Stay at Home Mom Interested in Becoming a Nanny

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hi,
I just found this board through research on Google. I have been a Stay at Home Mom of two kids for over 18 years. My children are enrolled in high school & college. I absolutely love kids & have been think about pursuing a Nanny career . Where do I start? I researched traing & the nanny training schools are out of my area. An associates degree in Early Childhood Education is one option but will take long.I feel that I qualify since I have hands on experience at the hardest job-mom ?.Please offer any advice that you may have.
Thanks in advance!
Sherrie

If I had a red pen right now....

[Anonymous]

OP, it's a nice idea. For you. I am a busy MB, and have found that we have had better luck with nannies who don't have kids because they are more willing to do what DH and I want. I don't have time to go back and forth with someone telling me, "Well that's what I did with MY child and she's at UPenn now" or "That's what I told my son and he's never touched a sip of alcohol." I don't want to deal with that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, it's a nice idea. For you. I am a busy MB, and have found that we have had better luck with nannies who don't have kids because they are more willing to do what DH and I want. I don't have time to go back and forth with someone telling me, "Well that's what I did with MY child and she's at UPenn now" or "That's what I told my son and he's never touched a sip of alcohol." I don't want to deal with that.

You're right. Dealing with tried and true experience can be a real pain in your ass.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just so you know being a mom for 18 years I most certainly did not just "keep them alive". I put alot of time & individual love & attention into raising them into well adjusted, smart, healthy, goal oriented , drug & alcohol free, athletic children. I did not just feed & water them! I also do have young nieces & nephews who I spend time with.

Thank you to the people who offered me some better advice.

Well, your attitude to perfectly practical advice is pretty poor, which tells me you'd make a pretty crappy employee. Hope that helps.

[Anonymous]

Nannying/babysitting is different from parenting. Good nannies or sitters understand that their experience is valuable but they are responsible for following the parent's approach. You have to be careful about pushing your parenting skills because that it isn't what the job is about doing.

You have to also understand that you are an employee. There was nothing wrong with going to a mall or letting your kids watch TV so you could have a break while you were a SAHM because you were doing it 24/7. As a nanny you are paid to work for your shift which means not mixing your day to day activities into the mix just because it was fine for your kids.

[Anonymous]

I have no problem caring for children exactly the way my future boss wants me to. I fully understanding that every parents has their own ideas & ways of raising their kids. I would respect them even if I disagree with the parents. They are the boss just like any other employer.

[Anonymous]

*correction- every parent

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:MB here - I would hire a SAHM whose kids are grown. I don't think you need an associates degree - but definitely do go take basic and infant CPR, and maybe a class or two offered by all the hospitals on handling infants. I don't think there's anything you couldn't do - but you want to be able to assure parents that you're familiar with current guidelines on sleep positions, carseat (RF vs FF) recommendations, food allergy management, etc...

You also want to know what new/first time parents are hearing/being taught so you can seem in touch w/ what they're hearing from experts.

Other than that, just start networking in your neighborhood, etc... You could also see about working in a local daycare for some period of time - that would give you some additional/formal work experience (and exposure to things like routine setting and discipline tactics) which would help make you more marketable.

Also, talk with a couple of agencies and get their advice.

Good luck.

Good response. OP I old definitely hire you. Your experience is invaluable. Don't be put off.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just so you know being a mom for 18 years I most certainly did not just "keep them alive". I put alot of time & individual love & attention into raising them into well adjusted, smart, healthy, goal oriented , drug & alcohol free, athletic children. I did not just feed & water them! I also do have young nieces & nephews who I spend time with.

Thank you to the people who offered me some better advice.

I'm the one whose advice you're not taking - I didn't accuse YOU personally of just keeping them alive. I'm just saying look at it from my perspective as a person hiring a childcare provider. You telling me you raised your own kids into adulthood and that you have young nieces and nephews tells me nothing about what kind of childcare provider you will be to my child. I know plenty of people who have adult kids and nieces and nephews who had no business even being parents, let alone someone I would leave my kids with. I'm cautioning you not to expect people to be wowed that you have drug and alcohol free teenagers. I'm suggesting that you don't simply rely on the fact that you are a parent and sit back and wait for the offers to come in. Maybe you were a great parent and you will be a great childcare provider - show me that you will be by, like a PP said, making sure you're knowledgeable about up-to-date guidelines, being professional when we meet, etc. That's what I'm saying.

People hire au pairs with less experience than the OP.

[Anonymous]

I am a mother of four grown children and let me tell you that has been an asset, not a hindrance for me in the nanny profession. ALL of the people that have hired me have loved the fact that I have actual hands on experience as opposed to simply textbook experience dealing with young children. They love that I already know the ins and outs of handling children and will never call them asking, "Help! What should I do now??!"

Another thing they love is that if they have a question about childrearing, they know they can ask for my advice or input and I will tell them what worked for me. I am mature enough to know never to force my opinions on them however. I work for them so whatever they ask me to do is what I am to do. Even if I am asked to do something that I didn't do for my own children, as THEIR employee I am required to follow their orders, not my own.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am a mother of four grown children and let me tell you that has been an asset, not a hindrance for me in the nanny profession. ALL of the people that have hired me have loved the fact that I have actual hands on experience as opposed to simply textbook experience dealing with young children. They love that I already know the ins and outs of handling children and will never call them asking, "Help! What should I do now??!"

Another thing they love is that if they have a question about childrearing, they know they can ask for my advice or input and I will tell them what worked for me. I am mature enough to know never to force my opinions on them however. I work for them so whatever they ask me to do is what I am to do. Even if I am asked to do something that I didn't do for my own children, as THEIR employee I am required to follow their orders, not my own.

And as a professional, I have a level of ethics to uphold. So no, I absolutely can't blindly follow random orders. That's a basic difference between a professional and a non-professional. You may identify yourself accordingly.

[Anonymous]

I suggest taking an early childhood class in infant toddler development and getting certified in the prevention of Sids/shaken baby syndrome (if available near you) and definitely cpr first aid.

[Anonymous]

OP don't let the other posters discourage you. Truth be told, nannying is nothing more than glorified babysitting. It doesn't take education, skill, or even much intelligence. It does take patience and a love for kids or you'll go nuts. The difference between a nanny making nothing and a nanny making a high rate is just her ability to BS. This is the skill you need!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP don't let the other posters discourage you. Truth be told, nannying is nothing more than glorified babysitting. It doesn't take education, skill, or even much intelligence. It does take patience and a love for kids or you'll go nuts. The difference between a nanny making nothing and a nanny making a high rate is just her ability to BS. This is the skill you need!

You don't sound like a nanny who knows much of anything. Tried, but couldn't cut it? Hope you found something more within your reach.

[Anonymous]

I would hire you. You are exactly the type of person that I would look to hire.