about opening a daycare. |
Anonymous
| (Actually, our nanny who has a high school education--maybe not even that, not sure but she is still awesome--makes 65K a year and she is worth every penny. So college educated nanny should be competitive to make more) |
Anonymous
|
I’d rather dog sit than watch someone else’s kids and deal with parents.
|
Anonymous
| The SAHM I know who are complaining about finances are MC to UMC women and would not want to have a peer as their boss. |
Anonymous
Much easier and more flexibility to plan days off |
Anonymous
| There are SAHMs who do this. Just bc you haven't met any doesn't mean they don't exist. There are also SAHMs who get paid to watch toddlers and babies during the school day at least for a few hours to give other SAHMs a break. It does happen. |
Anonymous
|
OP why do you care?
|
Anonymous
|
Liability risk. It's very risky to watch other people's kids. A tiny in-home daycare with five little ones sounds fun until you consider the risks.
Nope. |
Anonymous
|
Sahm doesn't qualify you as a nanny.
People like nannies with early childhood degrees and the like. I don't have that. Plus, I'm old. My 50 yr old hips and back can no longer chase a toddler around and I have little energy/desire to change gross diapers or deal with potty training to boot. And I only like my own kids. |
Anonymous
OP--I get that. It's just funny b/c people complain that it's so hard to get back in the workforce to make $ after SAHM -- and it is, BUT that doesn't mean there aren't ways to make 65-75K/yr which could open up a lot of doors for your child. I do get that it's a pride thing though. Maybe the big picture is that I respect nannies a lot. Willing to hustle to get paid a not negligible amount, although of course they deserve more. (Someone asked why I care--I don't know if I care per se, it was just a more "I'm curious and want to ask DCUM." I myself have a nanny and I respect and appreciate her so much. I also have a few female friends who are SAHMs who see going back to the workforce as sort of an either-or: Either it's my old job or it's nothing, so we either have lots of $ for college or...a lot less $. Being a nanny, while hard/challenging, seems like a middle option that has a relatively low barrier to market entry. And yes being a nanny is hard, but I think SAHM is harder b/c you never get to leave! So why not take that skillset and then GO HOME at the end of the day, feeling proud that you are making it possible for your kid to go to a top college) |
Anonymous
It's true that it doesn't automatically qualify you, but I will say, a lot of the nannies that our nanny hangs out with are high school educated or less, some don't speak English, and a good # are in the 50-60 age range. So respect to them! Thank you nannies, the workforce could not survive without you. Thank you for making the choice to put up with so much. |
Anonymous
| This observation should also apply for SAHD’s. |
Anonymous
agree |
Anonymous
| Some SAHMs do become house managers. |